President Mugabe has broken his silence on the resignation of South African President, Thabo Mbeki and said it was devastating at a time when they were celebrating his breakthrough to the country’s crisis.

Speaking in New York where he is attending the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly Mugabe said he was deeply concerned about Mbeki’s decision.

President Thabo Mbeki was the SADC appointed mediator in the Zimbabwean crisis talks. His resignation has come at a time when he was celebrating his breakthrough after he managed to convince Zimbabwe’s prominent leaders—to agree on the power sharing deal and bring normalcy into the country.

President Mbeki has however been condemned for his quiet diplomacy and his allegiance to Robert Mugabe.

“It’s devastating news that President Mbeki is no longer the President of South Africa but that is the action of the South African people” said Mugabe in the state paper

“Who are we to judge them? But it is very disturbing” he said

A couple of months ago, Mbeki said there was no crisis in Zimbabwe while ANC, the African continent and the world were calling for assistance because of the crisis.

African Union chairperson and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said Mbeki’s resignation will not affect the mediation process because the African Union and South African Development Community are still interested in his services.

“Mbeki’s resignation will cause no alarm, South Africa remain and will continue to focus on the Zimbabwean crisis” said Kikwete who also graced the historic signing in Harare on September 15.

On the historic signing of the power sharing between Zanu PF and the two formations of the MDC, President Mugabe praised Mbeki for his persistence to find a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean problem that was threatening the whole entire SADC region.

“L thank President Mbeki for his mediation efforts and he is a kind of a man who don’t accept a NO for an answer” he said then

President Mbeki resigned after calls from his ruling party—African National Congress to resign for allegedly influencing the prosecution of the ANC president Jacob Zuma. Mbeki’s resignation has also resulted in 11 ministers resigning though eighty offered them for re-appointment.