The issue of South African President Jacob Zuma’s special advisor Lindiwe Zulu, whom Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe described as a street woman and an idiot following her comments that Zimbabwe was not ready for elections, is not over yet.
South Africa’s deputy minister in the presidency, Obed Bapela, told the Mail and Guardian that it was unfortunate that Mugabe had mentioned Zulu by name.
“The ANC will wait for the right platform to raise the matter in our good and functioning party relations once an opportunity presents itself,” he said.
Bapela, however, said the diplomatic spat had not soured relations between Harare and Pretoria.
“The unfortunate statements expressed by President Robert Mugabe on Lindiwe Zulu are regrettable. However, the expressed words have not damaged any relations between Harare and Pretoria, as we have government relations and institutions supporting these relations that are far above the individuals,” he said.
“There will always be situations where tensions will develop, particularly if you are a mediator on behalf of the region of SADC, but we have time-tested institutions that can resolve such tensions.”
South African President Jacob Zuma chastised Zulu on her comments about Zimbabwe saying he was the only one authorised to speak on Zimbabwe on behalf of the Southern African Development Community.
Zuma’s spokesman Mac Maharaj said: “Only President Zuma has the mandate to speak on Zimbabwe on behalf of SADC on facilitation issues….. A number of statements have been made during the facilitation process which have been unauthorised and which are regrettable and unfortunate. Some of the utterances have also been inaccurate.”
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