After a highly disputed national election in Zimbabwe, ANC’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula said on Monday the people of Zimbabwe should be allowed to sort out their own issues.
Mbalula was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
We believe anything else about the election the prerogative of the Zimbabweans themselves to resolve their own disputes.
— Fikile Mbalula, ANC secretary-general
“We are here because we were invited by our sister party Zanu-PF for the inauguration of President Mnangagwa. This is very important politically for us in terms of strengthening bilateral relations between the two parties.
“And the fact that we have had an election that has produced President Mnangagwa, which we support as ANC. We believe anything else about the election is the prerogative of the Zimbabweans themselves to resolve their own disputes,” said Mbalula.
He also touched on the high number of Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa. Mbalula said Zimbabweans who come to SA legally are allowed to do so by the country’s laws.
“We say lift the sanctions when it comes Zimbabwe. It’s up to South Africa to deal with its laws and its borders to pre-empt the people who enter our country illegally. Zimbabweans coming to South Africa legally to promote their own interest is a matter that our constitution allows. Where there are illegal Zimbabweans coming to SA, South African immigration laws that must respond to that,” he said.
Mnangagwa’s second term in office comes with a struggling economy, hyper-inflation and increasing unemployment.
In his maiden speech, he vowed a “modern and prosperous Zimbabwe”.
The 80-year-old was sworn in front of more than 50,000 supporters and African heads of state at the National Sports Stadium on Monday, in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
His induction came with a promise of a prosperous Zimbabwe with housing delivery and infrastructure.
“The lives of our people should be improved — housing delivery, water and sanitation, a modern empowered and prosperous Zimbabwe we all want and all deserve,” Mnangagwa told thousands of cheering supporters.
Only three sitting presidents fromSouthern Africa attended the ceremony, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Democratic Republic of the Congo president Felix Tshisekedi and Mozambique president Filipe Nyusi.
Other delegates in attendance included former first lady Grace Mugabe and Bona Mugabe, eldest daughter of the late former president Robert Mugabe.
Mnangagwa was declared the winner with 52.6% of the vote over main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa.
Chamisa described the election as a “blatant and gigantic fraud” calling for a re-run of the polls. Observers said the election failed to conform to regional and international standards.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.