News / Africa
'Mantashe did not defend Lindiwe Zulu,' says ANC
23 Jul 2013 at 15:12hrs | Views
Johannesburg - The ANC has denied defending President Jacob Zuma's international adviser Lindiwe Zulu, after an apparent reprimand from the presidency.
"The ANC has noted the coverage that suggests that the ANC through its secretary general has defended the international relations adviser to president Zuma, comrade Zulu, against a statement released by the presidency," spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said on Tuesday.
"This is not true."
Zulu reportedly said on Friday that there were difficulties ahead of the 31 July elections in Zimbabwe, following problems with early voting.
Thousands of Zimbabwean security forces could reportedly not make their mark in early voting with polling stations opening late, and lacking indelible ink, stamps, voter rolls, ballot papers, and boxes.
"If things didn't go right in the special vote, those things need to be looked into by the time of elections on 31 July," Zulu was quoted as saying.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe reacted by calling Zulu "a stupid, idiotic street woman", local jargon for a prostitute, Agence France Presse reported.
On Sunday the presidency said the statements made by members of Zuma's team dealing with Zimbabwe were "unfortunate".
In Zulu's defence
Some newspaper reports suggested that ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe defended Zulu on Monday.
He told reporters in Johannesburg she had been given the responsibility to deal with media and diplomats on Zimbabwe.
Mthembu said on Tuesday that Mantashe's response to a question on the statement from the presidency was that Zulu was tasked with communication and diplomacy by the facilitation team on Zimbabwe.
He said Mantashe's response on the matter was: "While the ANC would not venture into this matter, my own understanding, from reading the presidency statement, was that misgivings arose from communication that was not cleared with the president."
Mthembu said Mantashe further stated that the Zimbabwean situation was a sensitive matter and any communication on that country should be treated accordingly.
"The ANC wants to put it on record that we respect and support the intervention of the presidency regarding the South African facilitation team... to facilitate the Zimbabwe process towards free and fair elections," Mthembu said.
"The ANC has noted the coverage that suggests that the ANC through its secretary general has defended the international relations adviser to president Zuma, comrade Zulu, against a statement released by the presidency," spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said on Tuesday.
"This is not true."
Zulu reportedly said on Friday that there were difficulties ahead of the 31 July elections in Zimbabwe, following problems with early voting.
Thousands of Zimbabwean security forces could reportedly not make their mark in early voting with polling stations opening late, and lacking indelible ink, stamps, voter rolls, ballot papers, and boxes.
"If things didn't go right in the special vote, those things need to be looked into by the time of elections on 31 July," Zulu was quoted as saying.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe reacted by calling Zulu "a stupid, idiotic street woman", local jargon for a prostitute, Agence France Presse reported.
On Sunday the presidency said the statements made by members of Zuma's team dealing with Zimbabwe were "unfortunate".
In Zulu's defence
Some newspaper reports suggested that ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe defended Zulu on Monday.
He told reporters in Johannesburg she had been given the responsibility to deal with media and diplomats on Zimbabwe.
Mthembu said on Tuesday that Mantashe's response to a question on the statement from the presidency was that Zulu was tasked with communication and diplomacy by the facilitation team on Zimbabwe.
He said Mantashe's response on the matter was: "While the ANC would not venture into this matter, my own understanding, from reading the presidency statement, was that misgivings arose from communication that was not cleared with the president."
Mthembu said Mantashe further stated that the Zimbabwean situation was a sensitive matter and any communication on that country should be treated accordingly.
"The ANC wants to put it on record that we respect and support the intervention of the presidency regarding the South African facilitation team... to facilitate the Zimbabwe process towards free and fair elections," Mthembu said.
Source - Sapa
