News / National
Zuma, Khama angrily clashed with Mugabe
01 May 2015 at 14:03hrs | Views
PRESIDENTS Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Botswana's Ian Khama angrily clashed with their Zimbabwean counterpart, President Robert Mugabe over xenophobia in South Africa, with the two demanding that instead of blaming their neighbour, Zimbabwe and other Sadc states must fix their broken economies to curb the rising tide of immigration.
Sources say tensions were at knife-edge as Zuma made his presentation. "After Zuma's delivery, Mugabe as the chair felt obliged to comment and that is when he got emotional and spoke at length about the xenophobic attacks," said the source.
"Mugabe described the video which went viral on social media of a man being burnt alive to death, while blaming Zuma for the attacks and for siding with Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and his son Edward, who made remarks allegedly responsible for sparking off xenophobic violence."
While Mugabe was still talking, Zuma is said to have immediately intervened, saying: "'Perhaps I should have mentioned this during my presentation, the video you are describing is not recent'.
Sources said while Zuma confronted Mugabe on video issue, the Sadc chair as host and moderator remained quiet and did not respond as tempers flared.
"After Zuma's intervention, Mugabe remained silent and one could feel tensions rising. Perhaps he could not comment further as he did not have evidence that the video was recent and besides he was the host and the chair," said another source.
After the Zuma-Mugabe battle, Khama is said to have then joined the fray supporting Zuma, saying instead of focusing on xenophobia issues Sadc leaders must address the root causes of the problem that include bad leadership and economic mismanagement which trigger waves of mostly illegal immigrants.
"Khama said leaders were then better informed, thanks to President Zuma. He said, 'Let us address real issues and stop behaving as if South Africa is an employment bureau for the African continent'," the source said.
"Khama went further to say 'it is because of some of us who have mismanaged our own economies that we have an influx of foreigners into South Africa'."
Without waiting for a response from Mugabe and others, Khama got up and immediately left the meeting at 2:14pm for the airport returning home, leaving Sadc leaders reeling from his stinging remarks.
Khama did not even wait for the Sadc group photograph as usual. Sadc leaders then ended the meeting at 3pm.
Sources said Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi also supported Zuma, saying the issue should be dealt with at continental level, not by South Africa only.
But to the other delegates' surprise, Mugabe later told journalists he did not believe Zuma's explanation the video was old.
"Although the South Africans say it (the video) happened in the 1980s long ago, not recently, we thought it was recent and we are still convinced it happened recently," said Mugabe to laughter from the audience.
However, as Mugabe then castigated Zimbabweans for flooding South Africa, showing his underlying negative attitude towards local immigrants and those in diaspora.
Sources say tensions were at knife-edge as Zuma made his presentation. "After Zuma's delivery, Mugabe as the chair felt obliged to comment and that is when he got emotional and spoke at length about the xenophobic attacks," said the source.
"Mugabe described the video which went viral on social media of a man being burnt alive to death, while blaming Zuma for the attacks and for siding with Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and his son Edward, who made remarks allegedly responsible for sparking off xenophobic violence."
While Mugabe was still talking, Zuma is said to have immediately intervened, saying: "'Perhaps I should have mentioned this during my presentation, the video you are describing is not recent'.
Sources said while Zuma confronted Mugabe on video issue, the Sadc chair as host and moderator remained quiet and did not respond as tempers flared.
"After Zuma's intervention, Mugabe remained silent and one could feel tensions rising. Perhaps he could not comment further as he did not have evidence that the video was recent and besides he was the host and the chair," said another source.
After the Zuma-Mugabe battle, Khama is said to have then joined the fray supporting Zuma, saying instead of focusing on xenophobia issues Sadc leaders must address the root causes of the problem that include bad leadership and economic mismanagement which trigger waves of mostly illegal immigrants.
"Khama went further to say 'it is because of some of us who have mismanaged our own economies that we have an influx of foreigners into South Africa'."
Without waiting for a response from Mugabe and others, Khama got up and immediately left the meeting at 2:14pm for the airport returning home, leaving Sadc leaders reeling from his stinging remarks.
Khama did not even wait for the Sadc group photograph as usual. Sadc leaders then ended the meeting at 3pm.
Sources said Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi also supported Zuma, saying the issue should be dealt with at continental level, not by South Africa only.
But to the other delegates' surprise, Mugabe later told journalists he did not believe Zuma's explanation the video was old.
"Although the South Africans say it (the video) happened in the 1980s long ago, not recently, we thought it was recent and we are still convinced it happened recently," said Mugabe to laughter from the audience.
However, as Mugabe then castigated Zimbabweans for flooding South Africa, showing his underlying negative attitude towards local immigrants and those in diaspora.
Source - independent
