News / Africa
Mantashe defends Lindiwe Zulu
23 Jul 2013 at 03:43hrs | Views
AFRICAN National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has defended President Jacob Zuma's international adviser, Lindiwe Zulu, after she was criticised by the presidencies of both Zimbabwe and South Africa, the Business Day reported.
On Monday, Mr Mantashe, briefing reporters after an ANC lekgotla, said Ms Zulu had a dual role in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) technical team supporting Mr Zuma's facilitation of the Zimbabwean situation and this included communication.
Mr Mantashe said that Ms Zulu had been given the task of both diplomacy and communication in the Sadc team as these were her "strengths".
"I must also confirm the fact that Lindiwe Zulu in the team was given the task to deal with two aspects - communication and diplomacy," he said.
"Those are the two areas of strength for her.
"She has done that work, (but) there were misgivings on some aspects. The Presidency has reacted to the issue and if I read the reaction of the Presidency, it is that it would have been more sensitive to confer with each other all the time because logically there would be sensitivity."
With tensions in Zimbabwe high ahead of elections next week, SA Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj slapped down Ms Zulu in remarks that observers said were made to placate Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Zuma's spokeperson said at the weekend she was not authorised to make public pronouncements, as only Mr Zuma could do so.
On Monday, Mr Mantashe, briefing reporters after an ANC lekgotla, said Ms Zulu had a dual role in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) technical team supporting Mr Zuma's facilitation of the Zimbabwean situation and this included communication.
Mr Mantashe said that Ms Zulu had been given the task of both diplomacy and communication in the Sadc team as these were her "strengths".
"I must also confirm the fact that Lindiwe Zulu in the team was given the task to deal with two aspects - communication and diplomacy," he said.
"She has done that work, (but) there were misgivings on some aspects. The Presidency has reacted to the issue and if I read the reaction of the Presidency, it is that it would have been more sensitive to confer with each other all the time because logically there would be sensitivity."
With tensions in Zimbabwe high ahead of elections next week, SA Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj slapped down Ms Zulu in remarks that observers said were made to placate Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Zuma's spokeperson said at the weekend she was not authorised to make public pronouncements, as only Mr Zuma could do so.
Source - BDlive
