The ANC has refused to be drawn on the muzzling of Zimbabwe facilitation team member Lindiwe Zulu by the Presidency.

The Presidency issued a statement on Sunday essentially preventing anyone except President Jacob Zuma from making statements with regards to matters relating to the political events in Zimbabwe. The move comes after Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe slammed Zulu during his campaign trail, calling her an “idiotic street woman”. Zulu has been vocal about the need for reforms in the troubled neighbouring state which holds elections in just over a week.

ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe has confirmed that Zulu was tasked with communication and diplomacy within the facilitation team. Mantashe says she has done that work there and there were misgivings on some aspects which the Presidency has reacted to the issue.

Meanwhile, International Relations and Co-operation Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, says she’s aware that the upcoming Zimbabwean elections face many challenges and obstacles.

However, she says the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is committed to work on the challenges to ensure that the elections are a success. Speaking in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, she referred to the recent Zimbabwe High Court decision not to postpone the elections from July 31. Mashabane says what she has heard, which is also on record, is that all parties have accepted the high court decision. She says, if you go to Zimbabwe today, they are all focused on electioneering and the electioneering has been largely peaceful.
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