Harare — An ANC delegation on fact finding mission in Harare will meet representative of both Zanu-PF and the opposition, secretary-general Ace Magashule said, contradicting the country's ruling party.
"We will meet the ruling party and others. If time allows we will also meet other parties," Magashule said on arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International airport.
This is despite his hosts saying that the delegation will only meet their Zanu PF counterparts. “After inquiries from various quarters ... on the purpose of this meeting, Zanu-PF wishes to make it categorically clear that this is a meeting between the Zanu-PF delegation and the ANC delegation only,” ruling party spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said on Tuesday.
If the Zimbabwean government has its way, the SA delegation could be the second in as many months to visit Zimbabwe and not talk to opposition parties and civic organisations.
Last month, Ramaphosa’s three special envoys, Baleka Mbete, Sydney Mufamadi and Ngoako Ramatlhodi went on a fact-finding mission on the crisis in Zimbabwe but returned empty-handed after they were blocked from meeting the opposition by the government.
Zanu-PF has insisted that the ANC delegation, comprising chair Gwede Mantashe, national executive committee members Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Tony Yengeni, Lindiwe Zulu and Enoch Godongwana, would not meet the opposition.
The two former liberation movements are expected to meet on Wednesday. The ANC delegation will be in Harare until Thursday.
Announcing the visit last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the ANC officials would seek to engage Zimbabwe’s political rivals “with the intention to develop a fuller understanding of the situation” in that country and “to determine how the government and ANC can assist”.
“The delegation must speak to all parties and stakeholders as well,” he said.
Ramaphosa, who is also AU chair, deployed the delegation to Harare as he becomes increasingly concerned about the problems affecting Zimbabwe.
Millions of Zimbabweans have sought refuge in SA as the Zimbabwean economic and political situation continues to deteriorate. With an inflation rate above 800%, mass unemployment of over 85%, a collapsing health system and a repressive government, most Zimbabweans have fled the country.
Chinamasa said Zanu-PF wants to prove to the ANC that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe.
“We are also aware that this visit is taking place against the backdrop of false claims of a nation in crisis. Zanu-PF will take the opportunity to share the reality on the ground in Zimbabwe.”
Sources in the government on Tuesday told Business Day that the Zanu-PF delegations wants to circumvent the political challenges facing the country, pushing instead for ANC help to have western sanctions imposed on Harare after its land reform programme lifted.
“The meeting is likely to be heated. There are a lot of things that the two parties do not agree, like for example Zanu-PF’s refusal that there is no crisis in the country, yet the ANC insists that the crisis is there,” the source, who is not allowed to speak to the media but who was part of the preparations to host the ANC delegation, said.
Zulu last month castigated the Zimbabwean government for disrespecting and maltreating its citizens.
Magashule himself has also urged the Zimbabwean government to be tolerant of dissent.
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