Journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono has criticised South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party for suggesting that Zimbabwe’s economic challenges were caused by sanctions imposed by western countries.
The ANC’s newly elected Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula on Monday said their position on Zimbabwe remained that they do not support regime change.
Addressing the media at Nasrec in Johannesburg soon after he was confirmed ANC secretary-general, Mbalula said:
We don’t subscribe to the idea of regime change in Zimbabwe. We need to campaign very hard to get things right because Zimbabweans are coming to our country in their numbers because something is not right in their own country.
Once that country becomes what it was, there will be no Zimbabwean here. So, the British and the Americans must think very hard about what they have done.
They must uplift the sanctions so that Zimbabwe can grow as an economy and not use sanctions to deepen the pain and impoverishment of Zimbabweans. The British know what they agreed to in Lancaster.
They must come to the party and invest in the compensation of Zimbabweans in the programme of land reform distribution.
Responding to Mbalula’s remarks, Chin’ono said the ANC has no understanding of what is wrong in Zimbabwe. Chin’ono posted on Facebook:
Dear South Africans
It is a pity that your ruling party has no understanding of what is wrong in Zimbabwe.
If the ANC continues with this attitude of supporting ZANU PF’s Corrupt Rule, be prepared for more Zimbabweans coming your way. The ANC has chosen propaganda over facts!
Fikile Mbalula has effectively said that the ANC will support rigged elections because he says they don’t want to see change in Zimbabwe.
That will also mean more illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe looking for a better future.
I am sure you now see what we have told you that your Government is the problem.
Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, who leads the Citizens Coalition for Change congratulated President Cyril Ramaphosa for being re-elected ANC president. He tweeted:
Congratulations to HE Cyril Ramaphosa and Paul Mashatile for being elected President and Vice President of the ANC respectively.
I also congratulate my brother and Cde Mbalula Fikile for being elected Secretary General. Let us build a New Africa! Mayibuye iAfrica.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF director for information Tafadzwa Mugwadi expressed delight over the development across the Limpopo River. He said:
The youthful vibrance in the ANC is plausible. The newly elected SG Cde Mbalula Fikile aka Mr Fixit has just sent regime change puppets and masters packing.
Don’t forget that H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa has been to Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing St over removal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
