SOME Zimbabweans in South Africa and locally are furious over South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his ANC party’s cosy relations with Zanu PF following a disputed poll in Zimbabwe.
Ramaphosa and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, attended President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration on Monday.
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has refused to accept the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s declaration that Mnangagwa won the presidential race against Nelson Chamisa and nine other contenders.
A Southern African Development Community election observer mission (SEOM) flagged the polls as not credible.
South Africa-based educationist, Nkosilathi Ncube said Ramaphosa and ANC betrayed Zimbabweans by endorsing the poll before the election dispute was resolved.
"As Zimbabweans we are seeing SA as behind all the suffering that we are in. In fact, we did not know the ANC is the author of our problems, because now they are clear that they do not want us to go back to Zimbabwe,” Ncube said.
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In 2008, former South African President Thabo Mbeki said there was no crisis in Zimbabwe following that year’s disputed elections, but things later deteriorated after the late President Robert Mugabe won a one-man race re-run which had arisen after there had been no clear winner in the first round of polls. His rival, the late opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the re-run citing intimidation and violence against his supporters.
Despite being sworn in, Mugabe’s reign was cut short when the socio-economic and political situation worsened resulting in Mbeki spearheading talks between Zanu PF and the opposition MDC leading to the creation of a Government of National Unity in 2009.
SA-based Zapu spokesperson Mso Ndlovu, echoed Ncube’s sentiments.
“South Africa will now have to carry the burden of welcoming more Zimbabweans as their government is only keen on serving the interests of Zanu PF at the expense of ordinary Zimbabweans," Ndlovu said.
“Zapu, however, remains hopeful that the SA delegation to the sham inauguration will take this opportunity to privately tell Mnangagwa that without the mandate of the governed, his administration will continue to falter and flounder aimlessly."
CCC South Africa provincial chairperson Trust Ndlovu, said they would register their concerns with Pretoria over the flawed elections.
“SA as a huge economic powerhouse in the region is underutilised to solve political and economic challenges in the region,” Ndlovu said.
“The immigration conflict will escalate in the region especially Zimbabweans. One is also tempted to conclude that. Ramaphosa is benefiting from the economic woes of Zimbabwe.”
Freedom Alliance secretary-general Nhlanhla Moses Ncube, who is also domiciled in South Africa said: “For Ramaphosa to overtly stand in support of Zanu PF is as perplexing as it is incongruous.
“This shows that all these years, South Africa has never been an honest broker in the Zimbabwe impasse.”
Mnangagwa was inaugurated on Monday with three Sadc presidents from the Democratic Republic of Congo, SA and Mozambique attending.
Sadc presidents from Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros did not attend the event but dispatched representatives.