By Simon Nare
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has defended President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent working visit to Zimbabwe, where he met President Emmerson Mnangagwa at his private farm, saying the engagement underscored bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries.
This comes after the DA criticised Ramaphosa’s visit, accusing him of legitimising Mnangagwa’s government amid concerns over democratic backsliding in Zimbabwe.
The party also argued that the visit reflects what it sees as the ANC government’s ongoing reluctance to challenge authoritarianism in the region.
The opposition further questioned the presence of Zimbabwean businessmen Wicknell Chivayo and Kudakwashe Tagwirei during the visit, linking the pair to broader concerns about corruption and state capture, and drawing comparisons to South Africa’s Gupta family scandal and the findings of the Zondo Commission into corruption.
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Magwenya said Ramaphosa visited Zimbabwe at the invitation of his counterpart, providing both leaders an opportunity to engage on a wide range of mutual and bilateral issues.
The visit, however, was overshadowed by reports that one of the businesspeople present at Mnangagwa’s private farm is a person of interest to South African law enforcement authorities.
“The Presidency has noted with concern the reports that have surfaced following the President’s visit to Zimbabwe, identifying an individual who is a person of interest to our law enforcement, who was also present during the visit.
“President Ramaphosa had no prior knowledge of who would be present during the visit, nor was he familiar with the said individual. The President flew to Zimbabwe for a meeting with his counterpart and nothing else,” said Magwenya.
He added that the president had encouraged law enforcement agencies to continue pursuing all matters under investigation without fear or favour.
Magwenya also briefed journalists on the National Water Crisis Committee, chaired by the president, which incorporates the existing Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water established earlier this year.
The committee’s key task is to oversee the implementation of the National Water Action Plan (NWAP), which outlines urgent measures to address water supply disruptions in several parts of the country and accelerate institutional reforms across all levels of government.
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Magwenya said the plan has already been presented to provincial and local government structures, including engagements led by the president with mayors.
“Further engagements will be held with business, labour and civil society to ensure a collaborative approach across all spheres of government and with social partners.
“A process is underway to establish an advisory group of water experts from universities and other institutions to provide input on the plan and its implementation,” he said.
On the president’s programme, Magwenya said Ramaphosa will on Thursday tour South32’s Hillside Aluminium smelter in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, marking 30 years of the company’s operations.
He said the facility forms part of the post-apartheid government’s broader vision to expand industrial capacity, create jobs, boost international trade and support downstream beneficiation.
Ramaphosa is also scheduled to officially open Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban on May 12, before returning to Parliament later that week to respond to oral questions in the National Assembly.
On May 20, the president will undertake a working visit to Botswana aimed at strengthening bilateral ties in sectors including agriculture, health, education, transport and mining.
He will be accompanied by ministers and senior government officials.
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