Zanu-PF refuses to be drawn into Mandela scrap

Legalbrief reports that Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party refuses to be drawn into ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe’s firm rebuke of President Robert Mugabe’s latest attack on former world statesman Nelson Mandela. Mantashe on Tuesday said he had lodged a formal complaint in a telephonic conversation with his counterpart in Zanu-PF for Mugabe to stop making ‘unwarranted and unfortunate attacks’ on Mandela. Mugabe clearly hit a nerve when he launched an attack on Mandela, claiming he had prioritised his freedom over the emancipation of his people. Mantashe accused Mugabe of destroying his country's economy. ‘The reality of the matter is that you have destroyed the economy of your country,’ Mantashe said. NewsDay newspaper reports that Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Moyo said he was unaware of Mantashe’s phone call. ‘I cannot comment on things that have not been communicated to me,’ Moyo is quoted in the report as saying.