Close This website uses modern features that are not supported by your browser. Click here for more information.
Please upgrade to a modern browser to view this website properly. Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Opera Safari
your legal news hub
Sub Menu
Search

Search

Filter
Filter
Filter
A A A

Cool reception for SA envoys in Zimbabwe

Publish date: 10 August 2020
Issue Number: 885
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Diplomacy

Baleka Mbete and Sydney Mufamadi’s visit to Zimbabwe over the weekend was overshadowed by a public spat between the ANC and Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF over ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule’s reference to the Zimbabwe Government’s recent ‘brutality’. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, Ramaphosa appointed the diplomats as his special envoys to ‘engage’ with Harare and relevant stakeholders ‘to identify possible ways in which SA can assist’. The Daily Maverick reports that both Zanu-PF and the opposition MDC welcomed Ramaphosa’s initiative, although not without reservations. Nkululeko Sibanda, spokesperson for MDC leader Nelson Chamisa said ‘we certainly welcome the effort by SA, including SADC and the AU, which President Ramaphosa currently chairs'. However, Zanu-PF said Magashule accusations were baseless, ‘considering that his sources are self-exiled Saviour Kasukuwere and friends’. Kasukuwere was a Minister in the Cabinet of former President Robert Mugabe who was ousted in November 2017 by current President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the military.

Full Daily Maverick report

Meanwhile, police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse dozens of protesters outside the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria on Friday. About 100 mainly Zimbabwean migrants gathered to protest economic hardship and the recent crackdown on dissent and political opposition back home. A report on the News24 site notes that Mnangagwa last week vowed to ‘flush out’ critics who he described as ‘dark forces’ and ‘terrorists’ after the authorities thwarted anti-government protests. Draped in their county's national flag, protesters waved placards, some reading ‘Mnangagwa: You are going to The Hague! Murderer!’

Full Fin24 report

In other developments, the Zimbabwean High Court judge has dismissed an investigative journalist's appeal against a lower court's ruling denying him bail. Hopewell Chin'ono was arrested on 20 July for allegedly using his Twitter handle to incite the public to topple the government. The Nation reports that High Court judge Tawanda Chitapi said Chin'ono's lawyers had made a procedural error by filling an application challenging his placement on remand instead of contesting the bail refusal. Several activists were arrested for taking part in the protests while others are still in hiding.

Full report in The Nation

We use cookies to give you a personalised experience that suits your online behaviour on our websites. Otherwise, you may click here to learn more, or learn how to block or disable cookies. Disabling cookies might cause you to experience difficulties on our website as some functionality relies on cookie information. You can change your mind at any time by visiting “Cookie Preferences”. Any personal data about you will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.