Parties split on Malema's Zim visit

Published Mar 31, 2010

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President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF says it will give Julius Malema a resounding welcome when he arrives in Harare on Friday for solidarity meetings with his Zimbabwe counterparts.

But the rival Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, has chosen to downplay Malema's visit because they view it as a propaganda visit by the controversial ANC youth leader to promote unpopular Zanu-PF policies.

Malema, who will lead an eight-member delegation, said he was visiting Zimbabwe to defend the gains of the liberation on the continent. He told Independent Newspapers on Monday he did not intend to meet the MDC because they had nothing in common with the ANC.

He expressed concern with what he called efforts to replace liberation movements with puppets governments - who exploit the mineral wealth of Africa, but declined to say if he was referring to the MDC.

Yesterday the MDC refused to comment officially on the Malema visit for fear of compromising its improving relations with the ANC.

A MDC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Malema's visit means nothing to the MDC because we are aware that some Zanu-PF people want to use the ANC clout to prop up discredited policies like the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act.

"It's a mere public relations exercise by people desperate for attention.

"Maybe Malema and his delegation are not aware that they are being used to promote failed policies. However, we welcome Malema to Zimbabwe and hope that he will knock some sense into these Zanu-PF people. We hope he will have a lecture or two on democracy to his Zanu-PF counterparts."

Zanu-PF deputy secretary for external affairs, Tongai Kasukuwere, said Malema was more that welcome to visit Zimbabwe and said his visit would help strengthen relations between his party and the ANC.

"Malema's visit gives us a platform to share ideas on development in Africa and the best way to fight those who want to reverse the gains of independence. Zanu-PF and (the) ANC have a lot in common and that is why he is visiting us," Kasukuwere said.

"The point is that Malema is coming as the leader of the ANC youth wing and not as a GPA negotiator," he said, referring to the Global Political Agreement which underpins the fragile unity government.

President Jacob Zuma is the official regional facilitator of the negotiations among the three parties in the unity government, to try to find ways of implementing the agreement.

The three parties are to report back to Zuma today on the results of the latest round of their negotiations, although they apparently have little progress to report.

On Saturday the Zanu-PF-aligned empowerment group, Affirmative Action Group (AAG), will host a lavish dinner for Malema at a five star hotel in Harare, among other events.

Malema is expected to address indigenous businessmen on his vision on nationalism.

There is a possibility that he will meet Mugabe and visit the Zanu-PF headquarters.

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