Harvard is Mazibuko’s plan B, says Zille

South Africa's opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille, center, with her parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, left, and national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane, right, lead their supporters during their protest march against the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) for opposing the youth wage subsidy in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday May 15, 2012. An opposition party march in Johannesburg turned violent Tuesday after union supporters hurled rocks at the leader of South Africa's main opposition party. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille, center, with her parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko, left, and national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane, right, lead their supporters during their protest march against the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) for opposing the youth wage subsidy in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday May 15, 2012. An opposition party march in Johannesburg turned violent Tuesday after union supporters hurled rocks at the leader of South Africa's main opposition party. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Published May 14, 2014

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Johannesburg - Going to Harvard University was DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko's “Plan B”, opposition leader Helen Zille was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

In an interview with Beeld newspaper, Zille said Mazibuko would not have been re-elected as the Democratic Alliance's caucus leader.

“She would have lost the election… She knew it and many other people knew it.

“I am certain that (Harvard) was her Plan B,” Zille was quoted as saying in the Afrikaans daily.

Zille said last year she offered Mazibuko the position of Gauteng premier candidate which she declined.

Mmusi Maimane became the Gauteng candidate for the DA.

Zille told SAfm on Wednesday morning that she had decided to stay on as premier of the Western Cape instead of going to Parliament.

“We decided I should finish the job I do as premier,” said Zille.

The DA won almost 60 percent of the provincial vote in the Western Cape in the general elections last week and significantly grew its support base in Gauteng.

Mazibuko, who announced on Saturday that she would quit the DA to attend Harvard University for year, declined a request from Beeld for comment. - Sapa

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