Transcript of President Jacob Zuma's answer to parliamentary questions in the National Assembly, Cape Town, May 27 2010

9. Mr V B Ndlovu (IFP) to ask the President of the Republic:

(1) Whether his mediation role in Zimbabwe has been hampered by the visit of a certain political organisation (name furnished) and its leader's statements; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,

(2) Whether he has taken any position in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Speaker, South Africa remains an impartial mediator and facilitator to a dialogue between Zimbabwe's political parties. Its position in this regard is widely recognised, and all parties have indicated their confidence in South Africa's ability to discharge its mandate dispassionately. Neither the visit nor the statements to which the hon member refers have impaired South Africa in the performance of this responsibility. We are not hampered at all. I thank you, Speaker.

isiZulu:

MNU V B NDLOVU: Ngiyabonga Somlomo, mhlonishwa Mongameli kanye nabahlonishwa bonke. Engicela ukukubuza mhlonishwa Mongameli uthunywe lapha i-SADC ukuthi uyolamula ukuze uhulumeni wakwaBulawayo usebenze ngokubambisana kwizinhlangano zontathu.

Uma ke kuqhamuka umuntu ongaphansi kwakho, oyingane yakho esho okunye okubheke eceleni kunalokho okwenzayo. Okokuqala, kuyaye kufanele wenze njani njengomuntu omdala? Okwesibili, kuyaye kufanele wenze njani kulaba abakuthumile ubachazela ukuthini ngalenkinga ohlangabezana nayo yengane ephikisana nawe umdala uzama ukulamula abantu ekhaya na? [Uhleko.] 

UMOMGAMELI  WERIPHABHULIKHI: Ngiyabonga kakhulu Somlomo, nelungu elihloniphekile lePhalamende ubab'uGatsheni, uBoya Benyathi, eqinisweni noma yinini uma ingane yakho kukhona ekwenzayo okuphuma eceleni, uyayikhuza.

Ingane ngiyikhuzile, ukuphendula ubuzo wokuqala.[Ihlombe.] Okwesibili akuwona umcimbi lo obulindelwe ukuthi uze ubikwe kwiSADC. Baningi kabi abantu abakhulumayo ngodaba lwaseZimbabwe. Ukuba ngingaqoqa izinto ezishiwoyo eceleni ngithi ngiyozibeka la, ngiyethemba umbiko wami ungaba umqingo omkhulu kabi ngoba baningi abantu abakhulumayo ngodaba lwaseZimbabwe.

Okubabalukekile ukuthi ngiyokwethula umbiko kuSADC lo oqondene ngqo nomsebenzi engiwenzayo. Lokho nje okubalulekile, akukafiki isikhathi sokuthi siyobika, sizobika bude budala njengoba sisebenza nje. Sibike kuSADC ukuthi kuhamba kanjani. Umsebenzi uhamba kahle kakhulu kanti noma ingane zikhuziwe lokho akuzange kuphazamisane nomsebenzi esiwenzayo laphaya. Siyawuqhuma nje kahle, akunankinga nencane kakhulu.    

English:

Mr J SELFE: Speaker, I would like to thank the President for that reply. The person to whom this question refers, Mr Julius Malema, addressed the mineral resources portfolio committee yesterday, and he reportedly said: The views of the ANC Youth League have always prevailed within the ANC. Now, when Mr Malema went to Zimbabwe in April, one of the statements referred to in this question was that he said that he was going to intensify his campaign for the nationalisation of mines and land in South Africa.

In view of the ANC Youth League's prevalence in determining ANC policy, we want to know very directly from you, sir, whether you will give us the unequivocal assurance that your government will not nationalise mines and land. [Interjections.] We want that answer from you, sir, and not by way of a debate with the president of the ANC Youth League. 

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Speaker, I am sure we have answered this question in this House before. [Interjections.] We had said that Mr Malema, like any other South African, has a right to his views. His views are his views. It could be the views of the ANC Youth League, as well, and historically the ANC Youth League has had very strong views. It does not mean that all the views were accepted as they were, but they always had views, raised issues, and the matters would be discussed. Then resolutions were taken. What I think Mr Malema was saying - it is not new that he is articulating certain things. The ANC Youth League has always done so. He was simply making that simple point and that they would debate the issues and try to win the debate. In the ANC, we are a democratic organisation, and even individuals, not only the youth, do so. They do raise their issues which are then debated. I can tell you, in the ANC we are used to debates.

On this matter, the ANC has a policy. It doesn't depend on the views of an individual. We don't work like that. We work on the ANC policy that emerges out of vigorous discussions. The aim of the policy is clear, and that is why I said that I have answered the question here that we don't have a nationalisation policy as the ANC. That question has been answered. You know it. I even invited you to, if this issue creates an excitement, debate the matter with Malema. [Interjections.] He is there. He is ready to debate the matter with you. Absolutely! [Applause.]

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms C DUDLEY: Thank you, Mr President. Does your mediation role include plans for peacekeepers for the expected forthcoming election, as requested by Prime Minister Tsvangirai? If not, why not? If so, what are the relevant details then?

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Sorry, can you just repeat the question? I couldn't here you at the beginning?

Ms C DUDLEY: Sorry, sir. Your mediation, just in terms of your mediation role, does this include plans for peacekeepers for the expected forthcoming election and how will that pan out? Thank you. 

The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: Thank you. Our mediation does not include peacekeeping. Peacekeeping goes to places where there is a fight. In Zimbabwe, there is no fight. [Interjections.] What has happened in Zimbabwe has been the request for people to come and monitor elections. That is how I've heard Tsvangirai speaking, that in the coming election he will ask the Southern African Development Community, SADC, to monitor them. You bring peacekeeping where there is a fight, where you stop the fight. I haven't heard Tsvangirai talk about peacekeeping. I've heard him talking about monitoring and observing the election. That is not what we are debating at the moment. We are dealing with the implementation of the plan. Probably once the issue of the election emerges as an issue on the agenda, that matter will come, and I am sure it would be attended to at the time. Thank you. [Applause.]

ENDS

Source: Unrevised Hansard, National Assembly, Cape Town, May 27 2010

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