Build One South Africa (BOSA) movement leader Mmusi Maimane has urged South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, not to attend the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of Zimbabwean President-elect, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa is set to be sworn in as Zimbabwe’s leader for a second and final term on 04 September at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
In a letter addressed to heads of State, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ministry permanent secretary James Manzou said Mnagangwa’s official inauguration will take place on Monday.
However, Maimane, who is a vocal critic of Zimbabwe’s ZANU PF party, said that by attending, Ramaphosa would be undermining the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) on the Zimbabwe elections.
In a post on Twitter, now X, Maimane warned that by attending Mnangagwa’s swearing-in ceremony, Ramaphosa would be prolonging the “crisis” in Zimbabwe. He wrote:
Do not attend this inauguration @CyrilRamaphosa do not undermine SADC and do not extend the crisis in Zimbabwe which is affecting South Africa.
In a previous statement, SADC’s Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) said that the manner in which the Harmonised Elections were conducted “fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections…”
Ramaphosa’s office has yet to officially reveal whether he will be attending or not.
However, in a previous statement, Ramaphosa congratulated the people of Zimbabwe for holding peaceful elections.
He also said he noted the concerns raised by international observers missions and those from the AU and SADC.
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