Zimbabwe Crisis: Ramaphosa intervenes, appoints special envoys… FULL TEXT

In the wake of growing outrage over the unchecked excesses of the Zimbabwe Government, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed special envoys who are expected in the country anytime soon.

In a press statement dated 6 August 2020, the South African presidency announced that Ramaphosa has appointed Dr. Sydney Mufamadi and Ms Baleka Mbete as his Special Envoys to Zimbabwe.

“The Special Envoys are expected to engage the Government of Zimbabwe and relevant stakeholders to identify possible ways in which South Africa can assist Zimbabwe,” partly reads the statement from the presidency.

We publish a full text of the statement below:

MEDIA STATEMENT

TO ALL MEDIA/NEWS EDITORS

06 AUGUST 2020

PRESIDENT APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOYS TO ZIMBABWE

The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, has appointed Dr. Sydney Mufamadi and Ms Baleka Mbete as his Special Envoys to Zimbabwe, following recent reports of difficulties that the Republic of Zimbabwe is experiencing.

The Special Envoys are expected to engage the Government of Zimbabwe and relevant stakeholders to identify possible ways in which South Africa can assist Zimbabwe.

Dr. Sydney Mufamadi is the former Minister of Provincial and Local Government (1999 to 2008).

In 1994, after South Africa’s first democratic elections, he was appointed Minister of Safety and Security in the Government of National Unity – a position he held until 1999.

Ms. Baleka Mbete is former Deputy President of Republic of South Africa, former Speaker of the National Assembly and former Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC).

The President’s Special Envoys will leave for Zimbabwe as soon as all the arrangements are made.

Media enquiries:

Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson to the President- media@presidency.gov.za

ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

www.thepresidency.gov.za

Pretoria

Zwnews