By Claver Nyuki
South African opposition party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema has come under heavy criticism following his SADC derogatory remarks during his visit to Zimbabwe’s former First Family’s home in Harare to offer his condolences to the passing of the later former President Robert Mugabe.
Malema called the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) ‘a group of old people,’ a ‘gentleman club’ who do not care about their people and only interested in consolidating each other’s power.
MDC-T Vice President, Obert Gutu dismissed these claims by Malema and asserted that SADC the AU are formidable barriers against neo-colonialists; neo-imperialist intrusion and domination.
He said this on his Twitter handle, “The assertion that both SADC and the AU are ‘gentlemen’s clubs' is content-free, it's devoid of yummy yummy content. It's puerile and nebulous. In fact, both SADC and the AU are formidable barriers against neo-colonialist and neo-imperialist intrusion and domination.
“SADC and the AU are anything but ‘gentlemen's clubs.’ This is a false and misleading narrative. Indeed, it's a negation of Pan-Africanism. Yes, both SADC and the AU aren't perfect organizations, but then, tell me: Which organization is perfect? Is the EU perfect? Is the UN perfect?”
Malema also accused President Mnangagwa and Government for neglecting the late former President during his ill health an assertion that has been thoroughly refuted by Government.
A Government official who spoke to the publication revealed that Government did indeed support the late Mugabe and his family.
“The late President Mugabe was not abandoned by Government and in fact, the late Mugabe was given US$1.2 million while his wife, Grace was also given US$300 000 in April for Singapore hospital visits and subsequent funds for hospital bills at Gleneagles,” he said.
The reckless statements by Malema reveal that he is misinformed and devoid of the actual happenings on the ground. His statements also come in as a shocking surprise considering his attacks on the late President during his last days in office.
