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Zuma's Zim 'comments' denied
14/10/2002 09:53 - (SA)
Christi van der Westhuizen and Sapa-AFP, Beeld
Johannesburg - The department of foreign affairs has denied that Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said it was "un-revolutionary" to criticise the expropriation of land in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwean state-run television service reported that Dlamini-Zuma said that people are entitled to hold opinions over how land reform should be done ... but the real issue is the redistribution of land to the Zimbabwean people and that cannot be wrong".
"It would be un-revolutionary to say it is wrong to give out land."
Dlamini-Zuma is on a state visit to Zimbabwe and apparently made these comments after meeting President Robert Mugabe on Saturday.
Ronnie Mamoepa, spokesperson for the foreign affairs, denied on Sunday the minister made these statements.
She apparently spoke to a few journalists after meeting Mugabe, but it was "nonsense" to say she made the alleged statements.
She allegedly also said economic problems in Zimbabwe would have an effect on South Africa because the two countries' economies were linked.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean government plans to further restrict the independent media and non-governmental organisations.
Now, no investigation is needed
Earlier this year, Zanu-PF used legislation to create a commission that can place a ban on publications and journalists if investigations show that certain provisions of the law have been broken.
The legislation may now be adapted to allow the commission to issue bans without investigating the alleged transgressions of the law.
Mugabe told Zanu-PF officials on Friday that non-governmental organisations that believe they are "small governments", are threatening to oppose his government.
Legislation can be formulated to prevent these organisations from accepting foreign funding as the funds allegedly are being used against Zanu-PF.
Mugabe said the money was entering the country through "Trojan horses" such as
labour unions, foundations, drought-relief agencies, international development agencies, banks, embassies, private companies and certain media groups.
- Beeld
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