VIP welcome in Zimbabwe for Malema

Published on 13/10/2012 00:00

Ousted African National Congress youth league leader Julius Malema arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday for a visit that will highlight Zanu-PF’s growing hostility towards South African president Jacob Zuma.

Mr Zuma is currently the regional mediator on Zimbabwe’s crisis, but is coming in for increasing criticism from president Robert Mugabe’s party because of his insistence upon reforms before polls. Mr Malema – who has led miners’ strikes in South Africa and was charged last month with money laundering – has vowed to remove Mr Zuma from power by the end of the year.

Witnesses said Mr Malema was whisked through the VIP section of Harare International Airport on his arrival late yesterday afternoon.

Floyd Shivambu, a spokesman for Mr Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters group, said the leader would meet “progressive forces in Zimbabwe” to discuss economic freedoms.

The South African has been inspired by Mr Mugabe’s controversial programme of white company takeovers. Economists warn it will kill what is left of Zimbabwe’s economy, already wrecked by more than a decade of chaotic farm invasions.

There are reports that the ANC believes Zanu-PF is aiming to use Mr Malema to try to topple Mr Zuma.