unyaradzi Huni

Former ANC Youth League president, Cde Julius Malema, has rubbished claims that he is being bankrolled by some Zimbabwean businesspeople adding that he will never be shy to do business with fellow Africans.

He also said South African President Zuma should cease to be the facilitator in Zimbabwe because of his strong views against President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail at his apartment in Sandton last week, Cde Malema said his visit to Zimbabwe in 2010 had inspired him a lot as he discovered that Zimbabweans had taken back their land despite the difficulties they encountered.

“I don’t have any business in Zimbabwe and I don’t get any funding from Zimbabwe. I wish Zimbabweans can make an offer which we can declare in public because I am now unemployed.

“I will never be shy to do business with my fellow Africans . . . if I had anything to do with Zimbabwe, I would declare it. I am under investigations by South African authorities. We all know that they are chasing me so they have access to my bank accounts, access to my cellphone . . . Tyson (Minister Saviour Kasukuwere) is my only friend in Zimbabwe and if I was involved in any deals with him, they should have picked it up,’’ charged Cde Malema.

On the allegations that he became radical after visiting Zimbabwe, he said: “No, I have always been radical. People saying that are the people who don’t know me. The reason why I was welcomed properly in Zimbabwe is because of my radical stance but I must say I even got more inspired in Zimbabwe . . .

“I learnt that people can take charge of what rightly belongs to them. Not cowards. Zimbabweans are not cowards. They are not scared to take a risk. That’s why even those who leave Zimbabwe illegally to cross into South Africa, they cross through rivers that have crocodiles.

“That is their character and nature. Fearless. That is what got me inspired. They got land and now they are continuing with agricultural activities. They are working, they are employing each other.’’

Commenting on the relationship between Zanu-PF and the ANC, Cde Malema said the South African ruling party was not genuine in its relationship with Zimbabwe. “I don’t think the ANC is genuine in it’s relationship with Zanu-PF. There are a lot of contentious things that are happening. I went to Zimbabwe and I said many other things and I got punished for that. But people also realise that those things can also gain them cheap popularity.

“Gwede (ANC secretary-general) went there and almost said the same things that I said but he had no problems. I know the views of President Zuma about Zimbabwe and Zanu-PF, and that’s why I don’t think that they are genuine.

“I don’t think that President Zuma is a neutral facilitator in the Zimbabwean problems. He has very strong views about President Mugabe and Zanu-PF. All you see is very pretentious and it’s not helpful at all.

“I don’t think Zanu-PF should buy into that. Well, they have diplomatic relations so they will relate at that level. I am not a diplomat but I am saying to you President Zuma does not say the things that he says when he is in Zimbabwe when he is in the meetings of the ANC.

“I don’t think he must be a facilitator at this point in time. He has very problematic views and I have argued against those views in the meetings of the ANC against what he seeks to project Zanu-PF and it’s leadership.’’

He added: “I think what contributes more to his (President Zuma) hatred of those comrades is because of their close relationship with President Mbeki. And I think he suspects that they might have supported President Mbeki and not him and this is an opportunity to get to them.’’

Although he was expelled from the ANC, Cde Malema insists that he still has a future in the party.

“I said to you I am sitting right outside the gate of the ANC. These gates will open one day. They can’t be closed forever. Even if it’s after five years, I will continue to be a member of the ANC. Even if it’s after Zuma’s term, I will continue to be a member of the ANC.