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Monday, the country’s International Relations and Co-operation Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane,  Ms Mashabane commended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for its commitment to ensure a successful poll.

She said the political parties contesting the elections were campaigning peacefully.
“The upcoming Zimbabwean elections face many challenges but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is committed to work on the challenges to ensure that the elections are a success,” she said.

“What I heard, which is also on record, is that all parties have accepted the High Court decision. If you go to Zimbabwe today, they are all focused on electioneering and the electioneering has been largely peaceful.”

Ms Mashabane’s comments came at a time Ms Lindiwe Zulu, international relations advisor to the South African president was rapped for her utterances on Zimbabwe, which the South African presidency disowned describing them as unauthorised, regrettable, unfortunate and inaccurate.

The ANC yesterday backed President Zuma’s censure of Lindiwe saying the ANC valued its relations with Zimbabwe and wanted communication between the two countries to be handled responsibly.

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu, said the ANC respected and supported the decision taken by President Zuma.
Some media reports suggested that the ANC secretary general had defended Ms Zulu on her statements about Zimbabwe.

Mthembu said Cde Mantashe’s response on the matter was: “While the ANC would not venture into this matter, my own understanding, from reading the presidency statement, was that misgivings arose from communication that was not cleared with the president.”

He said Cde Mantashe further stated that the Zimbabwean situation was a sensitive matter and any communication on that country should be treated accordingly.
“The ANC wants to put it on record that we respect and support the intervention of the presidency regarding the South African facilitation team . . . to facilitate the Zimbabwe process towards free and fair elections,” Mthembu said.

President Zuma was appointed facilitator to the Global Political Agreement by Sadc in his personal capacity, succeeding Cde Thabo Mbeki soon after the signing of the GPA in September 2008.

On assuming his duties, he appointed a back-room technical team to assist him, including Ms Zulu.
Ms Zulu — the most vocal in President Zuma’s back-room facilitation team that included Mr Charles Nqakula (High Commissioner to Mozambique)  and Mr Mac Maharaj (spokesperson to the Presidency) — incensed Zimbabweans when she said South Africa was concerned about poll preparations as things were “not looking good” in Zimbabwe ahead of the polls.

She also claimed President Zuma had phoned President Mugabe to convey the concerns.
This prompted President Mugabe to urge President Zuma to rein in his international relations advisor.
President Zuma  duly  did  that on Sunday rapping Ms Zulu for issuing incorrect, unauthorised statements.