South Africa’s (SA) Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will submit parliamentary questions over whether public funds were used for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to the private residence of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Zimbabwe.
The coalition party is demanding clarity on the purpose and cost of the trip following reports that controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo was among those present during the meeting.
Chivayo is reportedly under investigation over alleged money laundering linked to Zimbabwe’s 2023 general election.
Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa was unaware of the invited guests at Mnangagwa’s private farm, but stressed that SA law enforcement agencies should continue with their investigations.
DA Spokesperson on International Relations and Co-operation Ryan Smith said South Africans deserve answers on whether taxpayers funded the visit.
Smith also pointed to reports that Chivayo is being investigated by SA’s Financial Intelligence Centre over alleged laundering of more than R800 million ($43 million) linked to Zimbabwean public funds. He added that Chivayo’s bank accounts and assets worth an estimated R5 billion ($270 million) had reportedly been frozen by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
–ChannelAfrica–
