Daily Nation Newspaper

MALEMA,EFF MEMBERS DEMAND MBOWENI SACKING

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SUPPORTERS

of the EFF and its leader, Julius Malema have condemned the decision not to remove Finance minister, Tito Mboweni from the Cyril Ramaphosa led Cabinet.

Mboweni posted on Twitter at the weekend, saying: “Presidents in Africa must stop this nonsense of waking up in the morning and fire a central bank governor! You cannot do that. This is not some fiefdoms of yours! Your personal property? No!

Mboweni remained defiant after Zambia’s Minister of Informatio­n and Broadcasti­ng Services Dora Siliya reacted with disdain to his Twitter comment.

Siliya said: “We are very surprised with Tito Mboweni’s immature and improper criticism of a sovereign decision by Zambia. The minister should be attending to Covid problems facing the South Africans

We will pursue the matter diplomatic­ally.”

Mboweni hit back: “I stand by my statement. Central Bank independen­ce is key. Not negotiable. Let all central bankers speak out!” “The president of Zambia must give us the reasons why he dismissed the governor or else hell is on his way. I will mobilise!”

But was strongly reprimande­d by President Ramaphosa as he distanced himself and the South African republic from the ‘disrespect­ful’ tweets.

Ramaphosa said he wished to assure the government and Zambians that the unfortunat­e remarks did not reflect the views of the South African government and its people.

“The issue is being addressed to ensure that such an incident does not occur again.”

One South Africa Movement leader Mmusi Maimane has lambasted President Cyril Ramaphosa over his decision to reprimand Finance Minister Tito Mboweni over his comments about the removal of Zambia’s central governor by Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu.

Maimane on Monday night accused Ramaphosa of allegedly being silent on human rights violations and police brutality in neighbouri­ng Zimbabwe.

In his tweet, Maimane said: Can we see the same level of energy from you @ Presidency­ZA. In the same manner that you strongly reprimande­d @tito_mboweni for his comments on President

Edgar Lungu in Zambia.

“Can you issue the same level of strong reprimand to @ edmnangagw­a for the behaviour of his police force.”

The ANC has also urged former finance minister, Trevor Manuel to “use appropriat­e platforms,” including experience gained over the years, in sharing ideas that would help shape the country’s economy for the better.

This comes after Manuel allegedly said, at a webinar hosted by the Catholic Parliament­ary Liaison Office and Hanns Seidel Foundation, that the ANC’s 26 years in power since the dawn of democracy in 1994 were “almost three decades wasted”.

In a statement, the ANC said that Manuel should not fall into the trap of blasting the ANC as its detractors had done.

-Political Bureau

 ??  ?? Julius Malema
Julius Malema

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