Ambassador of Zimbabwe to South Africa, David Hamadziripi on Wednesday congratulated the government and people of South Africa for the peaceful transition into the seventh administration ushered in by the grand inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa. In the May 29 general elections, the African National Congress (ANC) received its worst election result since apartheid ended 30 years ago in South Africa. The party garnered 40% of the vote, losing its absolute majority in Parliament.
However, Ramaphosa is officially beginning his second term at the Union in Pretoria after his party formulated a government of national unity (GNU) incorporating its decades-old rival, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other smaller parties. In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika at the Union Buildings, Hamadziripi said Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa had joined the mega festivities as a sign of the sisterly relations between the two neighbouring countries. “We were very much impressed by the way the election was organised.
We were also part of the SADC observer group and the African Union observer group. I had the privilege of visiting a few polling stations on that day, it was beautiful, it was quiet, it was very peaceful and everybody went about their business nicely,” he said. “Clearly for us, we know that South Africa has gone through a similar period where you have had a government of national unity.
It is an experience you have had before. We have every confidence.