Malawi accepts Zuma’s apology over insulting remarks
Malawi government has accepted an apology from South African government over President Jacob Zuma’s disparaging remarks about the country.
Zuma sparked controversy on Tuesday with disparaging remarks about Malawi and Africa generally when discussing South Africa’s road infrastructure, he said: “We can’t think like Africans in Africa generally. We’re in Johannesburg. This is Johannesburg. This is not some national road in Malawi.”
The spokeswoman for the Malawi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Quent Kalichero, was quoted on Wednesday by AFP that government summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner “to discuss the issue”.
The envoy held a meeting with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, George Mkondiwa, in the capital Lilongwe.
Meanwhile, South Africa has said would never look down on Malawi or any African country, according to International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Nkoana-Mashabane said South Africa was “closely linked to Malawi. We will never look down on any African country”.
South Africa was giving financial assistance to Malawi of $35 million, she noted.
And Zuma’s spokesperson Mac Maharaj apologised on behalf of the South African leader for the comments, saying he had received numerous angry call from Malawians.
“Let me apologise for that and withdraw it,” he said.
Malawi Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources said the matter has been put to bed.
