The Presidency has noted inaccurate media reports to the effect that “President Jacob Zuma is expected to tell his fellow regional leaders at a summit in Malawi this weekend that he has accomplished his mission in Zimbabwe.”

The story goes on to speculate that President Zuma would tell regional leaders at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit that “they should relieve him of his job as facilitator and they are likely to agree with him.”

We wish to clarify that should President Zuma or the South African Government have any position on Zimbabwe, such information is communicated directly through to SADC or publicly when necessary.

The Presidency distances itself from this rumour and rejects the utilisation of gossip and rumour to communicate a serious matter as South Africa’s mediation role in the neighbouring Zimbabwe.