The President of the African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, said the formation of the government of national unity in Zimbabwe will ease the challenges that Musina is faced with at the moment. Zuma visited Musina on Tuesday to assess the cholera situation and the influx of Zimbabwean nationals into the small border town.



Mr Zuma’s high-powered delegation included the Minister of Health, Barbara Hogan, Limpopo ANC Chairperson Cassel Mathale, Youth League President Julius Malema and the Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu.



His visit kicked off at Musina Hospital. He proceeded to the Musina Show Grounds where hundreds of foreign nationals converge daily to apply for asylum. He then visited the local detention centre where foreign nationals are kept before they are deported. Zuma completed his itinerary by addressing thousands of people at the MTD Stadium.



Zuma said: “We came here to see for ourselves the problems that you are facing. We are also here to see our brothers and sisters from Zimbabwe. We wanted the people of Musina to tell us exactly what is happening, while at the same time listening to the experiences of the Zimbabwean nationals who are here. This town is faced with serious challenges.”



Mr Zuma encouraged the Zimbabwean people, particularly within the leadership of ZANU and MDC, to solve their problems. “The problems are directly impacting on our country, particularly this region, because it is feeling the strain,” he said.



Zuma said he was happy that the SADEC summit that met in Pretoria on Monday had made progress to address the problem of Zimbabwe. “We hope that the leadership of the two main parties is indeed going to take the opportunity created by the summit to implement the agreement they reached earlier. This is the only option after long deadlocks which we believe our colleagues must implement, for the sake of our people here and Zimbabwe as a country.”



He urged South African masses to go and vote during the forthcoming general elections. “Voting is an important exercise in the life our democracy. It is the manner in which the citizens exercise their constitutional powers and rights to elect lead-ers who will address matters of the people. Each and every vote is important, particularly in this challenging time. Each one of us has the task to go and vote. When we vote, we vote for important things. We vote for leaders who are ready to serve the people.”