South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) has sharply criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa following his visit to the private residence of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the weekend.
In a strongly worded statement, the DA said the meeting comes at a sensitive political moment in Zimbabwe, where the ruling ZANU-PF is pursuing constitutional amendments that critics claim could extend presidential rule indefinitely.
The proposed Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3, recently gazetted in Zimbabwe, includes measures that opponents argue may reshape electoral timelines and governance structures in ways that strengthen the governing party’s hold on power.
The DA also criticised the South African government’s response to the arrest of Zimbabwean opposition politician Tendai Biti.
Biti, who leads the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF), was detained alongside party members and a journalist in Mutare on March 21, 2026, while campaigning for greater public participation in the constitutional amendment process.
According to the DA, both Ramaphosa and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola failed to publicly condemn the arrests.
While the South African Presidency described the meeting between Ramaphosa and Mnangagwa as an informal engagement between neighbouring leaders, the DA argued that the visit reflects what it sees as the ANC government’s ongoing reluctance to challenge authoritarianism within the region.
The opposition party further questioned the presence of Zimbabwean businessmen Wicknell Chivayo and Kudakwashe Tagwirei during the visit.
The DA linked the pair to broader concerns about corruption and state capture, comparing them to South Africa’s Gupta family scandal and referencing the findings of the Zondo Commission into corruption.
In its statement, the DA argued that Zimbabwe’s political and economic instability has contributed significantly to migration pressures in South Africa over the past two decades.
The party said ordinary Zimbabweans should not be blamed for seeking opportunities elsewhere, instead placing responsibility on political leadership in both countries.
The DA also accused the ANC of applying inconsistent standards on human rights issues, claiming South Africa condemns abuses selectively while overlooking democratic decline in neighbouring states.
Referring to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the party warned that continued instability and repression in the region could undermine long-term prosperity and security.
It said South Africa, as a regional power, should take a stronger stance against alleged authoritarian practices and political repression.
As part of South Africa’s Government of National Unity, the DA stated that it rejects what it described as the ANC’s willingness to maintain close ties with leaders accused of undermining democratic freedoms.
