Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 5 april 2017
South Africa’s Zuma says government disputes are damaging

In a speech in an indus- in the past. On Tuesday,
trial area of the capital, Bheki Ntshalintshali, the
Pretoria, Zuma thanked federation’s general sec-
Gordhan for assisting in the retary, referred to Zuma’s
handover of the finance “negligent leadership” and
ministry to successor Malusi cited scandals including a
Gigaba, and he said the Constitutional Court ruling
government “will do every- against the president over
thing possible” to promote millions of dollars in state
unity within its ranks. spending on his private
“We know that public home.
statements which indicate “COSATU believes that he
disagreements within gov- is no longer the right per-
ernment by ministers, for son to unite and lead the
example, demoralize our movement, the alliance
people and create con- and the country,” Ntshalint-
fusion,” said Zuma, who shali said, according to the
still commands significant African News Agency.
support within the ruling Some senior ruling party fig-
African National Congress ures have also criticized the
party despite growing calls dismissal of Gordhan, who
for him to resign. generally received posi-
South African President Jacob Zuma speaks at the official launch of the Trans-Africa Locomotive “This is a serious weakness tive reviews for his strong
prototype near Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Zuma responded to the political and we shall attend to it anti-corruption stance
crisis that erupted after he fired the finance minister, acknowledging that public disputes at the within renewed vigor,” the and stewardship of one
top of the government are a “serious weakness.” president said. of Africa’s biggest econo-
(AP Photo) Gigaba said the Standard mies. They include Deputy
CHRIS TORCHIA the country’s biggest labor The firing deepened worries & Poor’s downgrade was a President Cyril Ramaphosa,
Associated Press group urged him to resign. about government corrup- setback but noted what he ANC Secretary-General
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The call by the Congress of tion and infighting. South described as the strengths Gwede Mantashe and
South Africa’s president on South African Trade Unions, Africa’s rand fell Monday of the South African econ- Zweli Mkhize, the party’s
Tuesday responded to the a traditional ally of the ruling after Standard & Poor’s, omy, including increasing treasurer-general.
political crisis that erupted party, increased pressure an international credit rat- exports and a strong bank- Over the weekend, Rama-
after he fired the finance on President Jacob Zuma, ings agency, lowered the ing system. phosa called for South Afri-
minister, acknowledging who made his first pub- country to below invest- The alliance between the cans to get rid of “greedy”
that public disputes at the lic comments about last ment grade, citing politi- ruling party and the trade and “corrupt” people,
top of the government are week’s dismissal of Finance cal instability and threats to union federation, or COSA- though he did not mention
a “serious weakness,” while Minister Pravin Gordhan. economic growth. TU, has come under strain anyone by name.q

India-China row deepens over Dalai Lama visit

WASBIR HUSSAIN ject to the Dalai Lama’s of us here over the visit.”
Associated Press visit and interfere in India’s “This visit is purely related to
GAUHATI, India (AP) — In- internal affairs,” he said. culture and faith, and there
dia said Tuesday that Chi- The Dalai Lama is visiting is no politics involved,” he
na should not interfere in its the state at the invitation said.
internal affairs, as the Dalai of the people of Arunachal The Dalai Lama will travel
Lama began a weeklong Pradesh, Rijiju said. “As a to the Arunachal Pradesh
visit to India’s remote north- democratic country, India district of Tawang on Thurs-
east that Beijing has pro- cannot interfere in the re- day, where he is scheduled
tested. ligious affairs of any com- to consecrate a monastery
The Tibetan spiritual leader munity,” he said. and address his followers.
was greeted by cheering Hundreds of support- People from nearby areas,
supporters as he arrived in ers, some waving Tibetan including from the Hima-
Arunachal Pradesh. China flags, cheered as the Da- layan country of Bhutan,
claims the partly ethnically lai Lama’s motorcade en- which borders Arunachal
Tibetan Himalayan state tered Bomdila, a town in Pradesh, were already
as its own territory, and Arunachal Pradesh that gathering at Tawang, local
warned last month of “se- borders China. officials said.
vere damage” to relations The Dalai Lama had to “The mood in Tawang is
with India and increased cancel his plans to fly to the very joyous and spiritual,”
regional instability if the Da- state due to bad weather, said Sonam Chombey, a
lai Lama proceeds with his giving people in Bomdila Tawang official.
trip. a surprise chance to greet Last month, Chinese For-
Indian Junior Home Minister their spiritual leader. eign Ministry spokesman
Kiren Rijiju said Tuesday that This is the Dalai Lama’s Geng Shuang said that
New Delhi respects Beijing’s seventh visit to Arunachal Beijing has expressed its
“one China” policy and ex- Pradesh, and his first since concerns to New Delhi on
pects China to accept In- 2009. numerous occasions and
dia’s policies. Lama Tashi, a senior monk, urged India to avoid offer-
“Arunachal Pradesh is an said by phone from Bomdi- ing a place for the Dalai
inseparable part of India la that there was “tremen- Lama to carry out anti-Chi-
and China should not ob- dous enthusiasm among all na separatist activities.q