Zuma’s Office Rejects Report He Was No-Show at Davos Debate
President Jacob Zuma’s office on Thursday released an unusual statement reprimanding a South African business journalist for saying that Zuma was a no-show at an important World Economic Forum debate, and chose to have discussions with the Swedish premier instead. “Zuma has bailed on the Africa Panel – no Pravin either. Defeats the purpose of coming to […]
President Jacob Zuma’s office on Thursday released an unusual statement reprimanding a South African business journalist for saying that Zuma was a no-show at an important World Economic Forum debate, and chose to have discussions with the Swedish premier instead.
“Zuma has bailed on the Africa Panel – no Pravin either. Defeats the purpose of coming to #WEF16 or what?” tweeted journalist Alec Hogg of Biznews. Along with it was photograph of a row of empty chairs under the prophetic words “Africa’s Next Challenge”.
On the World Economic Forum’s events page, Zuma is still listed as one of the panelists for the “Africa’s Next Challenge” debate, but the updated report has replaced his name with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The Presidency called Hogg’s reporting “inaccurate and mischievous”.
Hogg had written in his story for Biznews on Thursday, “”Last night Zuma withdrew from the panel, offering his able and recently re-instated Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan instead. But that ‘downgrade’ was unacceptable to the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn who threatened to withdraw rather than share the stage with Gordhan. So, at the last minute, Rwanda’s third-term seeking President Paul Kagame was drafted into Zuma’s seat, placating the Ethiopian.”
Said the Presidency in its statement: “Mr Hogg has written stories today, claiming that President Jacob Zuma withdrew from the CNBC Africa debate at short notice last night 20 January, on the evening before the session. This is untrue and very mischievous. The Presidency informed the organisers last week that the President would be unable to participate in the debate. The Presidency advance team in Davos also continuously informed the organisers that the President would not participate. We reject the spreading of lies by Mr Hogg, who seems determined to mislead the public about this matter.”
The Twitter post by Alec Hogg:
Zuma has bailed on the Africa Panel – no Pravin either. Defeats the purpose of coming to #WEF16 or what? pic.twitter.com/QFrhKyuGL7
— Alec Hogg (@alechogg) January 21, 2016