/ 4 April 2013

AU hacked off over Dlamini-Zuma imposters

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's report into violations of the list process leading up to the 2011 local government elections recommends councillors' removal and the holding of by-elections.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's report into violations of the list process leading up to the 2011 local government elections recommends councillors' removal and the holding of by-elections.

The African Union Commission released a statement on Thursday announcing that Dlamini-Zuma doesn't hold social media accounts, and ordered imposters to cease and desist from using her name.

"It has come to the attention of the African Union Commission that there are hackers in the social media space, masquerading as the AUC Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Clarice (N.C.) Dlamini Zuma," it said in a statement.

"The AU Commission would like to make it absolutely clear that the AU Commission chairperson, is currently not holding any accounts with social media platforms. The AU Commission would like all and sundry to desist from the unauthorised utilisation of her excellency's name."

The African Union Commission holds official accounts with Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.

A Facebook account which claims to belong to Dlamini-Zuma has just 136 Likes.

Dlamini-Zuma, a veteran of the apartheid struggle who has served every president since Nelson Mandela, took the helm of the AU Commission in July 2012.

Elected by the 54-member pan-African bloc in Ethiopia, she became the first woman to head the African Union commission.

An experienced diplomat, Dlamini-Zuma (63) is known for her competent management and stern personality.

A doctor by training, she was health minister when Mandela became the country's first black leader.

She went on to be foreign minister for a decade, earning praise for her shuttle diplomacy to end the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But her critics found fault with her "quiet diplomacy" towards neighbour Zimbabwe, during a crisis that saw President Robert Mugabe evict thousands of white farmers from their land in 2000.