THE controversial appointment of disgraced attorney Ramesh Vassen as consul general to India will continue as planned, Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Nzo said on Tuesday. At a media conference in Pretoria, Nzo called objections to the appointment “political opportunism”, saying Vassen deserves a second chance. He was struck off the attorneys’ roll in 1996 for abuse of trust funds. Nzo said Vassen has repaid the money he misused. The Democratic Party exposed Vassen’s history at the weekend, and MP Douglas Gibson said submitting Vassen’s name had embarrassed the president, who recently ratified the appointment. President Nelson Mandela on Sunday called for an inquiry into Vassen’s appointment. Nzo said Vassen will take up his posting at the end of the week. Asked about possible inquiries on Tuesday, presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana would offer no comment other than to say that Foreign Affairs “spoke to” the president on Monday.