Che Ernst

For the first time in Trump's second term, Pretoria will have a potentially powerful institutional counterweight in Washington. @TheRealClementM @Sophie_Mokoena @tumisole @waltermzembi – at Sandton, South Africa

Why is there so much political outrage over South Africa potentially losing AGOA, with everyone rushing to blame the ANC, yet so little outrage over the economic consequences of Trump and Netanyahu's war with Iran? The resulting oil-price shock has driven up fuel and transport costs, placing enormous pressure on agriculture, mining, manufacturing, food prices and ordinary households. Unlike AGOA, which benefits specific export industries, rising energy costs affect virtually every sector of our economy. Why is Pretoria held accountable for Washington's trade decisions, while Washington and Tel Aviv face so little scrutiny for the economic consequences of their military actions? Are we genuinely concerned about South Africa's economy, or have we simply become comfortable repeating Washington's political narrative?

1/ The #ChamisaAudio @nelsonchamisa saga is a textbook coordinated smear. Daily News drops a headline attacking Chamisa for criticising elite #CAB3 games. Chamisa calls it misleading fiction. Then the usual suspects pounce: "Release the recording!" Classic trap. 2/ Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) leads the charge demanding proof. Many others join in. Others amplify. Suddenly a short decontextualised clip appears, no question, no full interview, and the same crowd immediately declares "Gotcha! Chamisa is attacking #CAB3 fighters like Timba!" 3/ Notice the timing: Denial, Instant demands for audio, Quick selective leak, Instant pile on and smearing. No full context. No transcript. Just enough to damage. This is not journalism. It is a hit job. 4/ The people pushing hardest have history of clashing with Chamisa on coalitions & strategy. Now they weaponise a partial clip to paint him as divisive while shielding the real #CAB3 manoeuvres. Coordinated. Predictable. 5/ Zimbabweans deserve full unedited audio + the actual question asked. Not edited clips designed to divide the opposition. Do not fall for the script. #Chamisa #CAB3 #ZimPolitics xitter.cf/i/status/2056362025131… – at Sandton, South Africa

Who exactly is Wicknell Chivayo, and on what lawful or institutional basis does he appear to enjoy such close and consistent access to @edmnangagwa ? What formal role, if any, justifies his presence within the presidential inner circle, particularly during engagements involving foreign dignitaries, where protocol, diplomacy, and national security standards are at their highest? By what authority is a private civilian granted proximity that typically requires security clearance, vetting, and defined accountability within state structures? Does this level of access not raise serious concerns about the integrity of presidential security protocols and the safeguarding of the Head of State? What assurances exist that national security is not being compromised when individuals outside official government or security frameworks are embedded so closely around the President? And ultimately, who is accountable for authorising, monitoring, and justifying this access to the highest office in the land? @nickmangwana @ParliamentZim @PoliceZimbabwe @wicknellchivayo @jahman_adamski @zimlive @nelsonchamisa @advocatemahere @DubekoSibanda @daddyhope @Am_Blujay @matinyarare @MJairosi – at Randburg, South Africa

You keep saying Zimbabwe is a “direct participation constitution,” therefore s328 must operate differently from so-called “indirect” systems. Let’s deal with law, not labels. 1. Which Zimbabwean case law holds that the nature of participation (direct vs indirect) alters Parliament’s amendment power under s117(2)(a)? 2. Which judgment says s46 can be used to modify or override the procedural requirements in s328 (90-day notice, public consultations, 2/3 vote, referendum where required)? 3. If your argument is doctrinal, cite the authority. If it is structural, show the section that legally distinguishes Zimbabwe’s amendment power from comparable constitutional systems. 4. Can you point to any decision of the Constitutional Court that has ever invalidated or recharacterised s328 on the basis of “direct participation theory”? - Direct answers. - Section numbers. - Case citations. Because constitutional interpretation is not political philosophy. It is text, structure, and precedent. – at Bucharest, Romania

One of the most delicate balancing acts in any society—despite our differences, tensions, and competing interests—is electing a President who can hold the center and steer the nation toward a shared purpose. When that balance is lost, the consequences are profound. The election of Donald Trump was, in my view, a grave miscalculation. In the span of a single year, America forfeited more institutional credibility, global trust, and moral authority than it had lost over decades. Long-standing alliances were strained, international agreements were abandoned, and the steady image of the United States as a stabilizing force in global affairs was shaken. Today, many across the world no longer view America as the dependable anchor of the international order, but as unpredictable, inward-looking, and at times isolated. A country once seen as a beacon of democratic stability now faces the uncomfortable reality of being perceived—fairly or unfairly—as a pariah in certain global conversations. Nations are strongest when they unite around shared values and coherent leadership. When the center fails, the world notices. – at Sandton, South Africa

The “other team” is fishing, using open debates to crowd source fragments of reasoning that can later be reframed as legal opinion. They are testing constitutional boundaries by tossing speculative interpretations into the debate. Not because those interpretations are legally sound, but to see which argument gains traction in public and political discourse. The correct counter strategy is to anchor every response strictly on the constitutional text and refuse to engage in speculative hypotheticals that lend them rhetorical ammunition! @adv_fulcrum – at United Arab Emirates

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inclusion of Johann Rupert, Ernie Els, and Retief Goosen in the delegation appears to be a calculated diplomatic move, designed to appeal to Donald Trump’s personal interests, values, and social circles. 🔹 Understanding the Delegation Strategy ✅ 1. Appealing to Trump’s Personal Tastes • Trump is an avid golfer with personal and business ties to the golf world. Including Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, both major champions and respected globally (especially among conservative, wealthy elites), leverages common ground. • Trump values deal-making and elite business success. Johann Rupert, one of Africa’s wealthiest businessmen and head of Richemont (a global luxury brand empire), aligns with that image and may be someone Trump respects or even knows personally. This is about “playing the man,” not the ball” — appealing to Trump’s ego, familiarity, and trust networks. ✅ 2. Humanising and Softening South Africa’s Image • The strained US–SA relationship, especially around: • Allegations of white genocide and farm killings • Afrikaner “refugees” narrative • Trump’s prior tweets about SA farm reform • Including well-known white South African figures like Rupert, Els, and Goosen subtly counters the “anti-white” narrative some far-right American groups have pushed about SA. • This mix of Afrikaner success stories (business and sports) provides a reassuring image that white South Africans remain safe and prominent in the country — and some still support the government or at least the broader national project. ✅ 3. Strengthening SA’s Voice on Critical Topics The issues on the table are serious: • AGOA renewal (preferential trade access to US markets) • Israel and the ICJ case, where SA leads an unpopular stance in Washington • Elon Musk’s critical comments about SA, which may sway conservative opinion Having respected, non-political voices backing Ramaphosa gives his arguments more weight. Rupert and others may act as “bridge figures” — making SA’s message more palatable in a hostile or skeptical Washington environment. 🔹 Conclusion The delegation is deliberately curated to: • Appeal to Trump’s ego, personal interests, and social networks • Counter damaging narratives about SA by showing successful, prominent white South Africans aligned with the state’s vision • Create emotional and relational leverage, making Trump more receptive to Ramaphosa’s positions This is smart statecraft: diplomacy through proximity, personality, and perception. It’s less about direct negotiation and more about creating the right room and mood for influence. #TrustSA #TrustRamaphosa #🇿🇦 @MYANC @GautengANC @Hon_Kasukuwere @daddyhope – at Sandton, South Africa