The West is trying to vilify Moscow and deflect attention away from real issues, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has said

Pan-African Parliament representative Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has dismissed Western criticism of Russia as deliberate propaganda.

In an interview with RT, Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, said Western narratives deflect from what she described as efforts to "rescue the world from unnecessary issues from the West."

"They [Western news outlets] are just trying to make Russia an enemy, and I don't think that is correct," she said. 

Zuma-Sambudla also criticized the continued military and political interference by Western powers across Africa, calling it a major obstacle to regional stability and self-reliance. Citing recent developments in West Africa and the Sahel, she described the withdrawal of French forces from countries such as Senegal as involuntary.

"They didn't pull out, they were asked to leave," she said, arguing that this reflect a growing desire among African nations to "resolve African problems alone," free from external influence. "We always have interference. And interference is actually what makes the problems even bigger."

Asked whether South Africa should continue to value its relationship with the US, Zuma-Sambudla questioned why it is still seen as a strategic partner. She noted that South Africa's liberation movement once asked the US for assistance during the Apartheid era, but received no support, in contrast to Russia, which provided aid.

"We [South Africans] cherish the Russian relationship, because when we asked for help, they helped us," she said.

Reflecting on leaders who have challenged the dominance of the US dollar, Zuma-Sambudla noted former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's push for a pan-African gold dinar. She suggested that proposals such as this may have played a role in his downfall. "We're working on the BRICS currency, and all of a sudden, Putin is a problem. So, it's just a trend."

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In the interview, Zuma expressed support for RT and criticized the South African government's decision to block the channel amid international sanctions on Russia. She pledged that her party, the uMkhonto weSizwe movement, would reopen RT's access if it comes to power.