PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson scrambled Thursday to deny reports his boss would attend centenary celebrations of the ANC at the same time a senior Zanu PF official launched an uncharacteristic attack on South Africa’s ruling party.

The state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) claimed in a report on its website Thursday that Mugabe -- currently on leave in the Far East – would break his holiday to attend the ANC celebrations set for the weekend.

But the ZBC report was later withdrawn after Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba issued a statement insisting the Zimbabwean leader was not travelling to South Africa and would, instead, be represented by his deputy, Joyce Mujuru.

“President who started his annual leave recently, and who is in the Far East, is unable to personally attend these important celebrations, to which he was invited," Charamba said in his statement.

"(Vice President Joyce) Mujuru will be accompanied by senior party officials. She is expected back in the country mid next week."

Mugabe rarely misses international gatherings and was recently the only head of state to attend the inauguration of DRC president Joseph Kabila following controversial elections.

"We realise that there are elements keen to divide us and infiltrate the region and cause mayhem. It is important, therefore, for us to cement that unity as liberation movements so that we will react together," Mutasa said in an interview with state radio.

Mutasa said the ANC should have done more to support Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola during their controversial intervention in the DRC. He also felt the ANC should have prevented the United Nations resolution which faciliated NATO's bloody intervention in last year's Libya conflict.

"We were hoping the ANC were going to join us with Namibia in the DRC conflict. We also hope there are many things the ANC can do to achieve the true liberation of Africa," Mutasa said.

Apart from openly expressing frustration with the some of the ANC government’s foreign policy positions, Zanu PF officials have also been critical of President Jacob Zuma’s mediation efforts in Zimbabwe on behalf of the regional SADC grouping.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe allayed the concerns somewhat during Zanu PF’s national conference last month when he pledged to help Mugabe win elections expected sometime this year.

Mugabe has long pushed for closer cooperation between the region’s former liberation movements – many of them still in power – to help stem what it sees as the continued threat of Western imperialism.

But such closer cooperation would also help the Zimbabwean leader isolate its local rivals, in particular Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T which Zanu PF dismisses as a proxy for Western imperialism.

Meanwhile, some 46 heads of state are expected attend the ANC celebrations, which begin on Friday.