Despite Britain’s disapproval of President Zuma’s polymagous ways, Africa’s man of the moment seems to have quietened his British media critics during his three day visit to South Africa’s closest European ally.

President Zuma can be seen in photographs of his visit, totally at ease signing autographs with scholars, smiling broadly while presenting Queen Elizabeth with a handcrafted South African chess set, and charming photographers with his grin outside the state banquet at Buckingham Palace held on Wednesday evening. There are few photographs of the president not smiling.

While President Zuma engaged with Britain’s most important people, the wife that accompanied him, Thobeka Madiba-Zuma was at ease in her chic outfits and at one point shared a coach with Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Zuma took some 200 delegates from different South African sectors with him, seizing the opportunity for further collaboration with Britain head-on. He met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss Zimbabwe sanctions, the World Cup and education, and ensured investors that it is not South African government policy to nationalize the mines. He also addressed crowds at Britain’s premier football stadium, Wembley, telling the crowds “you are all welcome at our World Cup”.

President Zuma was personally stung by the criticism he received before his visit in the British press. One journalist at the Daily Mail, a right-wing tabloid newspaper, called President Zuma a “sex-obsessed bigot” claiming that he had 35 children. Today’s Daily Mail report on the president’s visit sets a different tone entirely, being tongue in cheek as opposed to defamatory.

One British correspondent, commenting on 702, noted that the pomp and ceremony rolled out for President Zuma’s visit was far more than during former-President Thabo Mbeki’s visits to London.

Zuma and his delegation wrap up their visit today.

Julie Cunningham