Jacob Zuma, South Africa: Pressure builds for president to stand down
HE HAS become the leader no one wants and even his own party want him out. Despite scandal and infighting, he refuses to resign.
Debra Killalea@DebKillalea
news.com.auFEBRUARY 6, 201810:22PM
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Pressure mounts on S. Africa's Zuma to quit
PLAGUED by corruption scandals and a divided party, South African leader Jacob Zuma is facing the fight of his political life as calls grow for him to quit.
The defiant leader, who once spent time in prison for his opposition to apartheid, is now being pushed to resign by members of his own party.
The African National Congress’ (ANC) leaders are currently discussing Mr Zuma’s future — and it doesn’t look good.
The ANC party are due to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday in a move that could see Mr Zuma removed from office.
The 75-year-old is due to deliver the annual state of the nation address on Thursday, but critics argue he should quit before the speech takes place.
The ANC confirmed that its national executive committee would discuss preparations for the address and “management of the transition” of power between Mr Zuma and his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa.
South African President Jacob Zuma is facing renewed pressure to stand down. Picture: Simon Maina/AFP
Source:AFP
It remains to be seen if Mr Zuma is willing to go quickly quietly in a region that has been hit by political upheaval in recent months.
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was also forced to stand down after 37 years in power.
Mugabe initially refused to stand down, despite the country’s military seizing control and demands from his own people to quit.
The 93-year-old was regarded by many as an autocrat who rigged elections and trashed the economy in the relentless pursuit of power.
SCANDALS AND INFIGHTNG
Mr Zuma’s presidency has been dominated by corruption scandals and he faces several court cases, including over 783 payments he allegedly received linked to an arms deal before coming to power in 2009.
Many graft allegations against Mr Zuma have centred on the wealthy Gupta family, who are accused of unfairly obtaining lucrative government contracts and even being able to choose ministerial appointments.
The ANC, which has ruled since 1994 when Nelson Mandela won the first multiracial election, recorded its worst-ever results in 2016 local polls.
With falling public support and a 28 per cent employment rate, many within the ANC regard Mr Zuma’s leadership as a toxic element that needs to go, the
BBCreported.
A general election is set for next year and the ANC is keen for a fresh start with Mr Ramaphosa elected as the new party leader.
Cyril Ramaphosa could be South Africa’s next leader. Picture: Gulshan Khan/AFP
Source:AFP
DEFIANT PRESIDENT
Mr Zuma’s term is due to expire next year, however calls have been growing for the beleaguered president to stand down for some time following the corruption allegations.
Replaced as ANC leader last December, Mr Zuma is nearing the end of his last term as president.
However, not everyone wants Mr Zuma to go with proponents arguing he’s done nothing wrong.
Zuma loyalists have said that the serving president should complete his second and final term in office, which would end when elections are held next year.
Tensions have already spilled over on the streets with groups of pro and anti-Zuma supporters clashing outside ANC headquarters.
At least one woman was kicked and beaten with sticks during the clash, an AFP reporter witnessed.
‘MAJOR LIABILITY’
Experts now concede it remains unlikely Mr Zuma will go quietly or co-operate with the ANC’s decision.
Mcebisi Ndletyana, a politics professor at the University of Johannesburg, said Mr Zuma was a “major liability” for the ANC.
“I doubt that he will go quietly because his presidency has been troublesome — he has essentially used it to protect himself and evade accountability,” Prof Ndletyana said.
“When he will no longer have largesse to dish out, he becomes complete vulnerable and that increases his chances of imprisonment.”
Supporters of the African National Congress Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa stage a demonstration in protest against Mr Zuma. Picture: Marco Longari/AFP
Source:AFP
SLOW DECLINE
Mr Zuma’s hold on the ANC was shaken when his chosen successor — his former wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma — lost out to Ramaphosa in a closely-fought race to be party leader in December.
On January 26, Mr Ramaphosa said that Mr Zuma was “naturally feeling anxious” about the transfer of power.
Mr Ramaphosa vowed the process would be handled “very carefully” and said he was looking to revive the economy and tackle record unemployment before the 2019 elections.
The 65-year-old is a former trade unionist who led talks to end white-minority rule in the early 1990s and then became a multi-millionaire businessman before returning to politics.
Members of the African National Congress are calling for Mr Zuma to step down. Picture: Themba Hadebe/AP
Source:AP
WHERE TO NOW?
The national executive committee is the ANC’s highest decision-making body and can “recall” Mr Zuma from the post of president, however he could refuse to comply.
Wednesday’s special meeting was announced after top ANC officials gathered at Luthuli House, the party headquarters in Johannesburg, on Monday.
Mr Zuma, who has been in power since 2009, could leave office either by resigning, through losing a vote of no-confidence in parliament or impeachment proceedings.
He could also be “recalled” by the ANC however that would not constitutionally unseat him.
The 80-member national executive committee is seen as finely balanced between supporters of Mr Zuma and Mr Ramaphosa
— with AFP
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