Next SA President: Conflicts in ANC & Zuma's Controversy

Mr Mbeki and his former deputy
Mr Zuma are now bitter rivals

Ramaphosa put forward for contest.

By Mpho Lakaje BBC News said:

With less than two months to go before the African National Congress elects a new leader, businessman Cyril Ramaphosa is emerging as a compromise contender. Mr Ramaphosa's name has been put forward by a Cape Town branch of the ANC to challenge for the top job.

Jacob Zuma and Tokyo Sexwale are expected to stand as may President Thabo Mbeki even though he cannot serve a third term as South Africa's leader. The ANC leader would be expected to become the next president in 2009. The nomination of Mr Ramaphosa, by the Rondebosch branch in the city of Cape Town, comes in spite of the former unionist's insistence that he has retired from political life.

The 55-year-old former trade union leader was Nelson Mandela's choice as his successor at the head of the ANC. He was outmanoeuvred by current president Thabo Mbeki and left active politics to concentrate on his investment company Shanduka.
But Mr Ramaphosa remained a member of the ANC executive committee, the party's decision-making body.

He first made headlines when he led mineworkers to one of the country's biggest marches in the 1980s. Media reports suggest that Mr Ramaphosa was lobbied last week by influential ANC cadres including former Education Minister Kader Asmal.

ANC rivalries

However he will find himself tussling with his comrade Jacob Zuma for the backing of his former comrades at the Union of Mine Workers. The union has already announced that it will support Zuma for the hot seat.



Rumours of Ramaphosa's political return surfaced last year.

Up until now the political battle within the ANC has been dominated by Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. Analysts say that could make Mr Ramaphosa an attractive compromise as an alternative candidate. It is believed that Gauteng Province, which has been divided on a candidate, could come out and back Mr Ramaphosa.
Mr Mbeki has the support of the powerful Eastern Cape while Mr Zuma is backed by the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC Youth League and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

Some ANC members have urged both men to withdraw from the race because victory for either will sharply divide the ruling party.

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Je, ni nani ataukwaa urais wa majirani zetu SA? The economy power house of the region.

S Africa is losing its way - Tutu

Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu has warned that South Africa is in danger of losing its moral direction.


Tutu has long spoken out against
injustices in South Africa

He said it had failed to sustain the idealism that ended apartheid and warned of growing ethnic divisions.
Referring to South Africa's high murder rate and the rape of children as young as nine months, he said the African reverence for life had been lost. The retired Anglican archbishop opposes ex-Vice President Jacob Zuma becoming president due to his "moral failings".

Mr Zuma's presidential aspirations received a major boost earlier this month after corruption charges were dropped against him. He was acquitted earlier this year on a rape charge.

Respect

Archbishop Tutu said the country had achieved a remarkable degree of stability in 12 years of democracy despite problems poverty, Aids, corruption and crime. But delivering the Steve Biko memorial lecture at University of Cape Town, he questioned why a respect for the law, environment and even life, were missing in South Africa.

"What has happened to us? It seems as if we have perverted our freedom, our rights into licence, into being irresponsible. Rights go hand in hand with responsibility, with dignity, with respect for oneself and for the other. "The fact of the matter is we still depressingly do not respect one another. I have often said black consciousness did not finish the work it set out to do," he said.



Zuma's comments on HIV during his rape trial
shocked Aids activists

He said government officials often acted like former officials during the apartheid era - treating people rudely. He said South Africa should oppose xenophobia and act sensitively when place names were being changed rather than appearing to gloat and ride roughshod over the feelings of others. He also made a plea for people to pick up litter, to care for their own environments and for their fellow citizens.
"Perhaps we did not realise just how apartheid has damaged us so that we seem to have lost our sense of right and wrong, so that when we go on strike as is our right to do, we are not appalled that some of us can chuck people out of moving trains because they did not join the strike, or why is it common practice now to trash, to go on the rampage?

He said that South Africa remained a wonderful country that had produced outstanding people - such as Steve Biko, the anti-apartheid leader who died in police custody in 1977.
"The best memorial to Steve Biko would be a South Africa where everyone respects themselves, has a positive self image filled with a proper self esteem and holds others in high regard."

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Rapist huyu amealikwa na CCM na serikali ikampa kibali cha kuja kwenye mkutano wake kule Dodoma. Hivi tutaendelea hadi lini kuwaonea aibu marafiki zetu na kuwaambia rapist kama Jacob Zuma hawatakiwi kukaribishwa Tanzania. Je tuna uhakika gani hakufanya rapings huko Dodoma?

Back to the topic: Askofu Desmond Tutu hakupata kigugumizi alipokuwa kwenye mazishi ya Steve Biko na kusema rapist hawatakiwi kuwa na uongozi mkuu katika serikali.

Soma zaidi kuhusu kinyang'anyiro cha uongozi huko bondeni.

2007: Crucial year for ANC

Kweli Dua la Kuku Hali mpati USA

Kweli dua la kuku halimpati mwewe. Zuma na mkuu wa kaya pete na kidole hata bmoyo kwa shehe flan hivi (fundi) wao ashaletwa na kulala hotelflan inayohusishwa na mzee . Ilikuwa kwa siri sana lakini si unajua tena wabongo kwa udaku, wananusa hadi pasipostahili.

South Africa court blow for Zuma

BBC News said:

South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma could face new corruption charges after a court ruling. The Supreme Court upheld appeals made by the state against earlier rulings preventing prosecutors from using documents seized from Mr Zuma.

He was sacked in 2005 as deputy leader over an arms deal but graft charges were dropped for lack of evidence. He is now a frontrunner in leadership elections for the governing African National Congress (ANC) next month. This post would put him in a strong position to become South Africa's next president in 2009. Mr Zuma is currently the ANC's deputy president.

The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the latest judgements do not mean Mr Zuma will inevitably face trial but they do cast a dark shadow over his campaign to win the presidency of the ruling ANC.

Controversial

Two years ago, his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik was found guilty of soliciting a bribe from French arms company Thint in exchange for Mr Zuma's support and is currently serving a 15-year sentence. Mr Zuma was then put on trial on corruption charges in relation to the 1999 $4bn arms deal, but the case collapsed last year when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed. In 2006, a court had ruled that documents obtained during the raids could not be used by prosecutors because the search warrants used by police were illegal.

Mr Zuma also tried to stop them from going to Mauritius to obtain an original diary which allegedly has evidence of key meetings between him and Thint. In each of four appeals the judges ruled in favour of the state. Their decision clears the way for prosecutors to continue their enquiries and possibly charge Mr Zuma for a second time. Last year, Mr Zuma was also acquitted on charges of rape.

ANC divide

The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says despite these cases, the controversial ANC deputy president continues to enjoy political support from trade unions and some influential members of the ruling party. The rape and corruption cases contributed to a big crack in the ANC resulting in the so-called Zuma and Mbeki camps, our reporter says. Ever since, there has been a political battle between followers of the two leaders on who should be the party's next chief. Local media reports that Mr Zuma is in the lead for the top job.

But President Thabo Mbeki has indicated that he will stand for another term as party leader if asked to do so.

Mr Mbeki though, cannot stand for a third term as president in 2009. Businessmen Tokyo Sexwale and Cyril Ramaphosa may also seek the leadership of the party at ANC's December congress - and would be seen as compromise candidates.

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Madaraka mazuri angalia Mbeki anavyosema hapo juu, lakini huyu mzinzi na rapist naye kitumbua kinaota majani.

Zuma ahead in ANC president race

South Africa's former Deputy President Jacob Zuma is ahead in the race to become the next African National Congress leader, local media report. He has reportedly secured the backing of five provinces against four for President Thabo Mbeki. Winning the party leadership would make Mr Zuma favourite to become South Africa's president in 2009.

The leadership election will be conducted by secret ballot at the ANC's national conference next month. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) says the weekend provincial results are the "hardest information" to date on how the 4,075 ANC voting delegates are likely to cast their votes. Mr Zuma secured 2,270 votes while 1,396 went to Mr Mbeki, said 702 Talk Radio. But the ANC says it has not received the official nominations. Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy leader in 2005, amid allegations of corruption.

The corruption trial was stopped but charges may be brought once more. He was also charged with rape but acquitted. Mr Zuma's supporters say the charges were designed to sideline him from the leadership race.

Kingmaker

SABC says Mr Zuma got overwhelming support from the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday evening. In his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, he got 580 votes to Mr Mbeki's nine, while in Gauteng he got 263 votes against 94 for the current president. The provinces of Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape have also indicated they will back Mr Zuma, who already enjoys the support of the ANC Youth League and the powerful Confederation of South African Trades Unions (Cosatu).

Mr Mbeki has so far won nominations from the Eastern and Western Cape, Limpopo and the North West. He is stepping down as national leader in 2009 after serving two terms but observers say remaining ANC leader would leave him in a strong position to decide who becomes South Africa's next president. Some ANC supporters and officials say Mr Mbeki is too business-friendly and want the government to do more to help the poor.

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Interesting ............................., sasa tusubiri kama kutatokea twist nyingine kabla ya uchaguzi.

ANC women give Zuma further boost

The Women's League has become the latest ANC branch to back former Deputy President Jacob Zuma's bid to become leader of South Africa's ruling party. Five provincial branches, as well as the Youth League, have already given him their support. Only four branches are supporting President Thabo Mbeki ahead of the vote to be taken next month. If Mr Zuma wins, he would be strong favourite to become South Africa's next president in 2009.

Mr Mbeki is standing down after two terms but if he remains ANC leader, he would be in a good position to decide who succeeded him as national leader. His supporters say the charges were designed to sideline him from the leadership race. Mr Zuma's comeback has confounded the commentators who wrote off his chances of further political success after he was sacked as deputy leader in 2005 amid allegations of corruption.

He was subsequently charged with rape but was acquitted. The corruption trial was stopped but charges may be brought once more.

Strong showing

The Women's League's decision to back Mr Zuma contradicts a resolution it passed earlier this year that a woman should be elected ANC president at the party's conference next month.

The weekend's provincial results gave Mr Zuma 2,270 votes while 1,396 went to Mr Mbeki, said 702 Talk Radio. The biggest upset was in Gauteng province - home to South Africa's commercial capital, Johannesburg - where Mr Zuma got 263 votes against 94 for the current president. In his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, he got 580 votes to Mr Mbeki's nine, reported the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). The provinces of Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape have backed Mr Zuma, who also enjoys the support of the powerful Confederation of South African Trades Unions (Cosatu). Mr Mbeki has so far won nominations from the Eastern and Western Cape, Limpopo and the North West.

Compromise candidate

Analysts say these results are bad news for Mr Mbeki.
"This is a rejection of Thabo Mbeki by the ANC," said Pretoria-based political commentator Xolela Mangcu, according to the AFP news agency. According to Susan Booysen of Johannesburg's Wits University: "I can't see how this cannot be the end of Mbeki's candidacy."

The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the ANC has rarely faced a leadership contest as divisive as this one.
Everything rests on the result of the secret ballot of some 4,000 ANC voting delegates at the 16-20 December conference in the town of Polokwane, he says.

The provincial nominations are not binding but are the strongest indication yet of which way delegates will turn in the formal vote at the ANC conference next month. If there is deadlock, our correspondent says it will open up the possibility of a compromise candidate, such as Cyril Ramaphosa or Tokyo Sexwale, around whom the ANC can unite. Some ANC supporters and officials say that while Mr Zuma is seen as a champion of workers' rights, Mr Mbeki is too business-friendly. They want the government to do more to help the poor.

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Huko bondeni naona mambo ni makali sana. The only way Mbeki atamsimamisha huyu mzinzi ni kurudisha mashitaka ya corruption ambayo yalisimamishwa sivyo SA itaelekea Zimbabwe style.

1. Tatizo la Mbeki amekuwa akitawala SA kama Prefect Mkuu- na kutoa adhabu kali kwa his colleagues-wakati Zuma ni mtu wa watu wa kawaida- anayeonekana kutetea walalahoi pamoja na mapungufu yake!

2. Mbeki yupo karibu na wasomi na wenye pesa SA- ila sii majority ktk kupiga kura ANC- ndo maana kuna uwezekano mkubwa Mbeki akabagwa na Zuma! Akina Ramafosa na Tokyo pia sidhani kama wako karibu na watu wa kawaida kama Zuma!

3. Moja tuu ambalo hadi leo mimi akilini linanitatiza ni Zuma kufanya ngono na yule dada aliyeathirika (huku Zuma akijua)- bila kinga- kisha akaoga- ili asipate ukimwi! Sijui akiwa raisi itakuwa vipi? Je hajui au hawezi kujizuia? Haya mambo- ukitafakari unachoka!

Dua said:

Mr Mbeki and his former deputy
Mr Zuma are now bitter rivals

Ramaphosa put forward for contest.


Je, ni nani ataukwaa urais wa majirani zetu SA? The economy power house of the region.

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I thought we Kenyans are your nearest neighbours?! Hehehe but I understand your fascination with SA. Its normal...in Tanzania. Good day

Kenyan-Tanzanian said:

I thought we Kenyans are your nearest neighbours?! Hehehe but I understand your fascination with SA. Its normal...in Tanzania. Good day

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Kenyan-Tanzania,
Unanchekesha! Sisi ni ndugu moja tu! Sema in 70s and 80s wakati Kenya walipotutupa mkono- ndo tukapata rafiki wa mbali- wapigania uhuru SA- Akina Mbeki, Mandela walipata makao Tz wakati wanapigania uhuru.

Wakati ule- Nyerere aliomwomba Kenyata awe Raisi wa kwanza wa EA wakati hatujawa huru- Mzee Kenyata akakataa- sasa sisi tukaenda mbali kutafuta basi marafiki SA region na 1980 tukanzisha SADC.

Ndo maana hata sasa Tz tunasita kuanzisha EAF kwa Fast Track.

Tuu ndugu moja tu mkuu!
Heshima mbele!

Kama SA wanataka kufanya makosa waliyoyafanya Tanzania 2005 wamchague Zuma. Dunia hii ya leo mtu bado anaamini kuwa unaweza kuzuia ukimwi kwa kuoga baada ya kufanya mapenzi na muathirika. Huyu mtu atawezaje kuendesha nchi yenye uchumi mkubwa kama SA?

Kikwete alikuja na njia hiyo hiyo ya kujifanya yupo karibu na watu na tukasahau kuwa alikuwa karibu na mafisadi, hatimaye nchi inamshinda. Leo hii Zuma anajifanya yupo karibu na wa SA, lakini kunaushahidi wa kutosha kuwa naye pia ni fisadi. Haya, tusubiri tuone.

Kenyan-Tanzanian said:

I thought we Kenyans are your nearest neighbours?! Hehehe but I understand your fascination with SA. Its normal...in Tanzania. Good day

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Our fascination eh! This is the problem, we shouldn't discuss anything about any country until we get permission. Very interesting indeed, I hope you are still following the case of the killer, it was all over British media.

I wonder why would someone with working brains would even dare to invite a person like Zuma to CCM congress. This man has proved to idiot, though it is common for idiots in several parts of the world (USA) to be voted into office.
Kwa mtu anayesema ..."i took shower afterwards", anaweza kusema kitu kama hicho kwenye mambo ya uchumi, defence au finacne ukashangaa nchi ina collapse. Bahati mbaya ni kuwa siasa za SA zimejengeka kwa msingi wa emotions na sio reasoning, kwa msingi huo jamaa anaweza kuchaguliwa kuwa mwenyekiti, na kuanziasha mwisho wa SA,

tz devil I salute you. This is exactly what RSA are running at risk for the forthcoming general eleaction. I hope Mandela and Mbeki will be bold enough to control Zuma and tell him correct words. Zuma can continue to be ANC leader but NOT as president. He is F***king dumb.

'Nothing to fear' from SA's Zuma


Winning the leadership would boost
Mr Zuma's presidency chances

Jacob Zuma, the favourite to become the next leader of South Africa's African National Congress, has denied that he would change economic policy. He is seen as the candidate of the ANC's left wing, which criticises President Thabo Mbeki for being too business-friendly. Mr Mbeki said earlier the current acrimony in the ANC was the worst he has seen in his 50 years in the party. The ANC is to choose its next leader at a meeting starting on Sunday.

Mr Zuma was formerly South Africa's deputy president but was sacked after being charged with corruption in 2005. If he defeats Mr Mbeki in the leadership contest, he would be the strong favourite for the South African presidency after a general election that is due in 2009. Mr Zuma told the BBC's Orla Guerin there was no need to worry about him changing policy. "This is in fact an unnecessary concern," Mr Zuma said.
"The ANC is going to move as it moves, and change its leadership as the time comes, but keeping its direction - so nothing is going to change."

Under Mr Mbeki, South Africa's national income has grown steadily but many poor people, who vote ANC, complain that they have not benefited.

Investigation

Asked whether he would resign from his position if new corruption charges were brought against him, Mr Zuma said he would only do so if found guilty. "Allegations don't mean the man is guilty," he said. "Why should I step down when charged?"
ANC structures in five of South Africa's nine provinces have indicated their support for Mr Zuma, in a contest that has become highly personalised. In an interview in the Mail & Guardian newspaper on Friday, Mr Mbeki said the acrimony within the ANC had reached unprecedented levels in the run-up to the leadership contest.

"The conflict is new even to ANC members older than I am," the president said. Asked whether there had been mistakes during his presidency, Mr Mbeki replied: "The disadvantage I have is that nobody says that. Nobody in the ANC stands up and says: you are doing the wrong things."

When the interviewers put it to him that this silence might be because of fear, the president said he was puzzled at this.
"I've heard this, and I don't understand it. Do I look as if I've got horns? It's said that I block and inhibit open discussion - that's puzzling to me, it's completely untrue."

Succession struggle

Mr Mbeki said he regretted that the divisions in the party had become centred on people rather than policies. "You can't unite the ANC by getting opposing candidates to drink coffee together," he warned. "People must be elected to positions in the ANC, not to lead factions." Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma, once close allies, publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations. He could potentially still face charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal.

Mr Zuma was also charged with rape but was acquitted - he says the charges were political. Mr Mbeki has already served two terms and cannot lead the country again, but correspondents say if he were to remain ANC leader he would be in a good position to decide who succeeds him as national leader.

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Winnie Mandela and Archbishop D. Tutu have voiced their concerns but we haven't had about Nelson Mandela saying anything. I wonder ...............................

Tutu's call (BBC news)

On Friday, the former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, urged the ANC to reject Mr Zuma.


Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma publicly fell out in 2005
Archbishop Tutu, one of South Africa's most powerful moral voices, said delegates should "not choose someone of whom most of us would be ashamed".

"We're very worried that this leader had relations with a woman who regarded him as a parent," he told South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper.

This was an apparent reference to the woman Mr Zuma was acquitted of raping. She was a family friend less than half his age with whom he had unprotected sex while being aware she was HIV-positive.

Mr Zuma responded by saying it was "the business of the leaders of the Church... [to] pray for people, not condemn them".

Once close allies, he and Mr Mbeki publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations.
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AT LEAST THERE IS ONE PERSON WHO CAN DARE TELLING ZUMA THE CORRECT WORDS.

Winnie Mandela proposes ANC deal


Mrs Madikizela-Mandela expressed
concern at the ANC infighting

The ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela has suggested a compromise to ease divisions in the leadership of the ruling ANC. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said current President and ANC leader Thabo Mbeki should head the party until elections. Meanwhile his deputy in the ANC, South African ex-Deputy President Jacob Zuma, should become presidential candidate in 2009, she said.

Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma have fought a bitter campaign for the ANC leadership. Correspondents say the move is seen as a face-saver for Mr Mbeki, who is currently trailing Mr Zuma in polls.
In a letter to ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe, Madikizela-Mandela said she believed there had been "a near-total breakdown in the historical discipline and focus of the movement", ahead of the 16 - 20 December party conference in Polokwane.

"There has been an unprecedented level of self-indulgence in out-of-turn public utterances, attack and counter-attack and the apparent normalisation of un-comradely behaviour and rhetoric at levels and intensity not before seen in the long history of our movement," she said.

Bitter rift

Mr Mbeki has already served two terms and cannot lead the country again, but correspondents say if he remains ANC leader he will be in a good position to decide who succeeds him as national leader. If Mr Zuma wins, he will be favourite to become president in 2009. He has the support of five provinces as well as the ANC Women's League and Youth League. Mr Mbeki has the support of four provincial branches. The race for leader has widely been considered one of the most divisive in the 95-year history of the ANC.

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Pamoja na mashabiki wa Mbeki kuzomewa inaelekea rais huyu hana ubavu tena na anasubiri tu kula pensheni yake. Nelson Mandela naye hakutoa suluhisho lolote bali kulalamika tu.

Huenda Mbeki akaja kuweka shinikizo kwa kesi yake ya ubadhirifu wa pesa kurejeshwa na kumuumbua hapo baadaye.

Tatizo wanalofanya South Africa sasa hivi liko kwenye damu yetu waaafrika wote. Tunapiga kura zetu kwa kusikiliza lugha tamu za wagombea bila kuwaangalia kwa kina hao wanaoomba kura zetu kama kweli wanaweza kutekeleza majukumu yanaoyendana na nafasi wanazoomba. Yaliyotokea Zimbabwe sasa yataingia afrika ya kusini iwapo Zuma atachaguliwa.

Mzee Tutu na Mama Madikizela wameongea kuwa "NO" kubwa sana kwa Bwana Zuma, sijui kwa nini Mzee Madiba kakaa kimya kabisa; inaelekea ameshaona kuwa hakuna nguvu ya kumzuia Zuma tena.

Kama Zuma alimbaka huyo binti mwenye ngoma si bila kuvaa buti ina maana chances are na yeye si kaukwaa?

Yaani jamaa alijua kuwa demu ana ngoma lakini akashindwa kujizuia? The rape alone should disqualify him, his evident poor judgement would make a disastrous head of state.