The Rocky Road to Polokwane
The countdown to the ANC’s conference at Polokwane is well underway and it appears that the meeting will be the most momentous in South Africa since the CODESA meetings to negotiate the transition from Apartheid to democratic rule. The two key players in the political drama that is unfolding are Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki. Both are polarizing figures. Both have their ardent supporters. Both have their equally impassioned detractors.
The political narrative right now, however, seems to be emphasizing Zuma’s divisive nature. The “Great Zuma Debate” will almost assuredly continue for the next fortnight and beyond. Women’s activists have lined up against him, for example, and party stalwarts have hemmed and hawed about their views of Zuma.
Meanwhile many within the party hierarchy are trying to move away from a simple Zuma-Mbeki narrative. Others worry that the party’s divisions serve to destroy ANC unity. The reality is that ANC unity has been a chimera for quite some time. And in any case, if the allegations of vote buying and other untoward behavior is true, unity may not be the party’s chief worry.
Remarkably, Zuma’s lightning rod role in the current party debate has meant that the very idea that Mbeki is running for party leadership again has largely eluded scrutiny. His doing so has long struck me as a bad idea. Time is running short, but many, including myself, are still hoping that a third way will emerge in the coming ten days.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:33 am
what isof much interest is that Mbeki has been potraid as the sacrificed lamp yet many have benefitrd using Mbeki.The media has paint him (Mbeki )as a vilian.Their 2 sides of a coin please.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Zuma is good but threy say in politics yu gotta choose who is less evil between the two.The americans call that the art of politics.Colateral damage is the ordre of the day ,but who will vote for a man who has destriyed the fabric of intergrity and trust .I call on all South A FRICANS TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT.What is good to sacrifice patriotism or individual gain at tneaxcpence of countries sovregn STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
December 7th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Lee –
Thanks for your observations. Frankly, I’m not thrilled with either Zuma or Mbeki as the ANC president. Mbeki because of the fact that I truly believe that he should step down, lest Big Man Syndrome afflict him. And I worry that Zuma has demagogic tendencies, and his his rape charges and corruption allegations are disquieting and will prove problematic down the road. This is why i hope for the emergence of the much-anticipated “third way.”
Thanks again for reading and commenting.
dc
December 10th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
votes have been rigged by the two camps. i know in our branch where a bgm for delegates was not held but our branch secretary, who is a speaker in the municipality, voted at pgc level.after the pgc, a whole contingency of politicians wthin the region came to legitimise his standing as a delegate. in any event, it is a pro Tman municipality which cannot even deliver a simple service like water. abuse of state resources and time.
December 11th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
joeman –
Thanks for reading and writing.
Obviously these are serious allegations and I cannot assess their veracity, but if true this is more than a little problematic.
But one issue that you raise is the aspect of the delivery of services. Increasingly this, and not loyalty or ideology, will drive ordinary South Africans to push for change.
dc
December 14th, 2007 at 3:25 am
I stand on the notion that, Mbeki “accepted” nomination for a third term, not necessarily becoz he wants to do that - but rather becoz he does not want Zuma to head the ANC.Should Zuma win, after his first term in office, he would not have made a dent in the problems we face in this country simply because of the “popularism” stance he has “abused” in getting voted in.Mbeki has never been a populist - but he has done great things for this country and we are Internationally respected because of his acumen.No offence to Zuma, but he will first have to “repay” loyalist like the Mbalulas and Vavis before settling down to the poor man on the street - which I believe will never materialise.How popular is he going to be then?