1 post from 2007
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We woke up this morning in a new South Africa. Once again our new democracy is going through another first, with all of the accompanying pain and anxiety. JZ has swept the boards at the ANC Polokwane conference last night. By all accounts, it has been a thouroghly humiliating experience for President Mbeki. I must say I feel sorry for the man whohas dedicated his life to the party. On the other hand I am aware of the price he has paid moving away from the people who placed thier trust in him as thier leader. Here we see the first wave of a popular backlash against Mbeki for his distant, over-intellectualised style. Whether the popular choice of Zuma would prove a better choice for the country is another question completely.Zuma has shown a knack for popping up in the right place at the right time. I think his popularity is largely based on a rejection of Mbeki's style and policies. He is remarkably silent on the major issues facing South Africa at the moment, which makes me worry about his opinion on these major issues. it seems to me that he may be such a populist leader that he has to hide his own thoughts and opinions on issues people are waiting for him th pronounce on. At least he (and his team) seems to have his finger on the pulse of what is required to win the popular vote in this country. This seems to have raised up fears of the moderates who have had no say in the vox pouli and how this gets exercised. I am not sure about this man though. His decision-making ability has been questionable in personal, business and political areas, as the press has highlighted in thier feeding frenzy.
Is his personal life going to be an indicator of his political effectiveness?
Do we as christians need to demand a man or woman of higher moral standards. Do we as non-ANC members have any right to say who should or should not become the leader of the ANC? My opinion is that it is none of your business, if you are not a member. I you want to influence the result become a member and work throught the party structures.
