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Tag: Jacob Zuma

  • Zuma ‘rejects ANC request’ to stand down

    Zuma ‘rejects ANC request’ to stand down

    South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma has defied his party and refused to step down, according to media reports.

    He and senior members of the African National Congress (ANC) held talks on Sunday but no details of their meeting have been released.

    Facing corruption allegations, Mr Zuma was replaced as ANC leader in December.

    Read Also: Zuma  again denounces ‘monopoly’ white economic power

    Party leaders, who may be trying to oust the South African Head of State before his State of the Nation address later this week, will hold an emergency meeting on Monday.

    Julius Malema, an opposition leader and former ANC member, said on Twitter that Mr Zuma had been asked to stand down but had refused.

    He was regarded to have spent time in prison for his part in the fight against apartheid, most of the way through his second – and last – term as president.

    Under his rule, the civil service has expanded, HIV/AIDS rates have decreased, and his plans for development have won support across the political spectrum. But the Zuma presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption and his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, was elected the leader of the ANC party in South Africa in December on an anti-corruption platform.

    BBC

     

  • I believed woman who accused Zuma of rape – Deputy president

    I believed woman who accused Zuma of rape – Deputy president

    South Africa Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, said he believed the woman who filed rape charges against President Jacob Zuma in 2006.

    Zuma was tried and acquitted of raping Fezekile Kuzwayo, also know as Khwezi, 11 years ago, when she was a guest in his home.

    In spite the acquittal the trial damaged Zuma’s reputation, not least because Khwezi – who died in 2016, was HIV-positive and Zuma told the court that he had taken the precaution of “showering” after unprotected sex.

    Ramaphosa, who is vying with Zuma for leadership of the ANC and, therefore, the country, made the remarks during a radio interview on Thursday night.

    When pressed on the rape allegations, Ramaphosa at first demurred before saying: “Yes, I would believe her.”

    “I know how difficult and painful it is for a woman to garner up the courage to stand up and say, ‘Yes, I was raped.

    “It must be one of the most difficult decisions that she has to make,” he said.

    Ramaphosa has been Zuma’s deputy since 2014.

    Read also: Probe Okorocha over ‘statues of Zuma – Johnson Sirleaf

    On Friday, the presidency released a terse statement in response to Ramaphosa’s remarks.

    “The rape allegations against President Zuma were properly considered by a Judge of the High Court.

    Having evaluated the totality of the evidence, the court acquitted Zuma of the rape charges.

    NAN

  • Zuma again denounces ‘monopoly’ white economic power

    Zuma again denounces ‘monopoly’ white economic power

    President Jacob Zuma of South Africa reiterated his call for radical reforms to shift the balance of “monopoly” economic power away from whites who dominated under apartheid.

    He made the remarks, reiterating a staple criticism leveled by his ruling ANC about South Africa’s economy, against the backdrop of widespread allegations of corruption against Zuma and his friends, the Indian-born Gupta brothers

    Zuma said without such change blacks would stay poor for a long time.

    He was responding to a question about his role as an enemy of “white capital”, during an interview with the ANN7 news network, which was founded by the Guptas.

    Zuma and the Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.

    “I don’t know why there is a debate in fact. Because there is a monopoly capital and in South Africa it is white … because of our history, it does have a colour.

    “It is white,” Zuma, who steps down as head of the ANC in December but can remain head of state until elections due in 2019, said.

    “Companies that dominate in the mines, there are not many … You will find the same companies in charge.

    “That means they are monopolising the economy and they’re not black,” he said.

    The Chamber of Mines in the world’s top platinum producer says that in 2016, 39 per cent of the sector was owned by “historically disadvantaged South Africans”, meaning non-whites.

    Zuma said the policy of “radical economic transformation,” which has also seen moves to change the constitution to allow for the expropriation of land for redistribution to landless blacks, was needed to “correct the past.”

    “The ANC must follow this policy because if you don‘t, we are going to stay in poverty, in inequality, for a long time.”

    The frontrunners to replace Zuma at the helm of the ANC are Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a trade unionist who amassed a fortune in the world of business, and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former chair of the AU and Zuma’s ex-wife.

    Ramaphosa is viewed more favourably by foreign investors, who help cover the country’s deficits.

    Many of them are unsettled by Dlamini-Zuma’s calls to radically redistribute wealth and her perceived links to her former husband.

    In a separate interview on state broadcaster SABC, ANC Secretary Gen. Gwede Mantashe said “state capture is a reality,” referring to allegations that the Guptas and others have undue political influence with access to state resources and contracts under Zuma.

    Mantashe is regarded as an ally of Ramaphosa with ties that go back to the 1980s when they were involved in the founding of the National Union of Mineworkers.

    NAN

  • Probe Okorocha over ‘statues of Zuma, Johnson-Sirleaf’ – SERAP to ICPC

    Probe Okorocha over ‘statues of Zuma, Johnson-Sirleaf’ – SERAP to ICPC

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has asked Dr Muhammad Isah Acting Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Professor Bolaji Owasanoye Acting Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to “jointly investigate allegations of incompatibility and/or apparent conflict of interest situation, and abuse of office involving Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State in connection with the exercise of his public functions and leadership of the Rochas Okorocha Foundation, and to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in any such investigation.”

    The organization said that “Such investigation would help to improve public confidence in public authorities, and minimize the risks of bad government by public officials.”

    In the petition dated 10 November 2017 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization expressed “serious concern that Governor Okorocha may have spent over N1 billion of public funds to build statues of South African President Jacob Zuma and Liberian President Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.”

    According to the organization, “the spending on statues and apparent misuse of public resources may have violated constitutional provisions and international standards on code of conduct for public officers. The initiatives cannot be justified under any circumstances whatsoever, especially at a time when Imo state is unable or unwilling to pay teachers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements.”

    The petition copied to Ibrahim Magu Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) read in part: “Inviting Zuma and Johnson-Sirleaf to attend the opening of his Foundation and then ‘honouring’ them with statues suggests abuse of office and apparent conflict of interest situation, as such acts were undertaken by Governor Okorocha in the exercise of his public functions to presumably promote and advance the commercial and other interests of the Foundation.

    “SERAP believes that rather than serving the common interest of the public, spending over N1 billion possibly of public funds on Zuma and Johnson-Sirleaf in the context of their participation in the opening of the Rochas Okorocha Foundation would seem to put Governor Okorocha in a conflict of interest situation.

    “SERAP notes that the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party prohibit conflict of interests and set ethical standards for public officers. Indeed, both the Constitution and the Convention require public officers to abstain from all acts that may compromise the exercise of their public office and functions, or are inconsistent with their entrusted positions.

    “Public officers also must discharge their public duties truthfully and faithfully, abide by the constitutional code of conduct, observe the primacy of public interest, and not allow their personal interest to influence their official conduct.”

    “The CCB and ICPC should carry out a joint investigation in collaboration with the EFCC of the allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office and apparent misuse of public funds by Governor Okorocha. SERAP also urges the CCB and ICPC to prosecute Governor Okorocha after leaving office if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence of abuse of public office against him.

    “Conflict of interest represents a situation where the person exercising a public function has a personal interest of patrimonial or commercial nature, which could influence the objective fulfilment of the duties incumbent on public officers under the Constitution and international standards.

    “Conflict of interest arises from a situation in which a public official has a private interest which is such as to influence or appear to influence the impartial and objective nature of his or her official duties in order to promote private interests, which would be contrary to the public interest.

    “According to reports, Governor Okorocha recently hosted two African presidents—South African President Jacob Zuma and Liberian President Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and built statues in Owerri to ‘honour’ them. The statues reportedly cost over N1 billion to build. Further, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Zuma Foundation and the Rochas Foundation was signed, while Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf visited the newly established Rochas Foundation College of Africa (ROFOCA).”

  • Economic growth to rise to 3.4% in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018 – IMF

    Economic growth to rise to 3.4% in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018 – IMF

    Economic growth is expected to rise to 3.4 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018 from 2.6 per cent in 2017, the IMF said in a report on Monday.

    The IMF, however, warned that rising debt and political risks in larger economies would weigh down future growth.

    The IMF said a good harvest and recovery in oil output in Nigeria would contribute more than half of the growth in the region this year.

    The fund added that an uptick in mining and a better harvest in South Africa as well as a rebound in oil production in Angola will add to growth.

    The fund said South Africa has been clouded by the rule of Jacob Zuma, who has battled scandals, including corrupt allegations ahead of his ANC party’s conference in December to elect a new party leader.

    “Key downside risks to the region’s growth outlook emanate from the larger economies, where elevated political uncertainty could delay needed policy adjustments and dampen investor and consumer confidence,” the IMF said in a report launched in Harare.

    “A further pickup in growth to 3.4 per cent is expected in 2018, but momentum is weak, and growth will likely remain well below past trends in 2019.”

    To help maintain growth, IMF advised countries to diversify from dependence on commodities and oil, implement fiscal reforms to stimulate growth and attract private investment.

    The IMF said public debt would rise to 53 per cent of GDP this year from 48 per cent in 2016.

    More worryingly, it said, most countries were now borrowing from local banks, which could distabilise the domestic financial sector and fuel inflation.

    Debt servicing costs were also up, but high debt levels were in particular complicating the economic outlook for six nations, including Zimbabwe, which is gripped by a crunch forex shortage.

    “Debt servicing costs are becoming a burden, especially in oil-producing countries … and are expected to absorb more than 60 per cent of government revenues in 2017,” IMF said.

    The IMF said that while some countries had made progress in reducing their fiscal deficits, others, like Africa’s most advanced economy South Africa would see the deficit widen.

    South Africa on Friday raised its estimate for this year’s budget deficit, saying the country faced sluggish economic growth, shortfalls in revenue and costly bailouts of struggling state-owned companies.

    The IMF in thye report added that inflation pressures are easing especially in east Africa, which was hit by drought and the governments there increased maize imports to cut food prices.

    The IMF said in other places like Zimbabwe the high cost of imports is raising price pressures.

    NAN

  • Imo confers title on S. African president Zuma

    Imo confers title on S. African president Zuma

    A very important chieftaincy title in Imo State has been conferred on the South African president Jacob Zuma.

    Zuma was honoured with the Ochiagha or Warlord title in Owerri, the state capital.

    The headquarters of the state council of traditional rulers was packed with colourfully dressed traditional rulers, women and youths.

    The chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Samuel Ohiri presided over the ceremony.

    Zuma arrived at the venue in the company of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and other dignitaries.

    Sitting quietly in an oversized royal chair and facing the energised audience, the visiting president may not understand the language nor the rhythm of the traditional dances but the carefulness and tact with which each of the duties were carried out sometimes by frail-looking octogenarians, may have driven home the importance of the ceremony.

    The first act that got the recipient wondering was the presentation of kolanut, which was attended by intricate traditional rites and the fact that it is forbidden to present or bless the kolanut in any other language apart from Ibo, to him was awesome.

    As the kolanut continued the journey from one man to the other accompanied by short incantations, the visiting President who was keenly following the proceedings, waited for his turn, while probably considering what to do. As predicted, the arrival of the wooden bowl containing the prized kolanuts on the hands of the bemused visitor, threw the large audience into hilarious laughter.

    This was followed shortly by a colourful performance by the Omeni Imo dancers, comprised of energetic young men and heavily endowed young women who got the pushed up the adrenalin in the men with seductive movement of their beaded waists.

    Thereafter, Eze Imo, through an interpreter,  proceeded to reel out the benefits and consequences of being conferred with a Chieftaincy title in Igboland. He said the recipient was qualified for the honour as a result of his efforts to liberate the African continent from economic slavery, as well as his commitment to the education of the poor African children.

    According to the monarch, chieftaincy titles in Igboland are given to individuals who have distinguished themselves in their chosen areas of endeavour, adding, “We have decided to bestow on our special guest and President of South Africa with the title of Ochiagha. This is so because he is leading the fight for a better African continent through the empowerment of poor African children with free education.

    “In fact that is why he is here in the state, to partner with our governor in providing free education to African children. So today he has become an indigene of Imo state and by extension, an Igbo man with the attendant privileges and obligations”.

    Another part of the event that excited the audience was the actual decoration of the visiting President as the warlord. Firstly, a traditional Igbo dress, known as Ishi-Agu, sewn into a flowing male gown, was put on top of his impeccable suit, a red cap that resembled the neck of a giraffe because of its length was placed expertly on his head and a hand fan to match.

    Automatically, the once English-looking President was turned into an Igbo man and safe for his accent and the fact that they were present during the decoration, his security aides would have found it a difficult task to spot him among similarly dressed Igbo titled men in the audience.

    Even though President Zuma’s Zulu tribe also has a rich cultural heritage, it cannot in anyway be compared with what transpired that night. This much was confirmed by the endless smile that played on his lips and those of the members of his delegation as he was initiated and finally pronounced the Ochiagha of Igbo land.

    Commenting, the recipient commended the traditional rulers for considering him worthy for the conferment of the title.

    He said, “I am overwhelmed by this are show of honour and I am indeed grateful. To be sited among this crowd of kings on its own is wonderful. When I landed at the airport and I was driven straight to this place, I was not aware that I was going to be honoured with a title.”

    He said, “I am an ordinary freedom fighter belonging to the African National Congress (ANC). But in 1994, I felt, I have been part of those who have made oppressed people of South Africa to accomplish an important mission of liberating themselves. But political freedom without economic freedom is not enough freedom. That is why in our era, we have a government that will begin to make economic laws, because if the economic power is not there, there is very little you can do for the poor and the oppressed.

    “Then I have also realised that the time comes for nations to speak the truth, and I’m among those who are speaking the truth now, because the more things they said about me, that are not true, the more stubborn I become in my agitation. Don’t be dismayed. For these reasons, I stand here being seen as a hero by the leadership of Imo State in Nigeria and to make me feel empowered that what I say, think and believe in, is correct.”

    Apart from the chieftaincy title, President Zuma who was in the state to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Jacob Zuma Foundation and the Rochas Foundation, was also honoured with the Imo Merit Award by the state government.

    Decorating the visiting President with the Award, Governor Okorocha stated that, “this afternoon, I speak with mixed emotions for a great son of Africa, who has toiled and who has been directed by God all his life to get to the point where he is today. To some people, he’s a dogged fighter, to most people in South Africa, he is a freedom fighter and to me, one of the reasons I present this accolade is that he remains one of the most misunderstood persons in Africa”.

    He added that, “we in Imo State have chosen to identify with this great leader who meant well for his people; who had to toil, struggle and fight for the liberation of his people, not minding the consequences thereafter. This to me is courage. This to me is strength of character. Very importantly, Mr. President, you are a man with uncommon history. One who never saw the four walls of a classroom and who in the course of struggling to liberate his people, landed in prison for 10 years and still counting.

    “Today, we have decided to honour you for your love for education, though you were deprived in your early days in life but you are working to make sure that every poor child went to School. Your love for education to us is the connection between you and government and the people of Imo State. The only industry we have and we can truly be proud of is education in Imo State. This is another reason why we have chosen to honour you.”

    Zuma said, “Every country in Africa should unite as a people to fight for the common course of economic and political emancipation of Africa. Africans must come together to address African problems. We are the same people. We cannot succeed if we handle problems as individuals. We need to recognise that we are one. ”

     

     

     

  • Zuma urges ANC to punish lawmakers who voted against him

    Zuma urges ANC to punish lawmakers who voted against him

    President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has urged the African National Congress (ANC) to identify and punish party members who voted against him in a no-confidence motion in parliament on Aug. 8.

    Some 30 ANC lawmakers supported the opposition motion in a secret ballot, not enough for it to pass but the defection exposed rifts within the ANC that could weaken Zuma’s ability to influence the choice of next party leader at elections in December.

    Addressing an ANC meeting, Zuma called the defectors “people who have double hearts, one for the ANC and one for other parties,” and said they “must be taken to the (ANC) disciplinary committee,” South African media reported.

    “What our enemies (opposition members of parliament) were doing was to say: ‘How can we destroy the ANC and weaken it, so that we can take control of the country?’ … We should never do it again,” Zuma was quoted as saying.

    It was unclear how the party would be able to determine who had voted against Zuma or what action could be taken against them.

    The president said he would discuss the issue of dissenters at a meeting of the ANC on Monday.

    ANC communications officials were unavailable to comment.

    Critics say Zuma’s priority is to ensure he retains sufficient control over the party to ensure that his chosen candidate succeeds him as leader so he can avoid scrutiny over corruption allegations that have dogged his eight years in power.

    Zuma has denied wrongdoing.

    The opposition sought to oust Zuma after he removed finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March, a move that hit the financial markets and prompted two credit ratings agencies to downgrade South Africa’s debt rating to junk status.

    Following the failure of the no-confidence motion, the main opposition Democratic Alliance party said it would bring a motion to dissolve parliament and call a general election.

    The ANC, which has a strong majority in the assembly, dismissed the DA’s call as “dreams and hallucinations”.

  • South Africa’s opposition calls for dissolution of parliament

    South Africa’s opposition calls for dissolution of parliament

    The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday called for the dissolution of the South African parliament and a national election to be held, one day after its no-confidence motion in President Jacob Zuma was defeated.

    Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said the party would bring the motion to dissolve parliament to the assembly on Thursday and request that it be debated as soon as possible.

    Zuma, who has been dogged by accusations of corruption and mismanaging the economy, survived an attempt in parliament to force him from office on Tuesday.

    He was left politically wounded after some members of his ruling African National Congress (ANC) party voted with the opposition.

    Maimane told a news conference in Cape Town that the result showed the ANC was divided and the country needed “a new beginning”.

    “The ANC may have won in the no-confidence motion in parliament yesterday, but it has lost the confidence of the country,” Maimane said.

    “We believe the voters should now have the chance to express their opinion about the conduct of the ANC in defending Jacob Zuma.

    In short, we believe that parliament should be dissolved now so that the country can hold an early election.”

    Zuma’s term as South Africa’s president is due to run until 2019, when an election is scheduled.

    It was not clear whether the motion would be allowed and parliamentary officials could not be reached for comment.

    Wednesday is a public holiday in South Africa and government offices and financial markets were closed.

    Zuma, who has held power since 2009, has now survived nine no-confidence votes despite a record in office marred by allegations of sleaze and influence-peddling.

    He hailed his win as a victory for the ANC.

  • Zuma no-confidence vote begins

    Zuma no-confidence vote begins

    South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, faces a motion of no-confidence as Members of Parliament start voting in a secret ballot.

    The governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties traded barbs in two hours of heated debate on Tuesday, before voting booths were brought out on to the floor, the BBC reports.

    Mr. Zuma has already survived seven no-confidence votes.

    But the opposition hopes some ANC MPs will side with them as the vote is secret for the first time.

    The parliament’s speaker, Baleka Mbete, made the decision to hold the vote in secret on Monday, after opposition parties took the case to the Constitutional Court.

    In order for the no-confidence motion to pass, at least 50 out of the ANC’s 249 MPs would need to vote against the president – leading to opposition parties pleading with ANC MPs to “vote with their conscience.”

    “Today our choice is between right and wrong; between good and evil,” the Democratic Alliance’s Mmusi Maimane said, while Andries Tlouamma, deputy president of the Agang party, warned if Mr. Zuma survived then South Africa was “on a highway to hell.”

  • South African parliament begins debate in Zuma no-confidence motion

    South African parliament begins debate in Zuma no-confidence motion

    The leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance urged South African lawmakers to oust President Jacob Zuma at the start of a parliamentary debate on a motion of no-confidence in the scandal-plagued leader on Tuesday.

    Zuma, who has held power since 2009, would have to relinquish office if he loses the vote expected once the debate ends.

    “I plead with you let us put the people of South Africa first and vote to remove Jacob Zuma today,” Mmusi Maimane said.

    Speaking on behalf of the ruling African National Congress party, deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude said the motion against Zuma amounted to a “power grab” by the opposition.

    “The ANC rejects this motion with the contempt it deserves,” she said.

    NAN reports that protesters blocked roads with burning tyres and rocks in a show of opposition to President Zuma hours before the South African parliament was due to vote on a no-confidence motion which could force him to step down.

    Newspaper headlines reflected the high stakes at play “JZ’s moment of truth” read The Star, while The Sowetan declared: “High Noon for Zuma”.

    Zuma, who has held power since 2009, has struggled to fend off opposition accusations of corruption and mismanaging the economy.

    If parliament votes in favor of the no-confidence motion, he and his entire cabinet would have to step down.

    The parliamentary speaker on Monday had ruled that the vote would be a secret ballot a decision the opposition hopes will embolden members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to vote against Zuma.

    It was unclear, however, which way the vote would go.

    The ANC has 249 seats in the 400-seat parliament and the opposition controls 151 seats, so it would take 50 ANC lawmakers backing the opposition to vote Zuma and his cabinet out.

    Markets had welcomed Speaker Baleka Mbete’s decision, with the rand, bonds and banking shares surging after Mbete’s announcement, buoyed by the prospect of Zuma’s removal. On Tuesday, the rand traded flat as markets waited anxiously.

    In the past year, Zuma has upset investors, in particular by removing finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March.

    The country’s credit rating has been downgraded to junk by two of the top three credit rating agencies, unemployment is at a 14-year high of 27.7 per cent and the economy is back in recession.

    Zuma has also faced a welter of corruption accusations, which he denies, and the ANC, which has governed since the end of apartheid in 1994, is deeply divided.

    “Jacob Zuma has brought our nation to its knees,” the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party, which brought the motion to parliament, said in a statement urging lawmakers to vote the president out.

    Across Gauteng province, where the commercial hub Johannesburg and capital Pretoria are located, protesters blocked major roads with burning tyres and rocks.