Royal rebuff for Dlamini-Zuma
FORMER African Union Commission chairwoman Dr Nkosazana DlaminiZuma’s attempt to woo the support of AmaXhosa King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu backfired when the monarch told her the country was not ready for a female president.
“South Africa is not yet ready to be led by a woman president. Women are sensitive by nature. The country’s problems have overwhelmed leaders who are men, how much more for a woman?” the King said.
Yesterday Dlamini-Zuma visited the king at the Nqadu Great Place, in Willowvale – where her supporters even compared her to failed American presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.
While she said her visit was merely to pay homage to the king, it was clear that Dlamini-Zuma was there to seek support ahead of the ANC’s national elective conference, in December.
Introducing Dlamini-Zuma to the king, deputy minister of Water Affairs Pam Tshwete said: “My king, South Africa has been led by men for far too long and now mama Zuma should take the baton … In America people disregarded a woman Hillary Clinton and chose a man and now they are led by a maniac man called Donald Trump”.
Dlamini-Zuma told the Dispatch she could not speak on ANC succession “as the matter is not yet open for discussion”.
She also spoke of women empowerment and said that women should be in the centre of the development of the country and continent.
She said she was a tried and tested cadre and had recorded many successes when she served as a minister in different portfolios under all the three democratic presidents.
“Women must be part of leadership. In South Africa – more than 40% of women are in parliament and it should go up to more than 50%.
“Women must be part of leadership everywhere even in leading countries. We have one woman president in Liberia and we would like to have more women presidents.
“In South Africa it is up to South Africans to decide if they want a woman president or not,” she said.
Pressed to comment on the issue of a woman president, Dlamini-Zuma said: “Of course the continent and all of us would welcome that. It could be a progressive idea.”
When his turn came, the king said the idea of a female president needed to be “scrutinised” further.
“As men we have numerous blunders. Women have endurance. If the idea is accepted that a woman should ascend to the presidency of the country, then it would need to be scrutinised to see if the land is fertile enough … so that we, as men, do not put them on the trap to fail due to our own blunders. But it is only the ANC which can see if she is right for the position,” the Sigcawu said.
Dlamini-Zuma arrived at Nqadu at about 10am and was engaged in meeting with the king and his council and later spoke to some ANC Women’s League members led by the provincial secretary, Nolitha Ntobongwana.
The Eastern Cape has become a key battleground for ANC presidential hopefuls trying to garner support ahead of the December conference.
Dlamini-Zuma’s visit came hot on the heels of another presidential hopeful Cyril Ramaphosa, who was in Mthatha two weeks ago for an ANC rally.
In the afternoon, Dlamini-Zuma went into a marquee where villagers raised many questions with some asking her how she would deal with issues of rural development, women empowerment and other issues.
Among leaders seen there were ANC Amathole regional secretary Teris Ntuthu, Mbhashe mayor Samnkelo Janda, Mnquma’s Thobeka Bikitsha, former Amathole district mayor Nomasikizi Khonza, Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti Ndumiso Ntshinga, Mbhashe speaker Babalwa Majavu and chief whip Mandla Sibingibini. —