ANC on track for poll loss, says DA
Zuma slated for his support of Kabila
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma’s welcome and congratulations for his DRC counterpart President Joseph Kabila did not go down well with everyone yesterday.
“We gather here at a time when your country is going through a political transition following the December 2016 political agreement.
“This agreement charted a process that should lead to the next elections.
“We congratulate you‚ Mr President‚ on the progress achieved thus far and the manner with which you have handled the process‚” Zuma said.
But Jean Bwasa‚ a human rights activist and spokesman for the Congolese community living in South Africa had earlier told reporters this was the opposite of what he had hoped to hear from Zuma.
“President Zuma should act as ‘an uncle figure’ and advise Kabila to hand over power‚” said Bwasa.
He was one of a small but passionate group of DRC citizens who had gathered outside the Sefako Makgatho presidential guesthouse in protest as a bi-national commission meeting was held between delegates of the two countries.
Bwasa explained that as stated in the DRC constitution‚ Kabila should have organised fresh elections in December last year in preparation for his successor. This did not happen. THE ANC has “without doubt” a chance of losing power in 2019.
So says DA leader Mmusi Maimane in the wake of the party’s two-day federal council meeting.
According to him‚ the country was going into a “critical time” as voters were fed up with high unemployment‚ the “destruction of South Africa’s economy”, and “the selling off of South Africa to the Guptas”.
Speaking yesterday, Maimane said the situation made the ANC vulnerable.
This “seismic shift” in South African politics made the ruling party beatable – particularly by a coalition government.
“I think coalitions are the future‚” Maimane said‚ adding that in order for a team-up to unseat the ANC‚ all parties‚ including the DA, had to keep growing.
“We’ve got to do our part. We’ve got to ensure that we grow in all areas and that where we govern‚ we govern well.”
Maimane said that the DA’s polling data‚ presented at the federal council meeting‚ showed “that the DA is gaining ground on the ANC”.
“It is greatly encouraging to report that the ANC is polling below 50%‚ which means that it can be unseated at the next election.
“The theme emerging from this DA federal council is clear: time is running out to save South Africa.
“Our current government is slowly destroying our precious country‚ with the ANC on course to lose the next election.
“The DA will work night and day to unseat the corrupt Gupta-led ANC government from office.
“We have set goals and targets for the road to 2019‚ and we will work tirelessly to achieve them.” — TMG Instead‚ negotiations about the future of the country dragged on until December 31 when a deal – stating that Kabila will only step down after elections are held by the end of this year – was brokered.
As protesters outside shouted that Kabila was an illegitimate president who was clinging on to power, Zuma told delegates inside: “The DRC is now politically stable and the security situation has improved. Where there are still challenges‚ the government of the DRC‚ with the assistance of the region‚ continent and international community‚ is addressing those.
“In this regard‚ we encourage you‚ Mr President‚ and your government to continue on this path‚” Zuma said.
He called on the people of the DRC to negotiate and hold dialogue about their future and pledged South Africa’s support for the central African nation.
The meeting between the two heads of state seemingly cemented their relations‚ with plans being put in place to bolster trade and investment.
But Esale-Prince Mpinda, of the National Council of the Congolese for Development in South Africa, said the meeting between Zuma and Kabila would be fruitless.
He said a new DRC government would not “consider any signature which Kabila puts down” with Zuma. — TMG