Zuma’s dark cloud has a silver lining
Strange as it may seem at this dark period in our history, President Jacob Zuma’s appalling leadership may turn out to have been a blessing in disguise when studied by historians in the future.
But it all depends on what happens between now and the end of his term in 2019. That is, if he lasts that long.
It is a given that history will judge Zuma harshly. His presidency has been characterised by one word: scandal.
But there is a silver lining in every cloud. The unintended consequence of his divisive and self-serving presidency is that he has eroded trust and respect of the office of the president and united disparate voices who are all appalled by his destructive actions.
After Zuma, chances are no president will be regarded as a superman and saviour of the people.
He has cost his party, the ANC, massive electoral support among the black majority, as was evident in last year’s local government elections when the party lost three major metros to opposition parties.
His presidency has given birth to robust opposition in parliament and served to strengthen our multiparty system, thus deepening our constitutional state.
He has also been a disaster for the unity of his party, and shattered the image of the ANC as a monolithic party destined to govern for many years to come.
Which is ironic, because when Zuma was elected in Polokwane in 2007, it was in part on the promise that he would unite the ANC after Thabo Mbeki’s presidency.
Instead, his actions have made the situation even worse. In 10 years, two political parties have been formed by disgruntled ANC members, namely Cope and EFF.
The ANC is now even more deeply divided and it is almost certain it will split again after its elective conference in December, which could prove costly for the party’s chances of winning the 2019 general election.
Zuma’s sacking of Treasury leaders has laid bare the division within the ANC – with three of the top six officials, Cyril Ramaphosa, Gwede Mantashe and Zweli Mkhize, voicing their opposition to the cabinet reshuffle. Sure, the three have since recanted but the fact remains they did something unprecedented in the history of the ANC by speaking out.
Beyond the party, Zuma’s reviled presidency has resuscitated the dormant activism of civil society, as was proved by the thousands of South Africans on Friday demanding that he resign. Zuma has made people realise they need to be their own liberators. It is early days, but we may yet escape the curse of post-colonial Africa.