South Africa has already got its version of Donald Trump. He is called Jacob Zuma. Currently, he is considering the purchase of a luxury presidential airliner using public money. It will be fitted out like a five star hotel at a cost of four billion rand. And this will happen in a country where abject poverty remains endemic amongst the massive black underclass.
Flip a coin and there's Nelson Mandela on the shiny side. Zuma is the direct opposite. Where Mandela had intellect, education, compassion and vision, Zuma has got ignorance, self-interest and deception. He's arguably the main reason why his party, The African National Congress is faltering so badly in the polls. How can you trust a man like Zuma?
Back in 2011, Zuma began to dabble in Twitterworld. Perhaps he thought he could promote an image of himself that was busy, wholesome, positive and squeaky clean. Interestingly, he hasn't tweeted since 2013. He probably got bored with it all or privately admitted to himself that creating a believable new image was impossible . This was one of his tweets back in 2011:-
"Be that superhero"... How terribly ironic! Seventy four year old Zuma is a polygamist and has twenty children that he admits to by six different wives. There are strong rumours of others as well as rape and child sex allegations. And all of this in a country that has been crippled by AIDS. Yeah Jacob - "be that superhero"!
Stories of corruption surround him like flies round a manure heap. Repeated failures to disclose assets. Secret investments in the Congolese oil industry. Bribery. Misuse of public money. Bullying. Jobs for friends and family. And yet Zuma claims to be a committed Christian on a mission to lead his country to a better future. You just couldn't make it up.
The sooner Zuma goes the better but when he's gone who's next in line? Nelson Mandela must be turning uncomfortably in his grave. This isn't how The Rainbow Nation was meant to be.
Mandela was such a great man and did so much for his country - how sad that it has not been continued.
ReplyDeleteHe was a hard act to follow but yes, it is terribly sad that Zuma now holds the baton of leadership.
DeleteMany of the African countries are pretty sick when it comes to good honest government. This guy is quite a contrast to Mendela. the world needed more Mendelas.
ReplyDeleteCorruption and government have often seemed to go hand in hand in Africa. You are right - the world does need more Mandelas.
DeleteWow! What a marvel! Another superhero...and this one is called Zuma! Is that a fly? Is it a bird? Is it a jet? No! It's Zuper Zuma, a Tumour on Society!
ReplyDeleteDisgraceful...despicable creature!
Don't be bashful Lee! Say what you mean.
DeleteIt is sad that the governments of so many African states are in similar bad hands. Their ruling classes seem to have no other interest than their own wealth and power, and little if no consideration for their fellow citizens who struggle even for the most basic things such as clean water and schools for their children.
ReplyDeleteIf Africa as a whole got her act together, she could easily be leading the world.
Countries like Nigeria and Libya are rich in oil resources and yet they have squandered those bounties, instead of using that wealth to construct orderly, affluent societies with the wealth partly enjoyed by all.
DeleteJacob Zuma once kept me waiting while his motorcade went past before his security would let us visit Groote Schuur, Cecil Rhodes' house on the presidential estate in Cape Town.
ReplyDeleteSouth Africa is a wonderful country and somewhere we've considered retiring to, but I do wonder what will become of it if it goes down the same path as Zimbabwe.
Jacob Zuma once kept me waiting while his motorcade went past before his security would let us visit Groote Schuur, Cecil Rhodes' house on the presidential estate in Cape Town.
ReplyDeleteSouth Africa is a wonderful country and somewhere we've considered retiring to, but I do wonder what will become of it if it goes down the same path as Zimbabwe.
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