Zuma appeals for unity

Newly elected African National Congress President Jacob Zuma today called for unity in his first keynote speech since taking over the reins of the party from President Thabo Mbeki, amid allegations of corruption and growing political tension.

Mr Zuma addressed a crowd of about 20,000 people today at a celebration of the governing party’s 96th anniversary in Atteridgeville, near the capital, Pretoria. Mr Mbeki, Mr Zuma’s chief political rival, was not in attendance.

Mr Zuma, who was elected at the party’s conference in December after a bruising campaign, used the speech to stress the importance of unity in one of Africa’s oldest liberation movements.

“We acknowledge that the past few months and years have placed the unity of the ANC under great strain. We concede that the contestation of leadership positions served at times to fuel a perception of discord within our ranks. We must bring about unity in the movement,” he said to loud cheers.

In the party leadership contest, Mr Zuma supporters swept all the top positions, while trusted lieutenants of Mr Mbeki, including the deputy president, defence minister and finance minister, were ousted.

The campaign and its outcome have generated tension between the government and the ANC. Adding to the strain and raising concern about the stability of the fledgling democracy is an escalating battle between the country’s two top law enforcement bodies.

In the latest episode, the National Prosecuting Authority announced yesterday that it plans to charge national police commissioner and ally of Mr Mbeki Jackie Selebi with corruption. Mr Mbeki is scheduled to hold a news conference later today to address the issue.

Mr Zuma said the party leadership knows it has a responsibility to work with the government. There “should not be any apprehension about relations between the ANC and its government,” he said.

The ANC’s executive confirmed this week that Mr Zuma will be its candidate for national president despite the criminal indictment handed down against him a week after his election.

The 65-year-old former guerrilla will stand trail in August on charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and racketeering in relation to a multimillion dollar arms deal scandal.

Mr Zuma’s allies claim he is the victim of a political vendetta and accuse prosecutors of “Hollywood-style operations”.

Mr Zuma is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from the French company Thint to stop investigations into weapons contracts with the government that were suspected of being secured through bribes.

Mr Mbeki fired Mr Zuma as the country’s deputy president in 2005 after Mr Zuma’s financial adviser was convicted of trying to taking bribes from Thint.

In his speech, Mr Zuma expressed an intention to make social issues a priority with an emphasis on unemployment, poverty and education. But he revealed no major policy changes and gave few details.

Mr Zuma said that while South Africa’s 40% unemployment rate has been declining, there needs to be a stronger focus on creating more and better jobs through government procurement policies and by promoting labour intensive production methods.

He also emphasised the need for stronger social welfare systems to reduce the suffering of the poor.

Mr Zuma, who in the past has called for Aids and crime to be declared national emergencies, said very little about the two issues, perhaps the greatest challenges facing South Africa.

About 5.5 million of the country’s 48 million people have been infected with HIV – the highest number in the world – and about 900 people in the country die every day from the disease.

Crime figures are equally alarming. About 50 people a day are murdered, and the nation has the highest rape rate in the world.

Mr Zuma limited his remarks on those issues to a call for the government to ensure action on an HIV/Aids plan launched last year and for a tougher anti-crime campaign.

Mr Mbeki stands down as national president in 2009 and is prevented by the constitution from seeking a third term. In losing the race for the ANC presidency to Mr Zuma, he lost the chance to influence the choice of his successor as national president. Given the huge majority held by the ANC, it is virtually certain that Mr Zuma will become South African president in 2009 if he runs.

Mr Zuma has portrayed himself as the champion of poor South Africans who feel left out of the economic boom Mr Mbeki led. Mr Zuma’s warm, populist style has won him loyal support, despite his legal troubles.

In 2005 Mr Zuma was acquitted of raping a long-time family friend who he knew was HIV-positive.