/ 11 November 2012

MK veterans: Opposition hates Zuma

Opposition parties hate President Jacob Zuma and have a personal agenda against him
Opposition parties hate President Jacob Zuma and have a personal agenda against him

"They are pre-occupied with Zuma as an individual and have a personal agenda against him," spokesman Papi Sizani told reporters in Johannesburg.

The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) was reacting to the tabling of a motion of no confidence in Zuma by opposition parties in the National Assembly on Thursday.

The African Christian Democratic Party, Azanian People's Organisation, Congress of the People (Cope), Democratic Alliance (DA), Freedom Front Plus, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), United Christian Democratic Party, and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) backed the motion.

The motion was brought on the grounds "that under his leadership the justice system has been politicised and weakened; corruption has spiralled out of control; unemployment continues to increase, the economy is weakening, and, the right of access to quality education has been violated".

Sizani said their move was "opportunist".

Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota was a "right wing opportunist" who "failed dismally" as defence minister in the ANC government, said Sizani.

The IFP was an outdated "bantustan party" and an ANC project gone wrong.

"It has a president [Mangosuthu Buthelezi] for life who is afraid of change and renewal."

The UDM was led by a "fake leader".

"Leader Bantu Holomisa's party's internal democracy is unknown. He is everything in the UDM, a spokesperson, its leader and everything else."

The DA had no respect for Chapter Nine institutions, Sizani claimed.

"They claim to have confidence in the judiciary and Chapter Nine institutions only when their narrow interests are pursued."

Chapter Nine institutions are those constitutional bodies which support democracy, such as the Public Protector.

The MKMVA called for the defence of the ANC and Zuma. Chairman Duma Mlambo said there had been "well-calculated" political and personal attacks on Zuma following the ANC's Polokwane conference in 2007, at which he was elected party leader.

"They project the leadership under Zuma as corrupt and indecisive… and the ANC as having lost its moral compass."

He said there was no leadership crisis in the ANC.

The MKMVA wanted Zuma to be re-elected at the ANC's conference in Mangaung in December. – Sapa