The Umkhonto weSizwe Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) in KwaZulu-Natal has called on the African National Congress to ensure that Jacob Zuma is deployed to a position that would guarantee his contribution to the country’s socio-economic development and growth.
The MKMVA on Friday said the call came as they celebrated the triumph of justice over evil in the mammoth exoneration of one of the stalwarts of the movement — Zuma.
Zuma was acquitted on a rape charge by the Johannesburg High Court on Monday.
”Keeping in mind that there are no current constitutional contradictions on the matter either within the ANC or government, we call on the ANC national executive committee to unconditionally ensure Zuma’s appropriate deployment,” MKMVA said in a statement.
The association further said it observed the current continuing leadership paralysis that had set in within the top structure of the movement.
It said the ANC deputy president, Zuma, and the secretary general, Kgalema Motlanthe, were ”placed in a situation where, instead of carrying out their duties, they have to concentrate on fighting for their political survival”.
”What further exacerbates an already untenable situation is that state organs such as the Scorpions, commissions and the courts are employed as tools to facilitate this paralysis,” said MKMVA.
It also said the media was being used to vilify ANC leaders and by extension the revolutionary movement.
”Some government officials, deployed by the ANC itself, undermine the congress when they arrogantly and blatantly usurp the power of the national conference in the debate on the succession issue.
”The argument that we should wait for the national conference that is due in a year to address the mounting crisis is irresponsible, because the situation calls for immediate and decisive action.”
It said what was happening in the congress painted a picture that called for a very serious political introspection on the part of the ANC.
The MK veterans called for the national conference to be ”brought forward as a matter of extreme urgency to arrest the rot that has set in”. — Sapa