The recent verbal attacks on President Thabo Mbeki by supporters of former deputy president Jacob Zuma are despicable, says Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
”I would like to … express my deepest concern at the media reports about the vulgar and highly personal attacks upon President Thabo Mbeki by declared supporters of Mr Jacob Zuma in recent days, in KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere,” he said in a statement on Friday.
The attacks were damaging the institution of the presidency both locally and abroad.
”Despite my political differences — and they are wide — with the president, I feel it is incumbent upon me to, once again, emphasise that Mr Mbeki is the first citizen of South Africa, and should be accorded the respect and dignity his sacred office deems.
”I find it incredulous that in the very same week that the president is batting for South Africa — such as hosting a leader of one of the most important emerging investors and trade partners, [President] Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation — supporters of the ruling-party and Mr Zuma would resort to such despicable
conduct.
”In my book, such behaviour is neither consonant with our African tradition, nor concordant with the culture of respect and deference to our leaders and institutions which one associates with the Zulu nation.
”I therefore unequivocally condemn it,” Buthelezi said.
Referring to debate around who is to succeed Mbeki when his term of office ends in 2008, he appealed to supporters of Zuma to conduct this ”in a manner befitting the continent’s most powerful democracy”.
If the present culture of impunity was allowed to continue to flourish, then whoever succeeded Mbeki would be prey to the treatment he had received, Buthelezi said.
During the past week, Zuma supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court — where Zuma is on trial, facing fraud and corruption charges — have sung anti-Mbeki songs and displayed posters proclaiming, among others, ”Mbeki Guilty”. – Sapa