South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Blade Nzimande criticised President Thabo Mbeki on Monday for ”personalising issues” instead of dealing with the real problems.
In an interview with South African Broadcasting Corporation radio, Nzimande said the president’s remarks were causing unnecessary stress within the tripartite alliance.
”We expect the president to lead the African National Congress and the alliance rather than to personalise issues. He should engage with the alliance partners in a comradely and inclusive way that also respects the integrity of the other partner,” said Nzimande.
The president should tackle the real issues like the economic policy, narrow black economic empowerment, greed and poverty, said Nzimande.
In his political overview to an ANC’s National Executive Committee meeting at the weekend, Mbeki accused Nzimande of ”extraordinary arrogance”.
”It is this which has led him to ‘openly despise’ the ANC. Nzimande clearly did not respect the spirit and intent of the approach towards fraternal organisation as laid down in the SACP constitution,” Mbeki told the meeting.
Nzimande told the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union’s recent congress: ”It is a shame that much as South Africa was liberated by a movement whose strategy and tactics was informed by this philosophical outlook, only capitalist ideology is taught in our schools.”
The ANC denied that the president’s remarks amounted to an attack on Nzimande. – Sapa