In his first weekly online newsletter to African National Congress (ANC) members, Jacob Zuma, the new party leader, insisted on Friday that there were no fundamental policy differences among any members or leaders of the ANC.
”The vibrant debate that is sometimes misconstrued as division is merely differences of opinion on the implementation of our programme of action,” he wrote.
”It is a healthy phenomenon which keeps all of us on our toes. We have consistently argued that the mere existence of different views — whether on questions of leadership, policy or strategy — no matter how strongly held or firmly expressed, does not mean that the organisation is divided.”
He declared that unity was not achieved by mere agreement on its desirability.
”It is built through ongoing democratic debate and sustained through political action,” he said. ”It is achieved by encouraging a contest of views and a respect for decisions collectively and democratically taken. That is why we have always spoken about ‘Unity in Action’. We reiterate that the ANC is not divided.”
The new leader, who has now taken of the task of writing the weekly letter from his predecessor as leader, Thabo Mbeki, said the party needed to promote an exchange of views that made it possible for comrades to disagree vociferously, but still remain firm comrades and friends
He added that given the vibrancy and nature of the organisation, the debates were not likely to stop any time soon.
”The boundless energy of the ANC Youth League will continue to reverberate throughout the length and breadth of our country,” he said, ”ensuring adherence to the culture and traditions of the movement as it has historically done.”
He said that the partners in the tripartite alliance (the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party) would make their views known speedily should they suspect the new leadership was compromising the national democratic revolution.
”Working together to implement the resolutions of our respective conferences, we should be able to find more common ground than areas of difference henceforth,” he said. ”We will always welcome the views and opinions of our alliance partners on the progress we are making in meeting the mandate of our people.”
Noting that the ANC celebrates its 96th anniversary with a rally at Atteridgeville outside Pretoria on Saturday, he said that bringing the ANC to the centre stage of all aspects of life in our country would be among the party’s first tasks
”There is not one among us who is exempt from this responsibility,” he warned. — I-Net Bridge