The African National Congress (ANC) does not support military intervention in Zimbabwe, party president Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.
”The ANC will not support military intervention in Zimbabwe because there is no war. The country’s leaders just need to be pressurised through talks on what should be done,” Zuma said during a more-than-an-hour long interview on 702 Talk Radio.
”The ANC is not like Zanu-PF,” Zuma said. ”We do not accept that leaders put themselves first before the needs of the people.”
Zuma, in response to a caller’s suggestion, said the commemoration of Umkhonto weSizwe’s 47th birthday on Tuesday was not to mobilise its members for any foul play.
Asked if he had anything to do with the axing of former National Prosecution Authority head Vusi Pikoli, Zuma said the decision was independently made by President Kgalema Motlanthe.
”I do not instruct the president to do anything. He made the decision himself,” he said.
Speaking of his legal battles, Zuma confirmed reports that he was suing cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, known as Zapiro, for R7-million.
Zuma also dismissed allegations that he visited fraud convict Schabir Shaik every month.
Asked about his controversial comments on how to deal with crime and the high number of pregnant school girls, Zuma said they were made to provoke debate.
As South Africa moved towards the national elections next year, Zuma called on tolerance as he spoke against the vandalism and burning of ANC flags and those of other parties by political rivals.
”This is why the ANC is talking to its volunteers and members. Those who do not listen will be punished,” he said. — Sapa