/ 24 February 2009

Cope’s new leader in stark contrast to Zuma

The contrast between the presidential candidates for the Congress of the People (Cope) and the African National Congress (ANC) could hardly be more striking.

Where Jacob Zuma is essentially an autodidact, Dr Dandala has degrees from Cambridge University, as well as honorary degrees from The University of Transkei and from the Cameroons.

Whereas Zuma has several wives, Dandala has but one. Dandala publicly took an HIV/Aids test. Zuma famously took a shower.

No doubt the crafty politicians at the head of Cope believe that other striking contradictions will occur to the voters, that they will make the distinction between a Methodist church leader and the accused in a corruption scandal.

Hamilton Mvumelwano Dandala, known as Mvume, (57) is general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is the immediate past presiding bishop of the Methodist Church in Southern Africa and president of the South African Council of Churches, positions he held simultaneously from 1997 to 2003.

Although not widely known to the South African public, he has a solid reputation among the churches as a peacemaker, and a passionate advocate for African social justice.

Like Zuma, however, he became involved in the anti-apartheid struggle at an early age, when studying at the Federal Theological Seminary in Alice. He became the local chairperson of the South African Students Organisation, which was prominent in the struggle against apartheid.

Mosiuoa Lekota the president of Cope declared: “He is not new to the game, he was with us in the UDF [United Democratic Front] … it is in these difficult times in our country that men of his calibre are needed to take the hopes of the people.”

According to one commentator, Dandala continues to emphasise an African church world view in his AACC role “that believes in the transformational power of the church’s prophetic witness and that shows a deep commitment to social justice for the people of Africa. He also stresses the importance of the church’s role in promoting self-sufficiency both for itself and for people across the African continent.”

Political dimension
It is not quite true to say that he has no political experience. His church positions as such politicians as Rev Frank Chikane and Bishop Stanley Mogoba can testify have certainly had a political dimension. Dandala has been churchman to the politically powerful, and for example buried Walter Sisulu and Makgatho the son of Nelson Mandela.

And many of his published remarks have carried political import. He has inveighed against the evils of gambling and he and his fellow leaders of the Methodist church condemned in 2001 the massive escalation of gambling opportunities through casinos, national lotteries, betting agencies and games of chance.

“The damaging effect this has on the economic state of communities, especially those living in the vicinity of casinos, and the welfare of the individual — particularly the poor — is enormous,” Dandala said. “It drains away monies which could be spent on education, food and charity.”

He also spoke on healthcare costs. “Healthcare is increasingly becoming a privilege of the rich and the reduction of primary medical costs needs to be urgently reviewed in order to ensure that health becomes a fundamental human right and accessible to the entire population of Southern Africa,” he said.

When he agreed to be tested for HIV/Aids in order to raise awareness of the pandemic, he expressed the hope that other members of the church would follow suit, saying this would promote a spirit of care and understanding about HIV/Aids.

He also spoke on the subject at Makgatho Mandela’s funeral, saying: “Africa has to be freed of the grave clothes of HIV/Aids.”

Dandala has also been prominent in pressing the government to fulfil the promises of reparations made at the end of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work.

Born on October 26 1951 in Mount Ayliffe, Dandala holds a Diploma in Theology from John Wesley College of Federal Theological Seminary in South Africa and Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Theology degrees from the University of Cambridge.

He is married to Phumzile Dandala. They have two children. Their daughter, Gqibelo, is a banker and their son Hlomla is a filmmaker. — I-Net Bridge