Zuma: ANC is relieved

2008-10-17 20:13

Cape Town - The African National Congress leadership is relieved that party members who have been working against the organisation have finally came out in the open, ANC president Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

Writing in the ANC's weekly newsletter, Zuma said it was difficult to have in the party people who harboured "dubious agendas".

"We found ourselves with members who had dubious agendas and who clearly did not want to be led. We are pleased that they have now come out into the open instead of operating clandestinely within our structure," he said.

He urged those who held the same views as the party's dissidents to also come out in the open so as to allow the organisation to move forward.

"We urge others who are actively working behind the scenes to also declare their intentions and allow the ANC to move forward in unity," he said.

Despite all efforts by the ANC leadership to accommodate those who had supported former ANC president Thabo Mbeki at the party's Polokwane elective conference, certain individuals had continued to undermine the new leadership.

"The democratic notion of accepting the choice of the majority despite one's own preferences appeared to have been thrown out of the window," Zuma said.

Disingenuous claims

It was disingenuous for former ANC leaders to suddenly claim that there was no democracy within the ruling party.

"What is amusing is that this is said by people who have used their leadership positions over the years to stifle democracy and bulldoze others whose views they disagreed with, and who are now running away from democracy in the ANC. We have been working day and night to undo their legacy to remove factionalism and fear within the movement," Zuma said.

However, the ANC leader said the party was prepared to engage disgruntled members genuinely seeking a resolution to differences.

"These are members who joined the ANC not for leadership positions but because they believed in its values, policies, its Constitution, proud history and traditions.

We have a duty to listen to these members so that they can help us improve the way the ANC is run and to solve the outstanding issues which cause concern," he said.

In this regard, Zuma said the party?s national executive committee (NEC) members would be deployed to all provinces to meet members and discuss the current situation.

"We value every single member of the ANC and do not want to lose them to people who want power at all costs. There are many people who have been sadly ill-treated over the years but who remain within the ANC as loyal and disciplined members - we respect them for that," he said.

- SAPA