“Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity”
Don’t you just love clichés like these? Especially when you consider how applicable they are to the ANC of today?
SANRAL comes to mind as one of them, coupled with Malema, poor service delivery, the Info Bill, the highest ranked corruption and incompetence in the history of the country (two Ministers and the Police Chief), a Harem of first ladies and the ability to stretch the meaning of a word over two pages in a speech...
Yes, you guessed it; all this and more is to be the legacy of His Excellency, the Honourable President Jacob Zuma!
I suppose some political parties (one specifically comes to mind) are struggling to hide a chuckle at how someone could drop the ball so eloquently!
I recently read Frank Chikane’s book, Eight days in September, the removal of Thabo Mbeki, where he also states how pretty much no political parties made any attempts to expose the callous ignorance illustrated by the ANC top brass (which included Zuma) towards the Constitution when Mbeki was forced to resign during 2008.
They (the oppisition) could have forced Mbeki to remain in power for his last 7 months via the Constitutional Court, until his term was up, but didn’t do a thing.
Why then? You would ask...
According to the book, they just didn’t like Mbeki, but I have a sneaking suspicion it had more to do with their own Chess game at the time.
When one considers the current situation in the country, with the apparent cracks in the tri-party alliance and the absolute lacklustre “support” for Zuma, and the ANC leadership, it could be conceivable to think that this all could be foreseen by the major opposition parties.
If they knew Zuma would fumble it this badly, no one could blame them for allowing for a “self destruct” tactic within the ANC.
The only barometer they had to watch, was the two thirds majority of the ANC.
Allow me to explain...
In the event that the ANC lost its two thirds majority during the 2009 elections, Zuma would have to stay within the Constitutional boundaries, and would it be impossible for him to take the country with him, if he crashed the ANC into a mountain.
As you know, they lost their two thirds, albeit with a narrow margin.
With reference to his legacy, as mentioned earlier, it seems even more unlikely that the ANC will regain that majority with the next elections, in fact, everything is pointing to an even larger drop in support than before.
In short, Zuma is fast becoming the biggest asset opposition parties have in Government.
The great thing about this is that it forces the ANC to appoint better leadership as soon as possible. It also shows them that no one is invulnerable and that it still matters what the people think of you.
Personally, I don’t think this country is ready for DA leadership just yet. It would de-stabilise S.A to such an extent where it becomes un-governable, as many ANC supporters would resort to violence against what is still construed as a “white party”.
Maybe in a couple of decades Helen...
At least we’ll have accountable leadership for the first time ever, as the ANC will learn that you have to earn support and serve the country to do so, and not miss-use the power you have to keep you there.
This then, is a chess game the ANC can’t win with Zuma, and they will have to sacrifice their Queen (or, in this case President) to effect a turnaround with the next elections.
They (Zuma and his advisors) simply lacked long term strategy, whereas the opposition are playing the game five moves ahead.
What was that saying again...?
”if you fail to plan... you plan to fail”.
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