ANC must reconcile now - Zuma
2008-09-15 07:49
Pretoria - African National Congress members and leaders should put their differences aside until after the election to allow the party to increase its majority, said party leader Jacob Zuma on Sunday.
"This time is important, because we now have an opportunity. As they say, this administration is coming to an end."
However, fighting the existing leadership serves no purpose, because "if you do that, you are killing a dead snake", he said at the Pretoria Showgrounds, where he addressed about 5 000 ANC members from Gauteng in Zulu.
Zuma was referring to the judgment in Pietermaritzburg High Court last week where the judge rapped President Thabo Mbeki over the knuckles for his political interference in Zuma's court case.
The judgment means the corruption charges against Zuma have been set aside for now.
'Set aside differences'
Word in the ANC is that Mbeki most certainly will be removed from his position before the end of his term next year.
With Zuma's case dropped for now, the ANC can start focusing on its campaign for next year's general election.
Zuma told the crowd that the time had come to set aside any differences and self-criticism within the party until after the election.
"During the election period you can't say 'see how down I am, please vote for me'. You have to be positive and look good."
He also proposed the revival of street committees as an essential element of the ANC's election campaign.
"If the ANC is there to protect (the people) and we become part of them, they will know for whom to vote," he said.
The Inkatha Freedom Party earlier warned that street committees could be used for political purposes to incite violence, as had happened in the past.
'The angels will rejoice'
Zuma said some people believed a greater majority for the ANC held a threat for the country, but in his opinion a stronger ANC meant more peace in the country.
"If the ANC succeeds [in expanding its majority] the angels will rejoice," he said.
The ANC achieved a majority of nearly 70% in the last general election in 2004, and hoped to increase its lead even further in next year's election.