Zuma yes - 'machine gun' no
2007-02-11 22:57
Pietermaritzburg - African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma will be attending the official opening of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature next week - but he will not be bringing his machine gun.
Zuma supporters have been banned from singing his signature song,Umshini Wami - at least within the area that will be declared a parliamentary precinct - when they attend the opening.
KZN legislature speaker Willies Mchunu said in Pietermaritzburg that Zuma was to attend the opening, but "they will not be singing as our rules do not allow it".
At nearly every public gathering Zuma has attended or addressed, he has sung uMshini Wami, which dates back to the liberation movement that used it to prepare freedom fighters to go to war with the apartheid government.
Decorum is sacrosanct
A statement issued by Mchunu's office said Zuma would be there - without umshini wakhe (his machine gun) - suggesting that Zuma's presence may attract some of his fans.
They have been less than apologetic and subtle in their support of factions of the ANC government.
Mchunu's spokesperson Bheki Mncube said that in terms of the rules, "no one is allowed to interfere with the decorum of the house, and that includes any disturbances like singing any song of whatever nature while the speaker is seated and the mace is in its position within the chamber".
"The issue of singing is limited only within the chamber while proceedings are taking place and once speaker and mace have left the chamber, any kind of singing will not necessarily be ruled out of order," said Mncube.
He said the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds would be declared a parliamentary precinct from Monday.
The area will be taken over by security agencies and be governed by the National Key Points Act.
The announcement suggests they are trying to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing incident that took place at the reburial of liberation struggle hero Moses Mabhida last year at Harry Gwala Stadium.
The reburial was attended by President Thabo Mbeki and Zuma.
When the president stood to address the gathering, large numbers of people walked out.
They took no notice even of Zuma, who asked them to return to their seats.
A number of key ANC leaders, including safety and community liaison MEC Bheki Cele and MPL Senzo Mchunu, have been named in an internal investigation within the ANC regarding the incident.
Buthelezi invited
The Mabhida reburial was not the first time Mbeki has been embarrassed.
Supporters also walked out of a function in Durban last year, which was attended by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after they were told that Zuma would attend, but who was not present.
Mncube also confirmed that the provincial house of traditional leaders chair and Inkatha Freedom Party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi had been invited.