Politics

Former South African President, Jacob Zuma, mocks corruption report, calls it tissue of gossips

Published

2 years ago

June 27, 2022

Former South African President, Jacob Zuma, has derided the final report of an inquiry into corruption and graft allegations against him and his nine-year administration, saying the report which indicted him was full of gossips.

The final report which was handed over to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday by the country’s Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo, indicted Zuma of widespread plunder of state resources.

The report was the result of months of inquiry into alleged influence-peddling and corruption during Zuma’s nine years in office and has recommended the investigation and prosecution of several high-ranking officials in the previous government.

However, the 80-year-old Zuma has laughed off the report that proved wide-ranging allegations of corruption in government and state-owned companies in 2018.

Speaking through his legal team and the Jacob Zuma Foundation lawyers, the ex-President said he rejects the findings of the judicial report detailing how rampant corruption gutted state coffers during his presidency.

“We hold the view that given the unlawfulness of how this inquiry was set up, it cannot be that its findings and recommendations are lawful,” Mzwanele Manyi, spokesman for the Foundation said.

“The report is therefore a classical case of the fruits of a poisoned tree. Turning to the unlawful report of the unlawful Commission, it is predictably full of gossip, innuendo and conjecture.

“It is very short on concrete evidence. It’s really not clear what exactly did Justice Zondo and his team actually do, almost half a decade and 2 billion rand later,” Manyi said.

Zuma had been billed to address a press conference on the report but his lawyers said they had advised him at the last minute not to attend to avoid violating his parole conditions.

Related Topics:corruption Featured Jacob Zuma South Africa

Click to comment

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

5 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

6 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.