Politics

Former South African President Zuma says successor Ramaphosa is ‘hopelessly’ corrupt

Published

2 years ago

October 23, 2022

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has taken a swipe at his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing the current president of being “hopelessly” corrupt.

Zuma, who was recently released from prison after he was sentenced to 15 months for refusing to answer a commission investigating corruption charges against him, while interacting with journalists on Saturday, gave his first opinion on allegations that Ramaphosa was involved in an obscure burglary case at his Phala Phala farm.

“The president is corrupt. Hopelessly corrupt and he has committed treason.

“No president should handle private matters while in office because it is contrary to the oath of office taken by the head of state,” Zuma said at the news conference held in Johannesburg.

Zuma who was forced to resign in 2018 as he was mired in corruption scandals and accusations, said the ANC conference which is scheduled for December will have to deal with this case and decide whether or not the president can stay on.

“Many are saying the president has failed. Our president is under great pressure over the Phala Phala farm case,” he said.

Ramaphosa was accused in June after a former South African intelligence chief and a strong Zuma ally, Arthur Fraser, filed a complaint calling for the President’s investigation into his role in silencing a robbery that took place at his farm.

According to Fraser’s complaint, burglars had broken into Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm located in the northeast of the country, and stole the sum of $4 million.

Fraser further accused Ramaphosa of concealing the robbery from the police and the money found there from tax authorities, as well as organising the kidnapping and interrogation of the robbers and then bribing them to keep quiet.

Ramaphosa has continued to deny any wrongdoing, describing the accusations of kidnapping and bribery as “political maneuvering”, claiming the stolen money came from the sale of his livestock.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 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

3 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.