Politics

South Africa’s ruling ANC to sue Zuma’s MK party

Published

2 months ago

March 20, 2024

Ahead of what could be the most significant election in the nation’s past 30 years, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa is challenging the independent electoral authority and a rival political party headed by a former president, exposing tensions in the country.

The African National Congress (ANC) claims that the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation) party failed to register in September. The election court in the nation’s heartland, Bloemfontein, heard the case on Tuesday.

Led by former ANC leader and South African president Jacob Zuma, the new party, dubbed MK, may be deregistered and unable to run in the May 29 national elections. Several MK officials threatened to start a “civil war” and declared they would not tolerate being disqualified.

Using the name of the ANC’s now-disbanded military wing, which Nelson Mandela had formed, MK sows discord within the party.

In separate legal actions, the African National Congress (ANC) is contesting the use of the name uMkhonto weSizwe and a logo that is very similar to that of its former military component due to copyright infringement.

Zuma’s choice to back MK has given the fierce competition a new dimension. In recent months, the two parties have insulted one other. The leaders of the new party were referred to as Zuma’s “chihuahuas” by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who dubbed Zuma “the most destructive person” to South Africa’s democratic progress.

Due to accusations of corruption, Zuma was removed from office as South Africa’s president in 2018. He is presently being tried for corruption, however the proceedings have been delayed for a long time. He has been a harsh opponent of Cyril Ramaphosa, the current president of South Africa, and the African National Congress (ANC).

Mr. Zuma’s ANC membership was suspended for openly endorsing Mr. MK. Both he and Mbalula were present in the Electoral Court on Tuesday.

After the racial segregation system of apartheid ended in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) ruled South Africa for 30 years. However, this year’s election is likely to be its most difficult test to date.

According to many surveys, the ANC will experience its first-ever majority loss and will need to form a coalition to maintain power.

Although South Africa has a legislative form of government, the president is also the head of state and has executive authority. The practice is uncommon among heads of state in nations with parliamentary systems, which are frequently led by prime ministers and have a separation of powers.

The most recent survey, which was carried out in February and March, indicates that MK, which has a strong following in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal and is predicted to gain popularity there, might emerge as the third largest party in South Africa during its first national election.

The ANC has refuted claims that the lawsuit is a response to Zuma and MK’s political threat.

South Africans are also upset by MK’s response to the legal action, especially by remarks made by KwaZulu-Natal party official Visvin Reddy. “Listen to me very carefully,” Mr. Reddy said in a speech earlier this month. “This country will descend into civil war the day MK is not allowed to campaign and be on the ballot. No one will vote. No one in this country will vote. We will make sure of it.”

Source; https://www.africanews.com/2024/03/19/south-africa-anc-takes-new-opposition-party-to-court/

Related Topics:Featured Jacob Zuma South Africa

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Politics

Mozambique: Ruling FRELIMO announces Chapo as presidential candidate

Published

2 days ago

May 7, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Daniel Chapo has announced that he will run for president in the October election on behalf of the ruling FRELIMO party in Mozambique.

Since achieving independence in 1975, FRELIMO has ruled the nation in southern Africa, and the party is hoping that Chapo can lead it to another win in the election on October 9.

“The soap opera of speculation is over, including speculation about the third term,” President Filipe Nyusi said on state television on Sunday, dismissing the prospect of contesting elections again.

“We must all unite around comrade Daniel Francisco Chapo, in the demanding march towards electoral victory next October,” Nyusi said.

The president of Mozambique is limited to two terms of five years by the constitution. Nevertheless, following his reelection as party leader in 2022, there had been conjecture in the media that Nyusi may run for a third term.

Chapo, a relatively unknown person in national politics, is the governor of the province of Inhambane in southern Mozambique. As to the party announcement, he secured 225 votes (about 94%) from the central committee of the party.

“We are going to work with all social strata,” Chapo said on television after his win.

Chapo, a former radio host, was born in 1977, making him the first candidate for FRELIMO to be born since the nation gained its independence.

He has served in many governmental capacities, most notably as an administrator of the districts of Nacala and Palma. He also has a master’s degree in development management and a law degree.

Politics

Again, Rwanda denies it attacked displaced persons in DR Congo

Published

5 days ago

May 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

For the sixteenth time, Rwanda refuted US charges on Saturday that its troops attacked a camp for internally displaced persons in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), placing the blame instead on militants it claimed were backed by the military of the Congo.

The US State Department released a statement in which it vehemently denounced the incident that claimed at least nine lives on Friday.

There have been persistent accusations against Rwanda of providing support to the armed organizations, which has resulted in diplomatic tensions between the neighbours in East Africa.

Citing the threat that Rwanda’s surface-to-air missile systems posed to civilians, U.N. and other regional peacekeepers, aid workers, and commercial aircraft operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the US demanded in February that Rwanda remove its systems and all of its armed forces from the DRC immediately. Rwanda denies providing any assistance to the rebels.

According to the U.S. statement, the M23 rebel group, which Rwanda supports, and the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) held the positions from which the attack was launched. The United States is “gravely concerned about the recent RDF and M23 expansion” in eastern Congo.

Speaking on behalf of the Rwandan government, Yolande Makolo refuted claims that the RDF was responsible for the attack, blaming instead rebels backed by the Congolese military.

“The RDF, a professional army, would never attack an IDP (displaced persons). Look to the lawless FDLR and Wazalendo supported by the FARDC (Congolese military) for this kind of atrocity,” she said in a post on X.

Wazalendo is a Christian sect, while the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is a Hutu organization that was founded by Hutu officials who left Rwanda after planning the 1994 genocide.

Thousands of people from the surrounding areas have fled to Goma in eastern Congo as a result of the M23 rebels’ two-year offensive, which has advanced toward the city in recent months.