| South Africans go to the polls |
 |
 |
 |
| Sunday, 26 April 2009 05:59 | |||
|
South Africans went to the polls on Wednesday in what was poised to be the closest contested elections since apartheid ended in 1994 with the overwhelming victory of the African National Congress (ANC), led by the legendary Nelson Mandela. In these general elections, the fourth since 1994, the ANC led by Jacob Zuma is facing a meaningful challenge from the Congress of the People (COPE), led by Mvume Dandala, consisting of mainly Black middle class supporters, most of whom have grown disenchanted with the ANC, and the official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, led by a new white leader, Helen Zille. Despite the unprecedented challenges faced by the ANC, that party is still generally expected to win the general elections. However, most political pundits in and outside South Africa are expecting that the overwhelming two-thirds parliamentary majority of the ANC will be reduced. With an ANC victory Zuma, 67, who until recently faced serious corruption charges, will become the new president of South Africa. Although Zuma had the charges dropped by South Africa’s primary court on a technicality his popularity with the rising Black South African middle class and whites have waned significantly. Most of the ANC opponents, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, once a fervent ANC supporter, are frustrated with the charges of corruption against the ANC, and the poverty and crime that still exists in this the richest African nation. Those disenchanted with Zuma and the ANC, although expecting another ANC victory will be satisfied if the party loses its two-thirds majority, which would prevent the party from having the right, as the governing party, to change the nation’s constitution and further entrench its power. On the other hand, the ANC still has the overwhelming support of poor, mostly unemployed Black South Africans, despite not seeing much improvement in their standard of living since 1994. They nonetheless still firmly believe in Zuma, who was imprisoned along with Mandela, and the ANC’s anti-apartheid credential and message. These poor Blacks make up the majority of South Africa’s 23 million voters, and once they turn out to vote in large numbers, as was expected, the ANC victory is almost assured. According to reports, long lines were present on Wednesday at most polling stations throughout the country. Many South African political analysts believe the ANC will win between 55 to 65 percent of the vote, compared to nearly 70 percent in 2004. South Africans weary of Zuma, have expressed fears that he could adapt leftist policies that could roll back South Africa’s recent racial tolerance, and impact negatively on investments which could hasten an economic meltdown in the country. However, others believe that the growing strength of the country’s opposing parties, and the impartiality of its security forces will prevent any misuse of power by Zuma. Zuma has discounted the accusations as false allegations being used by his political opponents to discredit his leadership, and has pledged to improve all aspects of life in South Africa and for all South Africans. Mandela, now 90, cast his vote in Johannesburg. Up to press time the results of the general elections had not been finalized.
|
|||
| Last Updated on Sunday, 26 April 2009 05:59 |
You may send a trackback for this article by using the following Trackback link
Trackbacks provided by Trackback for Joomla