Former president Jacob Zuma will be campaigning against the ANC ahead of next year’s general elections. Zuma said he decided to throw his weight behind the newly formed uMkhonto Wesizwe party as part of an attempt to rescue the ANC from white capital which he said hijacked the ruling party by sponsoring the campaign of his adversary and successor Cyril Ramaphosa in 2017.
Zuma briefed the media in Orlando East, Soweto where his daughter Dudu read a statement on his behalf as he said he was not feeling well. He was adamant he remained a loyal ANC member and that campaigning against the party is merely meant to bring it back into line.
“I’m calling on the members of the ANC to vote for MK. That’s what I’m calling for. I’m not going to vote for the ANC, I’m going to vote for MK. I’m calling for ANC members to vote for me, MK so that we have a majority to change this country,” said Zuma in response to media questions.
Zuma highlighted several negative things such as a lack of economic growth, racism and load-shedding which he says the current leadership of the ruling party is entirely to blame for.
“I’ve taken a decision because the African National Conference is an organisation for Africans not just a political party and was established by traditional leaders. I belong in it, I believe it in it but once people are mishandling it I’ll come in and rescue it, what more do you want?,” said Zuma.
Zuma who was recalled as president of the country by the ANC before he could finish his term said he chose to campaign for another party as the current leadership of the ruling party does not tolerate descent.
“In the ANC we debate. When a person differs with you you don’t expel them, what is that. Under the current leadership in the ANC descending views are suppressed, people are expelled. When I was leading the ANC we allowed descend, even the Zuma must fall brigade was allowed to do their thing,” he said.
ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu-Motsiri said the party noted Zuma’s announcement but would be commenting any further.
“The ANC NEC has noted the announcement by the former president Jacob Zuma and beyond noting it we will not be commenting any further,” she said.