South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma
faces a no-confidence vote in parliament next week with his presidency
mired in crisis, after investigators documented allegations of
government corruption.
Thousands of people took to the streets to demand that he should resign from office.
The vote was called by the main
opposition, following a report by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog
calling for a judicial inquiry into allegations of influence-peddling
in the ANC (African National Congress) Government.
The report was finally released after
the president withdrew a court bid to delay its publication in the face
of mass public protests.
Police used stun grenades and water cannon to disperse protesters in Pretoria carrying “Zuma must go’’ placards.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), told a news briefing in Cape Town that the no-confidence debate and vote was scheduled for Nov. 10.
“This motion should not be viewed as a partisan motion – we do not see it as a DA motion.
“I know there are ANC MPs and cabinet ministers who have had enough.
They have an opportunity to actually do something about their anger by Nov. 10,’’ he said.
Zuma has survived his two previous
no-confidence votes this year, largely backed by the support of his ANC
(African National Congress) which controls about two-thirds of the
Assembly.
A senior party official told Reuters that ANC lawmakers were unlikely to break ranks and support the motion this time round.
However, there have been widening fissures in the ruling party this year.
There is growing discontent with the
scandals that have plagued Zuma’s presidency and played a role in the
ANC suffering its worst electoral losses since the end of apartheid in
municipal polls in August.
No comments:
Post a Comment