Former South African president Jacob Zuma has announced that he will not vote for the African National Congress (ANC) in the upcoming elections and is launching a new political party.
Zuma, who served as president from 2009 to 2018, made the announcement at a press conference in Soweto on Saturday. He said that he could not in good conscience support the ANC under its current leadership, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“The ANC of today is not the once great movement that we loved and were prepared to lay down our lives for,” Zuma said. “I will die a member of the ANC, but it has changed into an organisation we no longer recognise.”
Zuma’s new party is named uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), which means “Spear of the Nation.” The MK was the armed wing of the ANC during the apartheid era, and Zuma was a member of the organization.
Zuma said that the MK party will fight for the same goals as the ANC once did, but that it will use different methods. “The new people’s war starts today,” he said. “The only crucial difference is instead of the bullet this time we will use the ballot.”
Zuma’s announcement is a major blow to the ANC, which is already facing a number of challenges. The party has been in power since 1994, but its popularity has declined in recent years. The ANC is also divided by factionalism, and Ramaphosa has been criticized for his handling of the economy and corruption.
Zuma’s decision to launch a new party could split the ANC vote and make it more difficult for the party to win the next election. The election is scheduled to take place in May 2024.
Zuma’s announcement is also likely to have a significant impact on South African politics. Zuma is a popular figure among many South Africans, especially among black South Africans. His decision to launch a new party could reenergize his base and give him a platform to challenge Ramaphosa and the ANC.
It remains to be seen whether Zuma’s new party will be successful. However, his announcement is sure to shake up South African politics and make the upcoming election even more competitive.