What’s
evidenced before South African Parliament speaks volume on how President Jacob
Zuma’s past keeps on hauntingly following him. As he’s recently answering some questions during a
special session in the parliament, Julius Malema, chair of Economic
Freedom Fighters (EFF), took on him asking him to pay back the money that’s
spent on upgrading Zuma’s homestead famously known as Nkandla Scandal.
Their political vendetta’s obvious so as to force the speaker of the
parliament, Beleka Mbete, to threaten to bring riot police in. Despite Mbete’s
threat, EFF stood their ground and saw the session being adjourned due to the
noises of “pay back our money” that stole thunder. EFF wanted Zuma to repay
R200million that was spent on his home in Nkandla KwaZulu-Natal
Malema’s move shocked many especially given that he’s the
one who walled Zuma during his charges of corruption before the duo fell out.
Zuma used Malema to tumble former president, Thabo Mbeki, in what’s regarded as
loutish way. When Malema’s hauling all sorts of salvos and insults on Mbeki,
Zuma and ANC were just laughing. Now that Malema’s turned tables against Zuma and ANC,
will they stay aside and look as they laugh their hearts out as it was when a
senior leader like Mbeki was humiliated?
Those who know how Zuma used Malema to ouster Mbeki unceremoniously will
agree with us that the same Malema wants to do it again against his mentor and
maker. A few weeks before Mbeki’s toppled under what African National Congress
(ANC) called recall, Malema's quotes as saying, “Mbeki must leave now and
Zuma should become president. The only way to solve that problem is to have an
early election.” Malema’s words weren't in vain. He added, "Whether they like it or not,
we're not going to leave Jacob Zuma here in court but we are going to carry him
all the way to the Union Buildings.” For, after a week, Mbeki was kicked
out. Later Zuma's elected president and sworn in at the Union Buildings.
After getting what he wanted, grabbing power from Mbeki, Zuma wanted to get rid of
Malema. Sooner than later, Malema's charged with tax evasion and other
economic related offences which he's still facing. Thereafter, Malema's sacked from ANC and lost his lucrative position of the president of ANC
youth wing. Looking at how things were unfolding and knowing who's
behind, it didn’t take long before Malema realizing that he made a terrible,
mistake to be used by Zuma to ouster Mbeki. He hit back by forming his
EFF which has given Zuma hard time especially after securing good-sized victory
in the just ended general elections.
Zuma-Malema marriage hit rock bottom and the duo’s now sworn
enemies. Malema's recently quoted as saying, “We are in a mess because
we did not listen to the silent communication from president Mbeki that you are
removing me and replacing me with nothing.” Malema’s refuting his allegation
that ANC was in quandary because of Mbeki whom he once accused saying, “We are
in this trouble because of Thabo Mbeki and his people. This problem was started
by Mbeki.” Now we can see that Mbeki wasn’t the cause of troubles South Africa
was in while Zuma is according to Malema. After realizing his mistake of being
used, Malema went as far as issuing an apology to president Mbeki by meeting
his late mother Epainette Mbeki in April 2014 shortly before her demise saying,
“I took an opportunity to also apologise to her about how we ill-treated her
child.”
Biblical parable has “Live by the sword, die of the sword. Is the sword, namely Malema, that Zuma used to kill Mbeki turning against
him? Will the sword really kill Zuma? What transpired in the Parliament
recently whereby EFF’s MPs jeered at Zuma might be something to note. The
difference's however that Zuma can’t go down in the same manner Mbeki did
given that Malema’s no longer either the member of ANC or its youth wing
president. Again, is there any extra force using Malema to want to bring Zuma
down the same way he did Mbeki? Is Zuma reaping what he sowed?
Source: Business Times Aug., 29, 2014.
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