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(TALKZIMBABWE) Zuma predicts landslide victory

Zuma predicts landslide victory
Our reporter
Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:20:00 +0000

SOUTH AFRICA'S presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma has predicted a landslide win for the African National Congress in tomorrow’s general elections - and pledged he would build an inclusive Government if elected as President.

"We anticipate a massive turnout at the polls tomorrow and we expect that the people of this country will once again give the ANC a huge and decisive mandate to work together with them to further improve their lives," he told a news conference in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

Zuma said the ANC would not use its majority to ride rough-shod over the rights over the rights of people, nor to bulldoze other parties into submission.

"We will emphasise openness, dialogue, as well as inclusiveness in our actions, in order to build a united and successful nation," the ‘president-in-waiting’ said.

Zuma made a special appeal to all South African citizens to respect the right to vote, regardless of affiliation.

"We urge our law enforcement agencies to protect our people and deal with those who may try to disturb, hinder or intimidate voters in all provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal," he said, referring to fears of potential conflict in hotly contested areas.

Commenting on the youth vote, Zuma said: "We urge our 18-year-olds to go out and celebrate their right to vote for the first time tomorrow.

"Many South Africans lost their lives fighting for freedom and the right to vote, and our youth must never take this right for granted."

Zuma left Gauteng to return to his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where he will be voting tomorrow.

Labels: ELECTIONS, JACOB ZUMA

posted by MrK @ 11:01 PM