Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Mbeki best ever ANC leader: Malema

Mbeki best ever ANC leader: Malema
by Staff Reporter
06/06/2011 00:00:00

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema was credited with knocking former South African President Thabo Mbeki off the political pedestal – but now he has made an about turn, hailing him as the “best” leader the African National Congress has ever heard.

"Mbeki is the best leader the ANC has ever produced. There are those who hated him with a passion but forgot that Mbeki, during his leadership, had produced a two-thirds majority during elections," Malema said in a speech at a meeting of the league's Limpopo provincial general council in Polokwane on Sunday.

"Those who hate Mbeki are jealous of his achievements. He was the most educated and clever.

"The only problem with Mbeki was failing to allow the leadership of the ANC to decide on who they wanted in the leadership, and for wanting a third term in leading the organisation. Apart from that, he was the best and I respect him for that.”

Malema’s unexpected warm words about Mbeki come as the Youth League is growingly disenchanted with the leadership of current President Jacob Zuma – a man Malema was declared he would “kill for”.

Political analyst Elvis Masoga said Malema appeared to be preparing the stage for the Youth League to withdraw its support for Zuma at next year’s elective conference, and to ensure Zuma’s defeat they would need the support of Mbeki’s supporters within the ANC ranks.

“Malema has been critical of Zuma's government and his leadership style to a point where it is very clear that he will not support Zuma serving another term in the ANC,” Masoga told the Sowetan newspaper.

The Youth League is angry with Zuma, previously seen as a “pro-poor” leader, for the slow pace of black economic empowerment and affirmative action.

The Youth League wants a speed-up of land reforms and has been challenging Zuma to fall into line over its proposals for the nationalisation of mines.

Zuma was voted in by the majority of poor black South Africans, for whom little has changed since May 2009 when he took office.

Political analyst William Gumede, author of ‘Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC’, said: “Zuma successfully portrayed himself as poor, identifying his personal marginalisation by former President Mbeki with the marginalisation of the poverty-stricken masses. He successfully distanced himself from the failures of the ANC government in the minds of poor voters, blaming them on Mbeki.

“Throughout the election campaign, his strategists portrayed his camp, which now dominates the ANC, as an almost different party. They projected Zuma and the new leadership as more pro-poor and democratic - and paradoxically less corrupt - suggesting they will offer effective government.”

But, adds Gumede, little has changed and Zuma is now being judged on his own record, which is far from impressive.

Labels: ANC, JULIUS MALEMA, THABO MBEKI

posted by MrK @ 4:13 PM