Don't bitch about Bush -- you got Zuma

Submitted by Henk Campher

I am extremely proud of being African and South African. What we have managed to do over the past 15-odd years has been unbelievable. From the most despicable apartheid regime to a stable democracy and sound economic growth; from the bottom of the world pecking order to the leading global voice on justice; a leading light in a world at war: we have shown the world how everyone can live in peace and harmony — and celebrate differences instead of letting it divide us.

The region I come from has shown the world how Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Jew can all live together, celebrate our differences and enrich our lives in this melting pot we call home — instead of trying to wipe each other out.

Yes, like all other countries we have challenges, crime, poverty and HIV/Aids being the biggest. At the heart is poverty — or at least the lack of shared wealth. Too much is still in the hands of a small group of umlungus. We have the systems in place to start addressing this — affirmative action will help, but we have lots more to do to address wealth distribution. But as a start, affirmative action policies have been integrated into our procurement system in innovative ways, as well as in the workplace. At the same time, the government has brought electricity, running water and housing to millions of people.

So much more that still needs to be done. We are very much a work in progress. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. Change doesn’t happen overnight.

We have won the Rugby World Cup — twice! Unfortunately, we continue to suck big time in soccer, but will show the world how to party in 2010.

We have shown how democracy can be a powerful way to bring real benefits to all people in South Africa. Since 1994, we have experienced mostly all the good and great things of having a democracy.

And then there is Zuma.

He has just been elected as the leader of the ANC — the political party I have always supported and voted for in South Africa. He is now in a perfect position to become the next president of South Africa. The “comrades” at the ANC congress celebrated his win as proof that democracy works and that anyone can be elected as a leader in a free and fair election.

But let’s be clear about something. Zuma is an idiot. I have met him a few times and he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. He has the charisma of a damp dishcloth. And the morals of a rat. He didn’t deny sleeping with the young girl that was not only HIV-positive, but also a family friend. Whether there was consent is irrelevant. You would expect more from someone who is supposed to be a leader we look up to, and who should be a shining light for us to follow. And the fact that he took a shower afterwards to “ensure” he didn’t “catch” HIV speaks to his intellect. I am not even going to go into the corruption charges.

How the hell can the ANC Women’s League justify supporting this guy during the election? And when I was a unionist in South Africa, we all saw Zuma speak at the Cosatu congress — how could you even think for a minute he would be a leader for the workers or the people?

I know that people don’t like Mbeki, but you don’t drink cyanide just because you don’t like Coke. Pick something else that won’t kill you. OK, cyanide will kill you quicker than Zuma, but the outcome will be the same — Zuma will drag through the mud everything for which Madiba and all our great leaders have worked and fought. We will be the laughing stock of the world. Mbeki is a statesman respected across the world for not bending to popular demand, but sticking to what is just and right. Well, most of the time — he is fallible (read his HIV/Aids policies). Hey, I don’t even like him that much. But Mbeki is a giant compared with Zuma.

What really gets to me is the fact that these same “comrades” will be the ones bitching and moaning about Bush and other world leaders, but especially Bush. As they used to say at union meetings: “Comrade, you are out of order.” You lost your right to criticise the democratically elected leaders from other countries when you elected Zuma as your leader.

Bush might be an idiot with policies we don’t like or agree with, but he was democratically elected (twice) by his people. OK, he is an idiot — just like Zuma. So, stop your bitching about Bush or Brown — or even Mugabe; you got Zuma. You just moved us from standing on the moral high ground to crawling in the mud. You voted him in. You are responsible. You will be the laughing stock of the world. You just lost your right to bitch.

Read Henk Campher’s blog Angry African on the Loose