Mbeki cannot Cope without the ANC

Recent malicious gossip and unfounded news reports (Moffet Mofokeng, “COPE ‘Mbeki’s idea’,” Pg 1 City Press 7 December 2008) continue to peddle lies about former president Thabo Mbeki.

On the one hand, there are political opportunists who want to use the Mbeki name to attract people who love and follow him to join the ranks of a yet to be launched party.
Their view point is that they have quit the ANC because they are unhappy with the bad treatment that has been metered out to him.

On the other hand, there are those sources who make headlines and sell newspapers by scraping up lies that Mbeki MUST be behind the formation of the new political party. They focus on his alleged fall from political power and how he desires to rule from the grave.

Those in the first camp are just trying to pull fast tricks to bolster their confidence and credibility. In short, they are running low on strategies to sell their agenda and non-existent policies to people who are supposedly pissed off with how Mbeki has been treated in the ANC.

Those in the second camp promote the idea of Mbeki as someone who is willing to betray the ANC, turn his back on his own history, someone who is without principles. They, too, are using his name to support the notion that he is a “sore loser” who still wants to become a third term president of the ANC and our country.

To put it bluntly, they do not believe that founders of the new party are capable of pulling this off without the involvement of some great leader like Mbeki to master mind a project that could change the course of history. Unfortunately, when you listen or read to what Mbeki himself has to say, there is no factual basis for the lies peddled in his name, for that is what they are: lies, lies and more lies.

In fact, Mbeki’s spokesperson has Mukoni Ratshitanga said “he remains a member of the ANC.”

Perhaps Mbeki’s name must be taken out of wild political speculation altogether. First, we must acknowledge that, up until NOW, he remains a loyal and disciplined member of the ANC. It is for this reason that he accepted the high command when called upon to step down.

Secondly, we must understand that Mbeki’s life, career and history are inseparable from the ANC. In fact, his heart, soul and mind are inextricably linked to the organisation. Without it, he would be nothing.

Thirdly, we should reject the peddling of lies by commercial media and wild political speculations of “sources” and “analysts” that put words into Mbeki’s mouth to hog newspaper headlines or make more push up sales. There is no shred of evidence that any news institutions and people have spoken to Mbeki. He gave his first interview since he stepped down to Independent Newspapers recently and there is nothing about a new political party.

Fourthly, and most importantly, we must understand that IF Mbeki were to leave the ANC, he would be rejecting everything that he has given his life to.
Of course, that would be tantamount to confessing that he has turned against everything that he has stood for. It would say all the 52 years he has been with the ANC mean absolutely nothing!!!

Now, there are no sane people who would follow such a leader or have confidence in him. He would epitomise a bundle of contradiction and confusion. Mbeki’s life, thought, career, history and passion can be summed up in three sweet words: African National Congress! It is his father, mother, brothers, family, history and life. Period. There is no fat chance that he can join any other organisation, now.

The ANC is his life, love and death.