Turkey- South Africa's Zuma survives new no confidence vote
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) >South African President Jacob Zuma has survived another vote of no confidence brought against him by the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA).
The motion was brought Tuesday after Zuma removed Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene last December and replaced him with little-known MP David Van Rooyen who was removed three days later.
The decisions saw a negative impact oncountry’s economy.
“Jacob Zuma sold out when he removed an experienced finance minister so that he could capture our Treasury for his personal benefit” DA leader Mmusi Maimane said as he moved the motion to remove the president.
He said his party has lost confidence in the president because of the many bad decisions and scandals he has allegedly been involved in.
"Jacob Zuma sold out when he manipulated the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to drop charges on the 783 counts of corruption bribery money laundering and racketeering against him" Maimane said. He said his party was currently fighting in court to have the charges against the president reinstated.
Zuma has denied allegations linked to a multi-billion-dollar arms deal negotiated over a decade ago.
He was first charged in court on the counts in 2005 while he was deputy president but after a long legal battle the NPA dropped thecharges and Zumabecame president 2009. The youthful opposition leader said many South Africans were jobless and hopeless but the president continued to live in luxury: "Jacob Zuma sold out when he knowingly used public money to build his private house at Nkandla" Maimane added. However Zuma’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) used its majority to defeat the motion. The ANC defended its president saying the country has achieved a lot under his leadership and he could not be removed until the end of his term in 2019. "President Zuma is at the forefront of peace and conflict resolution on the continent. The international community has confidence in the president and the country" Minister for Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu told parliament. She criticized the opposition for tabling “frivolous” motions that disrupt the important business of parliament.
ANC MP Pule Mabe suggested the critics to join the ruling ANC. This is the second vote of no-confidence motion that the president has survived in a period of less than a year.