Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pretoria (Agenzia Fides)- “Corruption is widespread in South Africa and the new accusations against Zuma come as no surprise, except for the timing perhaps …” said a missionary in South Africa, where Mokotedi Mpshe, head of the National Prosecuting Authority, said there is enough evidence to incriminate the newly elect African National Congress ANC president Jacob Zuma (see Fides 19/12/2007).
Zuma is said to be involved in a scandal of a contract for a sale of arms signed by South Africa with certain European producers and for this reason he was forced by President Thabo Mbeki to resign as the country's vice president. However Zuma got his revenge this week when he was elected as president of the ruling party.
“It is too early to say” said the missionary who prefers not to be named. “Zuma has a captivating way which made it easy for him to triumph over a president seen as distant from the needs of the people. The President favoured industry and finance but failed to invest in structures essential for guaranteeing the wellbeing of the people. So the people's living standard has not improved”.
“Besides the split between state and party - Fides sources continue - I think the greatest danger now is that a populist may prevail within the ANC to imitate the policies of Mugabe in Zimbabwe, with forced transfer to blacks of property belonging to whites. This would be a disaster for South Africa and Africa would lose its most important reference point. A risk which is mitigated because the ANC has been split in two between a populist and technocratic wing. The trouble is that neither of the two components has been able so far to express a consistent political line to transform the country ”.
“For example the problem of refugees from Zimbabwe” the missionary continued. “They prefer to ignore the matter or when they do speak about it they accuse these people, who have neither material means nor juridical assistance, of being criminals. A policy of assistance does not exist. The line followed by South Africa diplomacy with regard to Mugabe is that of substantial support for a president who has ruined what was once Africa's granary”.
The local Catholic Church assists refugees in South Africa and recently the Catholic Bishops denounced discrimination against Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa (see Fides 13/12/2007) . “This is a scandalous tragedy. There have been episodes which should move consciences, such as the Zimbabwe citizen who died of hunger in front of the gates of the Internal Ministry where he had camped for some days begging for a residence permit. I hope the attitude towards these people will change ” the missionary concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2007 righe 36 parole 510)
