Zuma clutches at power straws

Jacob Zuma

Former South Africa President Jacob Zuma.

Photo credit: File

What you need to know:

  • As a result of the drought, there have been reports that the country is facing a grain deficit, and would have to import five million tonnes of maize.
  • Even earlier, in September 2015, the Democratic Alliance brought a motion of no confidence against Zuma over the government’s failure to arrest Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir.

Amid the optimism on the continent, South Africa seems to be faced with several crises, and Jacob Zuma is one leader who is unlikely to be sitting easy.

Already feeling the heat after threats by parliament to censure him, embattled Zuma has had to contend with challenges that include South Africa’s worst drought in three decades.

As a result of the drought, there have been reports that the country is facing a grain deficit, and would have to import five million tonnes of maize.

Figures show that the local demand stands at 10 million tonnes, but according to Corne Louw, a grain economist, South African farmers would only meet half the demand.

In the meantime, the country has also been faced with student protests mainly in cities like Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

The crisis began last year when students protested a proposed fee increase.

An alarmed Zuma stepped in and asked universities to put the matter on hold.

The protests, however, resumed, exacerbating his problems, with the crux coming last Friday when a huge ‘Zuma must fall’ banner was erected on the corner of Kloof and Buitensingel streets, Cape Town.

President Zuma’s problems aside, there has been jubilation in Many west African countries after the World Health Organization reported that the affected countries had finally put in check the Ebola scourge.

The celebrations seem to have come too early, though, as Sierra Leone confirmed a death from the disease just hours after WHO announcement.

The organisation had however warned of occasional “flare-ups.”, and so the victory may not be Pyrrhic.

ZUMA' ERRORS
Back to President Zuma’s challenges, the sword of Damocles is hanging over his head as Parliament is set to debate a motion of no confidence in him.

The development follows a call for impeachment last December by the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), following a surprise cabinet reshuffle.

Even earlier, in September 2015, the DA brought a motion of no confidence against Zuma over the government’s failure to arrest Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir.

Luckily for Zuma, that motion was defeated.

The removal of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene was hugely unpopular and saw the country’s currency slide against the dollar.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said it was reckless and irrational.

Mr Maimane said Mr Zuma had to be removed as president “once and for all”.

Because of the backlash against President Zuma, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete agreed to DA’s request to schedule the motion of censure and promised that it would be published in the first available order paper of the year.

She said she was consulting with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC chief whip to schedule a debate “within a reasonable period given the programme of the Assembly”.

The recent victory against Ebola does not detract from the fact that the epidemic has a cyclic nature, and there is unfortunately no guarantee it will not flare up in the future.