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Opinion: Zuma’s curveball ahead of the elections…

Former President Jacob Zuma has urged South Africans to vote for newly-formed party uMkhonto weSizwe. Speaking in Orlando East in Soweto today Zuma said that this will enable the rescue of the ANC whose current leadership he says, is a proxy of “white monopoly capital”” (SABC News Radio, 16.12.2023).

The ignited former President Jacob Zuma has come out as a Presidential Candidate for uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. There was earlier in the week announcement of a press conference where he would tell what he would do. Today he did just that…

His now an outsider looking in. A former African National Congress (ANC) leader and former President who challenges the incumbent. Regardless, of him keeping his membership or not in the ANC. His still going head to head with the leaders of ANC and their incumbent Presidential Candidate. That’s a given and it’s to go after Cyril Ramaphosa.

The ANC is now challenged on a spectrum of parties and with former comrades within their midst. They are now facing further splits of votes and possible re-igniting of old grievances. That’s a coming thing here.

Zuma must know that throwing this grenade this late before an election. There is no way the MK party or his candidacy can be victorious. Maybe that’s not the idea behind it anyway. It is a way of forcing and ensuring “coalition” or agreements to get a slice after the fact. There is more likely a long-con in this and Zuma wouldn’t do it without knowing he could benefit after it.

This is a gift for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as the ANC are weakened further. Zuma still have high regard and possible outreach to voters who would have voted ANC. Now the same voters could either vote for him or Ramaphosa. That is a bonus for Julius Malema. He will see this an early Christmas Gift.

Zuma is now playing a dangerous game. As he has to galvanize the troops and his supporters. There is a need to prove his worth. Not only play victim of his own action and blame the state for targeting him after the fact. Now he has to prove he will act differently and be a viable candidate. While many will remember the “State of Capture” and his endless corruption scandals. Therefore, he has a bad track-record as a Head of State. Regardless of what he did in the ANC before getting into office.

Seeing Zuma return to politics is only a signal that the man is off the hook and still has political capital. He will still thrive and fight for his legacy. However, him and his party won’t get far. The only thing it can do is to hurt the chances of the ANC. The MK Party won’t be winner or a game-changer. No, it is just another outfit that will be in the minority vote. They will not overnight become a majority or have the ability to gain nationwide success. Even with a figure like Zuma. That has been shown by others who has created their own parties and become regional parties or within certain voting bases. Therefore, Zuma has to either reinvent himself or sell a story that will be hard to believe.

Zuma returning isn’t shocking, neither is the candidacy for another party. Because, we know he wouldn’t be welcomed back with open arms in the ANC. That ship had sailed. Now he is out on his own. This is done to challenge the ANC, but will MK have a chance?

I doubt it… ActionSA, BOSA and others has been created without reaching far. That’s why I doubt he will get anywhere… Peace.

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