South Africa’s Jacob Zuma has at last resigned after reluctantly heeding orders by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to bring an end to his nine scandal-plagued years in power. His resignation has been described by analysts as victory for democracy and the beginning of a new epoch on the continent’s democratic march. There was no blood-letting, no shooting, no loss of lives.
The ANC merely looked inwards and decided that enough was enough for their leader of many years who has brought more shame than fame to one of Africa’s most developed nations. His negotiated resignation has strengthened democracy in Africa, a continent where leaders have made impunity, abuse of rule of law and reformatting of their respective constitutions to suit their evil whims a norm.
In the case of Zuma, it was all too obvious that he was gone even as he tried to put up a last gasp resistance. By Wednesday afternoon, he was almost standing on nothing. Parliament was waiting to vote him out the next day and mustering the majority of votes was going to be a mere walk in the park. Zuma has already caught the picture of a shamed neighbour in a community.
Scandals, from sexual immorality to financial heist have plagued his reign. As a Zulu warrior, he was not going to walk away easily. He tarried, hanging onto a strand of hope as his misdeeds in office festered in the public arena. He could not wait till Thursday; he did not wait for parliamentary disgrace. He bowed out on the eve of the parliamentary vote.
The action of Zuma should spur other African leaders to bow to popular will and take the exit door any time their party or people decide so. Had Zuma tarried and defied even the parliament, blood would have flowed but he said not for his sake should any life be lost. This indeed is commendable and it is a victory for democracy in Africa where institutions are subsumed and subjugated under the power of individuals.
In a 30-minute farewell address to the nation, 75-year-old Zuma said he disagreed with the way the ANC had shoved him toward an early exit after the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as party president in December, but would accept its orders.
“I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect,” Zuma said.
“Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organization, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC,” he said.
The ruling party had said it would vote him out on Thursday.
“No life should be lost in my name. And also the ANC should not be divided in my name,” Zuma said.
His resignation came just hours after police raided the luxury home of the Gupta family, Indian-born billionaire allies of the president who have been at the centre of corruption allegations against Zuma and his circle for years. Zuma and the Guptas have always denied wrongdoing.
The ANC, which replaced Zuma as party leader in December with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, ordered him to step down as president on Tuesday.
When he failed to resign on Wednesday, it announced that it would back an opposition motion in parliament to force him out.
His resignation ends the career of the former anti-apartheid resistance fighter, who has four wives, a sharp tongue and a decades-long history of entanglement in scandals that polarized Nelson Mandela’s “Rainbow Nation”.
The rand currency, which has gained ground whenever Zuma has hit political turbulence, soared more than one percent to a 2-1/2 year high of 11.66 against the dollar during the day, as pressure piled on Zuma to resign.
His party hailed his decision to go.
“This decision provides certainty to the people of South Africa at a time when economic and social challenges to the country require an urgent and resolute response,” said the ANC’s deputy secretary general, Jessie Duarte.