Former South African President Jacob Zuma on Saturday lamented the high levels of poverty among Black South Africans and promised to create jobs and tackle the scourge of crime as he launched his new political party’s manifesto ahead of the country’s much-anticipated elections.
Addressing thousands of supporters at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, Zuma detailed the key points of his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party’s agenda. Central to his vision is the establishment of factories aimed at creating employment opportunities and the provision of free education for the nation’s youth.
Zuma, who remains a polarizing figure in South African politics, has also pledged to amend the country’s Constitution to enhance the powers of traditional leaders. He criticized the current legal system for diminishing their role by allocating more authority to magistrates and judges.
Jacob Zuma Unveils New Party Manifesto
Launched in December last year, the MK Party has quickly risen to prominence, positioning itself as a significant contender in the upcoming elections. Zuma’s political resurgence comes despite his ongoing legal battles. He is currently appealing a court judgment that bars him from running in the election due to his criminal record, which includes a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court related to a judicial inquiry into corruption during his presidency from 2009 to 2018.
During his address, Zuma highlighted the proliferation of political parties in South Africa as a contributing factor to the nation’s struggles. “My biggest problem is that we [South Africa] have too many political parties. Too much. They are the cause of our people suffering even more,” he told his supporters, many of whom traveled from provinces like Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, where he retains significant support.
Zuma attributed the high levels of crime among Black South Africans to widespread poverty. “Victims of crime are often Black people. The reason for this is because of poverty. People are hungry. They have nothing to eat. So if you see it [food] next door, what else are you supposed to do,” he said.
The former president’s ambition is to secure more than 65% of the national vote in the upcoming elections, a majority that would enable his party to enact substantial legislative changes. Recent polls and political analysts suggest that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) may receive less than 50% of the vote, potentially forcing it to form coalitions with smaller parties to maintain power.
