Zuma : Limit State's Power [The Star, 2007-04-16]

Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2007-04-16 Reporter: Sipho Khumalo

Zuma : Limit State's Power

Publication	The Star
Date	2007-04-16
Reporter	Sipho Khumalo

'ANC must guard the rights of the masses'

Jacob Zuma has warned against too much power being concentrated in the "state house" and the presidency, saying this had resulted in many coups *1 in Africa.

Addressing a packed gathering of Cosatu shop stewards in Durban yesterday, the ANC deputy president urged ANC members to ensure political power stayed within the organisation and with the masses.

Zuma did not refer to President Thabo Mbeki by name, but said: "The organisation (ANC) should not lose power and give too much power to the state. We must carefully read what our (conference discussion) documents say about this critical issue.

"This is the crucial year (of the ANC policy conference in July), when all decisions that we take will be important for a long time to come. What we do about this issue of concentration of power at the policy conference is going to be critical," said Zuma.

"(The concentration of power in the state house) has been the main cause of problems in Africa. When coups occur, there are no masses to defend the organisation and democracy."

There are concerns within the ANC-led tripartite alliance that too much power is vested in the hands of President Thabo Mbeki.

These concerns intensified after Mbeki relieved Zuma as deputy president of the country. Mbeki has power to appoint the cabinet, heads of department, premiers and mayors.

The issue of presidential powers is set to come under scrutiny when the ANC conducts an organisational review at its conference.

Addressing the same gathering, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi rejected weekend reports that the union federation had dropped Zuma as the ANC's presidential candidate.

It was reported that Cosatu was dropping Zuma for ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe.

Vavi said the February Cosatu meeting had never discussed ANC positions, but rather the framework for choosing the right leadership.

Cosatu's final position would be decided in September.

"Those who are spreading the rumour about the candidacy of Motlanthe are seeking to destroy his reputation.

"The real debate in Cosatu now is how to change the economic direction of the country. It is a debate between those who want to retain the status quo and those who want changes," said Vavi.

KwaZulu Natal Cosatu secretary Zeth Luzipho said there was no way Cosatu was going to drop Zuma because "he was part of the workers".

"We are proud Zuma supporters because we are ANC members and Zuma is ANC deputy president," he said.

With acknowledgements to Sipho Khumalo and The Star.

*1 Most coups throughout recent history in Africa and the world have been premised on corruption.