Zuma takes swipe at African dictators

Sunday, January 13, 2008

ANC President Jacob Zuma

PRETORIA- AFRICAN leaders have been challenged to desist from holding on to power either by hook or crook as this undermines the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights, African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma announed on Saturday.

Addressing over 30 000 party faithfuls at Super Stadium, Atteridgevile, Pretoria, Zuma took a swipe on fellow African presidents, who hold on to power through vote rigging and dishonest arguing that such moves should be condemned in strongest terms.

 Zuma did not rightly point at Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, who is clinging on to power since the country attained its independence from Britain in 1980, but the whole of Africa.

Mugabe, who has received international condemnation for gross human rights abuses, election rigging as well as clinging on to power was represented by his embassy officials in Pretoria."We remain steadfast in our position to interfere with the democratic right of people to elect a government of their choice, to vote rigging, or any dishonest

means of attaining power. "As Africans we must continue to work in 2008 to eradicate such practices from our continent," said Zuma, receiving much appluase from thousands of Zimbabweans present.

Zuma also took a swipe on the events that are unfolding in Kenya saying such disturbances should be resolved as a matter of urgency."We express our deep concern at the situation in Kenya, which has severe political, social, econimc and humanitarian implications. We are concerned in particular about the loss of human life, homes and livelihoods that have been visited upon ordinary Kenyans in recent days. "We urge all parties to co-operate in the process of finding a just, peace and lasting solution to this crisis," said Zuma.

He said other troubled countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan, Somalia and Burundi needed attention from the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) in order to resolve the conflicts- CAJ News.

The Zimbabwean, Jan 13, 2008