Did anyone else watch South African President Jacob Zuma's inaugural address? I was amazed to witness the swearing in of this complex and ambiguous ANC figurehead (a member since 1959). While his views on social justice can be eerily short-sighted (polygamy is natural but homosexuality is not; unwed mothers should have their babies taken away and be forced to attend college), and his rise to power is linked to his career in intelligence, he is in other ways a refreshing and liberating choice. Pragmatic yet prone to stately generalizations, powerful but not possessing the social status and education of his ANC predecessors, a survivor of lingering corruption charges as well as political imprisonment during apartheid, he is also the first Zulu ever to be elected president; his home town is Nkandla (part of Zululand, but also deeply impoverished). He also seems a reassuring choice in the climate of the recession, when people seem particularly to mistrust elite interests and more apt to vote for the symbolic rejection of that idea. His economic views are to the left of his immediate predecessor's (in the true sense, not the reactionary American one), and ANC's alliance with the Communists and the trade union movement were largely responsible for the ousting of Thabo Mbeki and the ultimate rejection of GEAR. When I first came to New York, I had the pleasure of working with Africa Bambaataa. One of the first things his entourage did was to take over reception duties in order to change the studio's message. As long as Bambaataa was in the house, the phone would be answered, "Zulu Nation!" Watching the inaugural address, it occurred to me that, while in South Africa, Bambaattaa could now answer the phone that way and be correct rather than idealistic. South Africa is too diverse to be a Zulu nation in the literal sense, but having Zuma for president must give a lot of private citizens a renewed sense of hope and belonging. At one point during his inaugural speech, it sounded as if Zuma spoke briefly in isiZulu (though I am hardly knowledgeable enough to be sure).
His inaugural address in its entirety: http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?doc=ancdocs/history/zuma/2009/jz0509.html
Personally I think it is rather amazing that South Africa managed to turn itself from a totalitarian racist regime into a stable working democracy without a re-enactment of the French Revolution (or Russia, 1917). It's "Truth and Reconcilliation" apprach to settling old differences rather than old scores could set an example for N. Ireland (and I'm sure that the Peace Process took a leaf out of its book). Beyond that I must admit that I have not followed the South African election much except that the democratic choice is always the best one. And Zulu Nation does sound kinda cool. At least Zuma wants to force unwed mothers into college education rather than work houses (like we did over here in Victorian times); not bad for a guy who has four wives. His views on homosexuality are conservative but at least not reactionary: when challenged on his homophobe comments Zuma apologised, stating, "I also respect, acknowledge and applaud the sterling contribution of many gay and lesbian compatriots in the struggle that brought about our freedom, and the role they continue to play in the building of a successful non-racial, non-discriminatory South Africa." A pragmatic dude he is. He also quotes God on his/the ANC's side but manages to do so in a manner that does not sound quite as mad as former President Bush. And at least he has the balls to stand up to Mugabe (although I do think Mbeki's approach of "quiet diplomacy" and criticism of the West's posturing rethoric did have some merit) and to tell it like it is to the West. Whether he'll turn out to be a good choice remains to be seen, but considering the clowns we have been voting into office over the last decade (Obama excepted) who are we to criticise anybody?
OK, we all loved Mandela - what's not to love, eh? But Mbeki was weak; we waited for the impact of his softly-softly diplomacy in ZA, but it never happened and belatedly other members of the AU tried to step in. However, I'm not sure Zuma is a Good Thing (tm). Tainted by corruption and charges of rape, with some rather polarised views on fundamental issues... On the other hand, at least he is more decisive and has promised to address many issues that the electorate seem to be immediately concerned with. Sometimes a strong, and decisive leader is beneficial even if his policies aren't always universally liked. On a side issue, I think there are bigger problems with the ANC. So long freedom fighters, they were given the keys to the kingdom and have sated themselves on the trappings of power. They are still learning how to govern and I hear rumblings of discontent (albeit courtesy of international news networks - my relatives left the country a while ago). With no effective opposition, the sooner they can have a schism and split the party into two, the better. Even the most well-meaning of administrations need a credible opposition. This article indicates that some (particularly mixed race and white people) are competing with the ANC in specific areas, but generally they are too comfortable.
