S/Africa's Zuma Faces No-confidence Vote In Parliament
Wed Mar 02, 2016 08:22:am Africa
2.2K By sosa hills
South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday faced a no-confidence vote in parliament for a second time in less than a year and a legal bid to reinstate corruption charges against him, while a court is hearing a case to reinstate 738 corruption charges against him.
The mounting pressure on the president comes against a background of economic crisis sparked by his firing of two finance ministers within days in December.
The fallout was followed by a public row between the respected new Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the head of the tax authority, which has again rattled markets.
"South Africans demand that Jacob Zuma be taken to task for his reckless handling of our economy, and his sending South Africa into financial crisis," DA leader Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.
"A motion of no confidence is the best mechanism to ensure that President Zuma is fired, once and for all.
"It has become common cause that under Jacob Zuma's leadership, our country is spiralling downward - and doing so at an alarmingly fast rate."
The no-confidence vote was called by the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
His office said he would oppose the court case, while the governing party vowed to defeat the motion.
The opposition is behind both actions, accusing him of taking a bribe.
Mr Zuma has denied the allegation, linked to a multi-billion dollar arms deal negotiated over a decade ago.
He was first charged in 2005, and fired as deputy president by then-President Thabo Mbeki.
After much legal and political wrangling the case was dropped in April 2009, and Mr Zuma went on to become president a month later.
At the time, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said phone-tap evidence, dubbed in the local media as "spy tapes", suggested political interference in the investigation, and it was "unconscionable" to press ahead with the case.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party is challenging the decision in the High Court after a lengthy battle to obtain the "spy tapes".
The mounting pressure on the president comes against a background of economic crisis sparked by his firing of two finance ministers within days in December.
The fallout was followed by a public row between the respected new Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the head of the tax authority, which has again rattled markets.
"South Africans demand that Jacob Zuma be taken to task for his reckless handling of our economy, and his sending South Africa into financial crisis," DA leader Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.
"A motion of no confidence is the best mechanism to ensure that President Zuma is fired, once and for all.
"It has become common cause that under Jacob Zuma's leadership, our country is spiralling downward - and doing so at an alarmingly fast rate."
The no-confidence vote was called by the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
His office said he would oppose the court case, while the governing party vowed to defeat the motion.
The opposition is behind both actions, accusing him of taking a bribe.
Mr Zuma has denied the allegation, linked to a multi-billion dollar arms deal negotiated over a decade ago.
He was first charged in 2005, and fired as deputy president by then-President Thabo Mbeki.
After much legal and political wrangling the case was dropped in April 2009, and Mr Zuma went on to become president a month later.
At the time, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said phone-tap evidence, dubbed in the local media as "spy tapes", suggested political interference in the investigation, and it was "unconscionable" to press ahead with the case.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party is challenging the decision in the High Court after a lengthy battle to obtain the "spy tapes".
Related News
Leave a comment...