Jacob Gedieyihlekisa Zuma, aged 82, was a former leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and an ex-president of the Republic of South Africa.
In 2018, he was forced to resign during his second term as president, after a vote of no confidence by his ANC.
In June 2021, he was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced for fifteen months imprisonment. He did only two mouths, and got out on health grounds.
In December, 2023, he announced his support for a new party, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK Party) formed in September 2023. On January 29, 2024, the ANC suspended Zuma from the party for endorsing MK Party and went to court to challenge the EC for registering the party, which bore the name of ANC’s military wing. The case was thrown out of court.
On May 29, 2024, South Africa went to the polls and the eight-month-old party, MKP showed strength by becoming the third largest party in the House, beating the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to, fourth place.
Today, this is how South Africa Parliament looks like. ANC with 159 seats (40.18%) from previous 230 seats (57.5%); Democratic Alliance (DA), 87 seats (21.81%) up by 3 seats previously (21%); debutant MKP, 58 seats (14.58%); EFF, 39 seats (9.25%) down from previous 44 seats (11%); Ikhata Freedom Party (IFP), 17 seats (3.85%) up from 14 seats (3.5%). With the rest of thirteen parties, sharing the remaining 40 seats.
Any omen for Ghana? Today as the nation is preparing for an election showdown in December, three main contenders are seriously eyeing the presidency with two also hoping their party dominates parliament. They are Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen who looks the most serious independent candidate ever. The next is Mahamadu Bawumia of the ruling NPP and John Dramani Mahama of the NDC.
Among these three gentlemen, the one who almost fits the Jacob Zuma story is Alan.
Unlike, Zuma, Alan was not expelled from the NPP, but he was coerced out.
He was treated as an enemy of progress and was publicly disgraced by people who were ten years at the time Alan, together with others laid the foundation and built a powerful party of the UP Tradition, through sacrifices and toils.
At a time when it was suicidal to openly declare for an opposition party, especially one with UP roots, Alan gathered some brave ones and formed the Young Executive Forum, which deliberated and came up with sound recommendations and great contribution for the party, example is greatly helping in the acquisition of a head office block.
The YEF, now Executive Forum (EF) was listed among the top groups in the Party and given delegate status for election of national officers and presidential candidates. Today, the YEF is delisted and treated as a non-entity.
Now the Zuma factor.
Zuma’s party, MKP, was bastardised by the ruling ANC who requested that it should be banned, just as speculations became rife that Alan should be disqualified in contesting the 2024 General Elections because he signed a declaration while contesting the NPP primaries that he would never turn his back if he lost the primary, and today he has gone back on his word.
In the recent Ejisu bye-election, independent candidate Aduomi, harnessed over 43% of valid votes and for the first time an NPP candidate in Ejisu, secured less than 70% of the valid votes cast. Aduomi had declared support for Alan, due to the way he was treated by the NPP in Ashanti.
With the MKP’s entry into South African politics, the new party rose from zero to become the third largest party in Parliament with 58 seats, after ANC and DA.
In South Africa today, the ruling ANC is desperate mood, because it can only form government out of a coalition. Can it approach the mainly White, Democratic Alliance or its now sworn enemy Jacob Zuma’s MKP?
Reflecting on the election results in South Africa, if at the end of the December elections, the NPP’s Bawumia polled 40%, the NDC’s Mahama polled 22% and Alan polled 15%, the NPP will definitely have to talk with Alan for his full support in the run-off. And this is where the ruling party will need to humble itself and take an oath of been of good behaviour, before concessions can be made.
The issue will be Parliament. Assuming NPP wins 110 seats (40%), NDC wins 61 seats (22%) and Alans group of independent MPs win 41 seats (15%), NPP will surely need Alan’s MPs to form a majority of 141 MPs, because there is no way, the NPP can form a coalition with the NDC in Parliament.
And what if all the Independent MPs will settle for ministerial appointments?
The South African election results can be an omen, a prophecy, which could reflect the results of Ghana’s December General Elections. It is now time for business before it become too late.
In 1979, Paa Willie’s UNC turned his back on Victor Owusu’s PFP and embraced the Nkrumaist PNP in the run-off. Will the same thing happen this December? It is about time people showed respect to Alan and acknowledge him as someone who could be most needed.
Assuming Alan leads with 40%, followed by Mahama, will the NPP back the NDC in the run-off? Wonders, they say, shall never end.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article do not represent that of The Chronicle
