Stop Zuma?

Impossible, my dear.

Yet that’s seemingly been the sole aim of Helen Zille and the Democratic Alliance over the past, final week of campaigning before the election. And it’s a tactic which has drawn criticism from many quarters for it’s negativity and single-minded determination to go after JZ, while there are plenty of other major issues and challenges which need addressing in this election.


Zille and her grand plan.

Sadly, it’s also a campaign which, as the international community sits up and takes notice in the run up to the election, has been reported around the world, with Zille’s scaremongering tactics dragging the country’s name further through the mud. See the New York Times’ report and the BBC’s South Africa ‘doomed under Zuma’. The latter is worth a look if only for the picture of Zille’s cabaret act – the article itself makes depressing reading.

This evening on the way home from a hard day’s science, I listened into John Maytham’s show on 567 Cape Talk. Maytham described himself as “revolted” by the Stop Zuma campaign and stated that he had been put off voting for the DA.
Then, in a shock move for me, I found myself agreeing with Maytham’s guest Jonathan Shapiro – the cartoonist otherwise known as Zapiro. But what surprised me more was that Shapiro, who was apparently previously an ANC voter but who will not be voting for them this time because of Zuma’s reputation, was also disgusted by the DA’s recent campaign, describing it as a “terrible mistake”. Strong words indeed from a man who has himself been accused of harbouring a vendetta against Msholozi. While he said he was still undecided about who he was going to vote for, the DA had joined the ANC on his list of ‘definitely nots’.

I don’t understand why the DA has suddenly taken this route. They are absolutely capable of winning the Western Cape in this next election, which was their stated aim. But whatever strategist persuaded them that moving away from campaigning on any other issue and concentrating on the futile task of “stopping” Jacob Zuma – whatever that means, anyway – has done them a great disservice. As far as I can see, having spoken to people, read newspapers and checked in on the local media, this negative campaigning has turned the voters away from the DA, Maytham and Shapiro being the latest examples of this phenomenon. If they had nothing to fight for, that wouldn’t be a big issue, but with the Western Cape as tight as it is, I can’t help but wonder – have Zille and the DA shot themselves in their collective feet by solely (no pun intended) going after Zuma?

Music in Politics

Those of you in South Africa will be well accustomed to the use of music in politics. So much of the African culture revolves around music and dance, that no decent South African political rally is complete without the obligatory traditional songs and dancing.
But music has also been used in politics in the UK too. Remember back in 1997, when Labour swept to power, D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better was their victory song. 12 years on, some might disagree with that sentiment.

The big difference of course, is that here, the politicians join in with the singing.
In fact, Jacob Zuma (our President-in-waiting) even has his own much-discussed theme song, Umshini wami. And he’s got quite a voice on him:

But things are changing. Perhaps having seen the success of JZ and eager to have about 30 million voters giving him their X, North Hertfordshire Council hopeful, the Liberal Democrats’ Allan Witherick has come up with his rap “Six to Fix”, malaigning the shortfalls of the current Conservative council.

I would ask you to compare the passion, the performance and the personalities of JZ and Allan. I would also ask you to ensure that you don’t have anything in your mouth as you click on the video below, as you may be in danger of
choking.

UPDATE: Allan has made his video private. If you’re watching it, you’re a friend of Allan. Just saying.
Fortunately, I’ve found a copy for you here.

Yes, “that, my friends is our six to fix in a funky mix with a little bit of flair”.

I’m glad he finished off by telling us that. I had completely missed the funk and the flair was sadly drowned out by he sound of my sides splitting.
Probably best we leave the music to JZ, hey?

Zapiro – who can I annoy this time?

After the whole “Zuma raping Justice” cartoon furore, things have died down a little for rogue cartoonist Jonathan “Zapiro” Shapiro. We’ve hearly heard a peep from him over the last few months. What a pleasure.
So it was about time he came up with a plan to irritate some group or other and get himself back into the headlines. But – devoid of ideas and inspiration and with a shortened deadline due to a major religious holiday, what was he supposed to do?

The answer was obvious: rehash some contentious old stuff and add a touch of spice by throwing in some religious imagery – a surefire hit after the big Sax Appeal rumpus.

The result:

This cartoon removed at the
request of Zapiro’s legal team
6000, September 2009

Zapiro’s latest offering from mg.co.za

So: ANC factions nailing Jesus Justice to the cross while the NPA washes it’s hands of the affair under Zuma’s shower. All just in time for Easter.

Yep – that should last him another few weeks.

You wouldn’t let it lie…

I remain bedridden on doctor’s orders. One of the things about working with TB is that you don’t play with it when you’re not feeling 100%.
It tends to note your weakness and leaps into your respiratory tract, where it annoys the neighbours by holding late night parties. And killing you.

Being stuck here means that I have borne witness to just one source of reaction to the NPA decision to drop the charges against Zuma – the mobile internet, namely twitter and facebook. And what drama! What hysteria!
Why?
I have two answers: a mild case of shared Münchausen’s Syndrome and a media (and various political parties) which have caused certain sections of the population to believe that the moment Zuma comes to power, South Africa will fall, irretrievably into ruin.
No.

I do not understand what these people hope to achieve by spreading these sensational stories. Of course, everyone has their own agenda and we have an election just around the corner, but as with Trevor Mallach fake letter, let people vote based on FACTS, not on SPIN.
As I mentioned yesterday, the best thing for SA now would be to move on and let this issue lie. But of course, I understand that that option is not viable for some people and parties.
The irony is that they think that their political meddling in the justice system is somehow different from the political meddling in the justice system which prompted JZ’s legal eagles to meddle, possibly politically, in the justice system.

There was never going to be an easy way out of this, and no matter how aggrieved Helen Zille and the DA feel right now, they must realise that others would have felt equally outraged had the NPA decision gone the other way.

The only good thing about what happened today is that we briefly knew where we stood. A moment of clarity, if you will. There was the opportunity for closure, which has already been lost:

@helenzille The decision to drop the charges against Zuma is irrational and unlawful. We will not stand back and let this happen. http://tiny.cc/P4jB6

Not that I am blaming Helen Zille – she has her beliefs and she must stand up for them. Sadly, as this story continues to run, I see only more damage and more harm and hurt on the road ahead.

In times of turmoil, one must look for the simple pleasures in life. Better get back to sucking my Fisherman’s Friend, then. Certainly clears the passages and he seems to enjoy it too.

Written on my Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. In bed.
With a Fisherman’s Friend. Nice.