To "Z' Or Not To "Z" - An Opinion on Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma is the fourth President of South Africa, he was elected to power in 2009. Zuma is the President of the African National Congress (ANC), the governing political party, and was Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005. As there is much controversy about him and his Presidency, I shall examine both points of view and hope to adequately express my conclusions.

Zuma is an economic leftist, who has often described himself as a socialist. He supports redistribution of wealth and is therefor backed up by the South African Communist Party and, the Women's League as well as numerous trade unions.

Policy changes placed by Zuma aim to expand access to HIV treatment. According to Zuma, the government will start treating H.I.V.-positive people with tuberculosis at an earlier stage of their disease, when their immune systems are stronger — a step recommended by the World Health Organization proven reduce death rates.

Another policy to be put in place by Zuma is the National Development Plan (NDP).
The NDP suggests that every municipal district with commercial farming land should form a committee that is compromised of farmers and key stakeholders. Every one of those committees would then need to identify 20% of commercial farming land to be transfered to black farmers. This would ensure that an increased amount of land is successfully returned (and that it is a beneficial change) thus attempting to nullify the damage done by the Land Act of 1913.


Regardless of these positive political policies Zuma has managed to gather a strong and passionate opposition due to his questionable problems with the law and his usage of public funds. 
He is also criticized and ridiculed for his rather conventional public statements.

Zuma has been charged with rape of a 31 year old family friend but was was cleared of all charges on the basis of her lingering at his house till the next morning, and her history of making rape claims that turn out to false. He was also charged with corruption multiple times although all charges have been dropped.

Always in the spotlight, Zuma's latest scandal has been dubbed, "Nkandlagate". President Zuma spent as much as R206m (£12.4m) of the public's tax money on renovations to his private home. These include a tuck shop and a football field.

Moving on to Zuma's provincial opinions. Among others, one saying that he is extremely mocked for is his statement on the unprotected sex he had with an HIV positive woman. He left his bedroom, after having sex, to shower because this "would minimize the risk of contracting the disease [HIV]".
He also has rather bigoted ideas about homosexuals and same-sex marriage. He says that, and I quote,  "Same-sex marriages are a disgrace to the nation and to God." as well as that, "When I was growing up, an ungqingili (a homosexual) would not have stood in front of me. I would knock him out."

While I agree that our current president is not the purest man out there, I still believe that he has some good intentions and that we all should cut him some slack. Although it is true that our leaders should be positive role models we must also remember that they are human as well and deserve second chances. In my opinion a good leader is one who recognizes and apologizes for their mistakes, something that Zuma has done.

- Amber Anglin