It has always been my understanding that if you are in the habit of throwing stones at others, expect them to throw stones back at you. You certainly can't expect them to shower you with confetti.

I have absolutely no problem when President Jacob Zuma is criticised by his detractors for his omissions and commissions.

But there appears to be a perception out there that his political opponents can throw as much dirt at him as they want, and he has no right to defend himself.

For some reason it is accepted that everybody can make fun of and ridicule Zuma, but he is not supposed to do the same.

If Zuma retaliates, his behaviour is said by his detractors to be "un-statesman-like".

But what really constitutes statesman-like behaviour?

When the leader of the opposition, the DA's Mmusi Maimane, stands up in parliament and accuses Zuma of "corruption" without providing proof, his behaviour is acceptable. It is ironic then that when Zuma in turn mocks the opposition with "Nkaaandla!" the opposition feels offended.

Some of the criticism directed at Zuma must be taken with a pinch of salt. For instance, Zuma appoints the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) from recommendations that come to his desk from officials who should have certified whether the person is suitable and qualified to do the job or not.

Zuma's job is to either take what is recommended or reject it.

When the person does the job well, no one remembers that he or she was appointed by Zuma. Those who remember conveniently forget to mention it.

But when the person gets involved in some kind of controversy or scandal, there is a chorus of condemnation against Zuma.

There might well be some truth in what some commentators and critics are alleging.

They say that Zuma appointed Mxolisi Nxasana as NDPP in the hope that Nxasana would be pliable should Zuma find himself having to answer certain charges.

But, until and unless someone provides proof to back this claim, it is simply irrational to expect all of us to accept it at face value. I hold no brief for Zuma but questions must be asked.

How long should a person, president or not, be kicked around like a dog before he is expected to respond or retaliate?

If every Tom, Dick and Harry can throw as much mud as they like at Zuma, where in the Bill of Rights does it say that the president can't throw a little bit of that mud back at them?

It is all well and good to point out Zuma's wrongs and hidden agendas, but we should not forget that his detractors, too, have their own hidden agendas.

If we feel it is right to expose Zuma and the governing ANC's biases, it must follow that it is right to expose the biases, wrongs and agendas of others, including Maimane's and the DA's.

All biases must be put out in the open so that each party is judged fairly and the public can make up their own minds.

On the matter of Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko's report on Nkandla, it must be remembered that it was the public protector who recommended that Nhleko, together with his colleague Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene, should determine how much the president should pay for the non-security installations at his private home, Nkandla.

But here is the part that I don't quite get. Why couldn't Thuli Madonsela make this determination herself?

Not a single person raised the "small" matter of Nhleko's compromised position at the time Madonsela made her recommendation. We all knew that, like all the other ministers, Nhleko was appointed by Zuma, making Zuma his boss. Nobody asked then why Madonsela, knowing that Zuma was Nhleko's boss, expected him to tell his boss that he must pay back some money for the spending on Nkandla.

When Zuma, in answer to questions about when he would pay back the money, answered and said that he was waiting for Nhleko's determination, as per Madonsela's instruction, he was crucified from all quarters and accused of all sorts of things.

Why then was there so much noise when Nhleko determined that the president does not have to pay a cent?

Everyone feigned shock and agitated that Nhleko "be hanged on the nearest tree". Surely that was a demonstration of the irrationality of Zuma's detractors.

lKa Mzolo is a social and media commentator based in Pretoria