Fikile Mbalula is correct to say Thabo Mbeki is to blame for the chaos that characterised the ANC during his tenure as leader of the party and country. He failed to unite the ANC and instead contributed to disintegrating it.
Mbeki inherited a vibrant and united ANC from Nelson Mandela. The Mandela era believed in a stronger alliance with Cosatu and the SACP, but he did no thing to build a stronger alliance.
Some economic policies were implemented without consulting the alliance, which resulted in alliance partners feeling left out in participating in critical policy matters .
Mbeki displayed the worst form of political leadership in the Jacob Zuma case. Firing Zuma on the grounds of a supposed corrupt relationship with Schabir Shaik strained the already hostile relationship between Mbeki and many ANC members because he failed to engage and consult with the NEC.
ANC culture and character is defined by robust engagement and wide consultation and these elements did not define Mbeki's leadership. It took the N E C many hours and pain to decide to recall Mbeki, but he failed to do the same when he recalled Zuma.
Why he replaced JZ with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka without consultation still baffles my 78-year-old mother.
The ANC has a mammoth task of producing cadres who are loyal to the movement, not to the person.
Lazarus Nsiki, Letsitele
Mbeki failed the party and the country
Fikile Mbalula is correct to say Thabo Mbeki is to blame for the chaos that characterised the ANC during his tenure as leader of the party and country. He failed to unite the ANC and instead contributed to disintegrating it.
Mbeki inherited a vibrant and united ANC from Nelson Mandela. The Mandela era believed in a stronger alliance with Cosatu and the SACP, but he did no thing to build a stronger alliance.
Some economic policies were implemented without consulting the alliance, which resulted in alliance partners feeling left out in participating in critical policy matters .
Mbeki displayed the worst form of political leadership in the Jacob Zuma case. Firing Zuma on the grounds of a supposed corrupt relationship with Schabir Shaik strained the already hostile relationship between Mbeki and many ANC members because he failed to engage and consult with the NEC.
ANC culture and character is defined by robust engagement and wide consultation and these elements did not define Mbeki's leadership. It took the N E C many hours and pain to decide to recall Mbeki, but he failed to do the same when he recalled Zuma.
Why he replaced JZ with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka without consultation still baffles my 78-year-old mother.
The ANC has a mammoth task of producing cadres who are loyal to the movement, not to the person.
Lazarus Nsiki, Letsitele
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