THE goings-on within the tripartite alliance has become divisive and malicious.

Take the recent remarks by Cosatu and its affiliate, Samwu, about a plot by certain members to pass a vote of no confidence in ANC president Jacob Zuma and general secretary general Gwede Mantashe.

This, they say, emanated from the ANC general council in September.

They make such absurd comments in public, then lack the conviction to say exactly who is behind such a plot.

If they were indeed concerned they would provide the information and say exactly what the plot entails.

As far as I am concerned they are seeking attention from Jacob Zuma and are using scare tactics to get him on their side. If anyone is out to get Zuma, it's Cosatu.

Firstly, they lambasted his State of the Nation Address as being vague on labour issues and then accused Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan of not having consulted them before he made his budget speech.

Not so long ago Zwelinzima Vavi said the honeymoon between Cosatu and Zuma was over.

These attention-seekers say they delivered Zuma to the Union Building. Now that it is clear to them that the president is accountable only to the ANC and not to them, they are using dirty and malicious rumours to get his attention.

Shame on them.

Their irresponsible statements could plunge us into unnecessary chaos. No wonder Thabo Mbeki never wanted them anywhere near policy discussions. What they want is to rule from a distance.

Kiekie Mboweni, NkowaNkowa