Zuma’s God talk condemned.
MPHO DUBE
JOHANNESBURG - ANC president Jacob Zuma has invoked the wrath of political opponents for claiming God’s backing for eternal ANC rule.
In his most recent utterances during a party rally in Khayelitsha on Sunday, Zuma said: “Even God expects us to rule this country because we are the only organization which was blessed by pastors when it was formed. It is even blessed in heaven. That is why we will rule until Jesus comes back.
“We should not allow anyone to govern our city (Cape Town) when we are ruling the country.”
Reacting, Ryan Coetzee MP and CEO of the Democratic Alliance (DA), said Zuma’s statements displayed the anti-democratic attitude of an absolute monarch, and as such the DA condemned them.
“Clearly Sunday’s performance in Khayelitsha was no aberration – Mr Zuma consciously and repeatedly invokes God to justify eternal ANC rule and demonise its political opponents,” Coetzee said.
According to the DA, Zuma first made the claim that the African National Congress would rule “until Jesus comes back” during the 2004 election.
Last October he repeated it, saying: “We believe it (the ANC) will be in power forever until the Son of Man comes back.”
Coetzee warned: “As tempting as it is to dismiss this kind of statement as eccentric, or amusing, it is actually very dangerous, because to oppose a government backed by God is to oppose God. To oppose governments that rule by divine right is to be a traitor; to attempt to dislodge them, even through the ballot box, is a declaration of war.
“In short, opposition to the ANC is rendered utterly illegitimate.”
A fuming president of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) Kenneth Meshoe said yesterday: “The ANC president Jacob Zuma will see with his own eyes what is happening to Zanu-PF will happen to the ANC.
“His statements are arrogance of the worst kind. God it not pleased with ANC immorality that kills thousands of babies through abortion (and) that generally disregards God’s laws.
“Anybody who’s rebellious must read the Bible. God blesses obedience not rebellion, as displayed by the ANC. The ANC Titanic is going to sink. Its call for unity will not materialise, as the cracks and divisions are going to increase.
“Zuma (will) one day ask me to pray for him when the ANC Titanic sinks forever.”
ANC spokesman Jessie Duarte was not available for comment.
2 comments:
Wow - not short on confidence, is old JZ? I hope he remembers what happened to the Beatles when they claimed to be "bigger than Jesus".
every politician knows the usefulness of invoking God's blessing to the cause of the party. And JZ might even believe the stuff he says! In fact we all as individuals are tempted to blame God for our decisions. It takes huge moral courage to say "I do not know the mind of God".
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