President Zuma to be impeached? Find out why
– A South African court has passed a strong verdict against President Jacob Zuma
– The verdict revealed many allegations against the president and made immediate calls for his impeachment
Court slams President Jacob Zuma for using public funds to renovate house
Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa suffered a setback at the South Africa’s court on Thursday, March 31. The South African president was alleged to have openly disregarded the constitution over public funds used to upgrade his residence.
As a result of this, the court gave orders for him to be impeached immediately.
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Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng had said in the ruling from the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg that “Zuma failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution as the supreme law of the land.”
This judgement was reported to have come when Zuma fought against separate allegations that a wealthy Indian family influenced ministerial appointments. This was a scandal that was reported to have rocked his government.
President Zuma has also been beaten by the country’s fast declining economy. However, his dominant leadership of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has helped him retain a strong grip on the parliament. Therefore, the chances of him being impeached look frail.
“The president must personally pay the amount determined by the national treasury,” the chief justice had said. The much-talked-about security upgrades at Zuma’s rural farmhouse was valued at 216 million rand as at 2014. Then it was $24 million.
Thuli Madonsela, the public protector and the country’s moderator who ruled in 2014 said the president had unjust profit from the work on the Nkandla property in KwaZulu-Natal province. According to reports, she asked him to pay back some of the funds.
The president was reported to have refused. He was stated to have ordered two government investigations that cleared his name. in relation to this, a report from the minister of police concluded that the swimming pool area was a fire-fighting precaution.
“President Jacob Zuma’s action amounts to a serious violation of the Constitution, and constitutes grounds for impeachment,” South Africa’s main opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), had said.
The case was taken to court by the DA along with the left behind Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, which has also vowed to press for the president’s impeachment.
However, since winning the elections in 2014, the parliament has being controlled by ANC. In addition to this, President Zuma had survived a no-confidence vote earlier this month.
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The opposition parties in spite of this hope the ruling will be to their advantage in the local elections this year. The frustration has heightened for the blacks over the increased unemployment rate as well as poverty even after the end of apartheid.
The president had recently endured the renewed corruption allegations following Mcebisi Jonas’ saying of being offered a top job in the treasury by the Guptas. This is an Indian family believed to have a hold on the president.
President Jacob Zuma who is 73 would have completed two terms by 2019 and would not be eligible to run for the position again. However, he could be replaced before then by ANC.
The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma paid a visit to Nigeria and was warmly received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House. President Zuma’s visit to Nigeria was fro two days during which the two presidents discussed and proffered solutions aimed at mending the countries’ relationship.
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