Why is Zuma hell-bent on pursuing the Chairmanship of the AU Commission for South Africa and installing one of his former wives?
In a thoughtful piece in the Sunday Independent (5 February 2012) David Maimela of the Mapungubwe Institute, suggests that South Africa seriously miscalculated in attempting to enter a contest for the post of Chairman of the AU Commission. He writes "Perhaps South Africa, in it's search for hard power forgot the real power it has as the only African country in the G20 block and with membership of IBSA and Brics."
Another point he makes is Africa's scepticism about the reliability of South Africa as a mature leader of Africa's agenda in view of our blunders last year in respect of the Ivory Coast and Libya. President Zuma seems to brush off these legitimate concerns and did so again in his reply to the debate in Parliament on his State of the Nation Address on Thursday 16 February 2012.
In that speech President Zuma was fierce about his determination to see a South African elected to the Chairmanship of the AU Commission. He spelt out with conviction how he was resolute to see the AU shaped differently and that was why he wanted a South African Chairman, who, by implication, would be there to drive South Africa and Jacob Zuma's agenda on Africa. Maybe he was also angry at having his will thwarted at the first round of voting.
He also laid out his campaign strategy in playing the neo-colonial card, the gender card and using South Africa's considerable muscle in the Southern African region to bring SADC countries to heel and make them vote for a South African candidate, who is to be his ex-wife, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (NDZ). In fact one could not but be reminded of Muammar Gaddafi who wanted to shape the AU according to his vision, even though, thank heavens, Jacob Zuma's vision is more sensible, or we hope so.
Another puzzle is why President Zuma decided to put forward NDZ as South Africa's candidate. She is a good negotiator, was a conscientious Minister of Foreign Affairs, disgraceful as Minister of Health. In that position she refused AZT treatment to HIV positive mothers for the prevention of mother to child transmission - how many babies died as a result? As Minister of Home Affairs she has chosen some competent senior staff, including Director General Apleni, to make significant improvements in what was a poorly run department. But she has serious drawbacks.