POLITICS

Motion of no confidence in President Zuma silly - ANC

Office of Chief Whip says opposition engaged in a desperate publicity stunt

MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE PRESIDENT SILLY

8 November 2012

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip reaffirms its resolve to quash any frivolous and narrow publicity-seeking gimmicks masquerading as motions in the National Assembly by some opposition parties. 

The so-called "motion of no confidence" in President Jacob Zuma is a desperate, if not silly, publicity stunt by a group of attention-seeking opposition leaders. Such a stunt would be laughable or dismissed with silent contempt if it did not make a mockery of this august Parliament. It is unacceptable that this institution's time should be wasted on such mischievous antics of opposition leaders who clearly do not take this institution seriously.

Those opposition parties involved in this gimmick ought to know that political power and mandate to lead is obtained through polls, not through the backdoors of the National Assembly. The attempt to usurp people's power through silly motions is bound to fail epically, just like it did before. 

Today, the Chief Whip of the ANC tabled the ANC's notice of a motion proposing that Parliament reaffirm its full confidence in the able leadership of President Jacob Zuma.

The motion by a group of opposition parties is not based on any fact or evidence, and therefore amounts to nothing but character assassination. In our view, it is a waste of parliament's time, playful, silly publicity stunt and therefore belongs to the rubbish bin.

Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, November 8 2012

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