Zuma is facing some hard truths about legacy and how history will remember him.
In the book I am reading, a gradual rebellion by judges throws a society into chaos, leading to the collapse of the government and the division of the population into dozens of tribes.
Diverse, they maintain peace only by agreeing not to fight each other. In the end, it fails, and war becomes as common as potholes on a Joburg road.
Thousands of years later, former President Jacob Zuma is trying to unite political tribes. He, too, it seems, is failing.
When Zuma connived the Mkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, he was aiming to create an ANC outside of the liberation movement, a duplicate that was close enough to the original that people would join, but without the rules and boundaries that constrained him.
He tried to sell the idea to other black progressives, with mixed results. While most major political parties and politicians thought they would be able to garner enough support without aligning with the MK party, there were a few, such as EFF deputy president at the time, Floyd Shivambu, who saw its merits.
Despite becoming the third-biggest party in the country after last year’s national and provincial elections, Zuma knew that his charm and name could not guarantee lasting success.
More importantly, it was his legacy on the line.
Zuma’s masterplan
Listening to Zuma speak about his relationship with Shivambu this week, it was clear that he saw Shivambu as a vital part of his masterplan. He spoke of seeing Shivambu as a future leader of the party, an heir to his throne.
In convincing Shivambu to swap a red beret for a green golf shirt, he hoped to unite all the ANC splinters under one umbrella. He still holds that view, telling supporters recently that black progressives should come together during elections to put the MK party in power and then scatter again, if needs be.
A unifying of the tribes, for the greater good and for the sake of peace.
He would likely promise positions in the new government and other rewards, but it is always a hard sell to ask a political party to pimp itself out to get another in power.
ALSO READ: A VIEW OF THE WEEK: ANC ‘on the brink of collapse’ but don’t get distracted
Shivambu’s failed mission and a wrong move
What Zuma didn’t bank on was that Shivambu could not get to the nitty-gritty of negotiating peace when his own house was at war.
In his last great coup, Zuma surrounded himself with yes-men and family who were content with power grabs through minor squabbles. On the other side, those who were strong enough to succeed him are also strong enough to challenge him.
An experienced chess player, Zuma has been caught trying to play two moves at the same time. A double bind that puts his legacy on the line.
He could set the MK party up as his legacy, as former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe had by moulding Zanu-PF. Something that outlived him, but history will still remember him by.
But he wants more than just fingerprints on the pages of history. He wants to deviate from the usual political playbook. He wants to create a dynasty. The kind that demands not to be forgotten.
The problem with a dynasty is that there needs to be political strength and intelligence to maintain it, something Zuma’s family can’t seem to muster. He may be a shrewd politician, but those who come after him are more rash and clumsy.
Caught between the two options, 83-year-old Zuma can’t seem to get his legacy project right.
An alignment of his party with traditional leaders, which was strengthened this week, will help him be remembered for a while longer.
But until he properly backs a unifier or another Zuma is suddenly competent enough to lead, the former president’s “strong” legacy will hang by a delicate thread.
NOW READ: A VIEW OF THE WEEK: No new dawn, only a Mashatile midnight ahead?
