This week I continue my analysis of the recent national general council (NGC) of the ANC, which critically reflected on the structural and systemic challenges bedevilling our country.
The unimpressive performance of most of our municipalities was put under the radar at the NGC. Corrupt, incompetent and lacklustre mayors and municipal officials are largely responsible for the failure of their municipalities.
A dominant sentiment at the NGC was that the ANC must speedily sack and replace mayors who are not equal to the task. The NGC resolved that the ANC must implement harsh and swift measures against incompetent and corrupt mayors. Crass materialism, greed and rampant corruption were identified as the leading causes of paralysis in most municipalities. Delegates also expressed their displeasure at the slow pace of land redistribution and macro-economic development. Our country’s economy is growing at a shockingly downward rate of 1,5% while Rwanda’s economy is ballooning at over 10% annually. The NGC resolved to juxtapose economic growth with socio-economic development. This implies that economic growth should translates into massive job creation and increased quality of life among all citizens.
Prudently, I think the NGC delegates were “too emotional and angry” when they were deliberating on a “discussion document on international relations”. In the midst of a heated and temperamental discussion, the NGC resolved to compell government to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). That decision stands in sharp contradiction to the ANC’s historic commitment to a more humane, peaceful and stable world. The NGC’s resolution on the ICC was perceptively based on protecting Sudan’s President, Omar al Bashir. Bashir is a criminal fugitive who is charged and wanted by the ICC for committing acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC charges that Bashir directly and indirectly orchestrated more than 300 000 deaths of black Africans in Darfur, Sudan. Bashir is the most tainted, brutal and dishonourable leader on the African continent.
Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, is exceptionally brilliant, more honourable and highly accomplished than Bashir. I don’t comprehend why the ANC is trying to shield Bashir from international justice and accountability.
After a holistic analysis of that decision to withdraw from ICC, I arrived at a conclusion that the decision lacks strategic foresight and political rationalism. The ANC’s decision on this matter is politically flawed and diplomatically unjustified. We can’t withdraw from international organisations just because we seek to appease and protect one individual (Bashir).
In spite of everything, the NGC was a great success when it comes to critiquing and remedying the constraints that confront the ANC and Government. The gathering also succeeded in putting the ANC and government on a path of institutional competence, economic prosperity and consistent service delivery.
The party’s Integrity Committee was given more powers to police the behaviour, conduct and actions of party members and leaders. The Integrity Committee is now empowered to instil and enforce revolutionary morality and ethics among all party leaders and members. Hopefully the ANC’s 2017 national conference will be defined by the tranquility, orderliness and revolutionary discipline that characterised the 2015 NGC.
Elvis Masoga
Political Analyst
