Word: zuma
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
TIME: What is [former finance minister and now planning commission head] Trevor Manuel's new role in this new set-up? Is he, as some say, effectively a Prime Minister? Zuma: He is not a Prime Minister. He had the very specific task of helping me and the country to work out a national plan, to ask: where shall we be by this time? Where is the country going? His role is also to monitor and evaluate. The reason Trevor was appointed was because he had been minister of finance and had an understanding of the workings of all government...
...things Africa's liberation movements have always been good at. In fact, as their time in power goes on, many have become more vociferous in blaming their mistakes on the past and old enemies. I'm thinking particularly of Zimbabwe. Are you jettisoning that liberation movement baggage? Zuma: Nobody can deny that when Zanu-PF [Robert's Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front] came on the scene, there was a lot of delivery, in health and remarkably in education. But what they lacked is what we are doing: realizing when things are not going right. After a decade...
...which you've had to introduce this renewal and create a new government structure to monitor yourselves because, with such a huge electoral majority, the polls don't do it for you? Are you trying to create the democracy - the accountability and transparency - that the ANC's majority negates. Zuma: We're dealing with a party that is very strong and is loved by the people. The opposition might have many things to say but they are not very strong. They cannot challenge us successfully - we are too strong. And the problem is that such support and power can intoxicate...
TIME: I notice another departure under your leadership. Traditionally, the ANC has taken on board the liberal attitudes of the left, including tolerance. But in Durban, you sounded very conservative on some social issues like the need for discipline in schools, alcohol and even sex and violence on television. Zuma: I don't think it's conservatism. What we're saying is: let's have a conversation. Take alcohol. Liquor is used to dehumanize us. If you go to the Western or Northern Cape where, in some places, they have the tot system [paying workers in high-alcohol...
TIME: How do you merge your African heritage, being a proud Zulu who values his traditions, with being the leader of Africa's most westernized nation? Zuma: It's not a problem at all. Things merge well in South Africa. Our constitution embraces equality of culture and language. They must be respected. We do not deny that we have different people in our country. We have a lot of diversity. But we also have unity in that diversity. That diversity is also our strength: our nation is a place of meeting of cultures and of ways of life. We want...