Ex-President Zuma Making a Comeback?

Zuma’s record as state president was devastating. However, for many South Africans, this no longer matters. Their dissatisfaction could help him make a comeback. For the African National Congress (ANC), hardly a day goes by without bad news. Approval ratings are plummeting, and currently, the once-successful Mandela party stands at a mere 37 percent.

After 30 years of sole governance, the ANC is being held accountable for everything going wrong in South Africa – and that is quite a lot. Economically, the country is stagnant, half of the population lives in poverty, and crime is rampant. The infrastructure is crumbling, with roads full of potholes, frequent power outages, and large parts of Johannesburg facing a water crisis, leaving them dry for weeks.

On top of that, there are constant new allegations of corruption against leading ANC representatives. Most recently, Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had to resign after being charged with bribery and money laundering.

A nightmare for the ANC

And then there is Jacob Zuma. The former president and ANC leader is gradually becoming a nightmare for the current party leadership. The 81-year-old has long been one of the fiercest critics of his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, and could cost the ANC crucial votes in the upcoming parliamentary election at the end of May. Zuma is running as the top candidate for the newly formed party “MK,” which is shaking up the election campaign in South Africa, although very little is known about its specific goals.

Describing “MK” as left-leaning and populist may not be entirely wrong. However, the party’s political program is Jacob Zuma himself. Despite numerous corruption scandals during his time in office, he still has many supporters, especially among the Zulu population.

The ANC is becoming increasingly nervous about this. The ruling party has already tried twice to legally halt the dangerous competition, which political analysts consider a serious tactical mistake. This is because the ANC not only predictably failed with its poorly prepared legal maneuvers but also brought a lot of public attention to the new Zuma party, making it even stronger.

“Mortar failures”

The “MK” supporters feel they are on the rise. Their top candidate is also brimming with confidence and openly asserts his leadership claim: “I am not done with my work as head of state,” Zuma told his supporters earlier this week. And: “If the people want me, no one can stop me.”

Legacy without consequences

But could such a comeback actually be conceivable? After all, Zuma is the most controversial politician in the history of democratic South Africa. During his presidency from 2009 to 2018, corruption flourished like never before. Zuma had looted the state with his allies in government and business.

In 2021, the former president was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court orders for refusing to testify about corruption during his term. However, this apparently does not diminish his popularity among a large part of the electorate.

According to recent polls, it is not impossible that “MK,” along with other opposition parties, could organize a majority against the ANC. This would pave the way for Zuma’s return to the helm – at least in theory.

How much can the constitution be stretched?

The South African constitution explicitly prohibits Zuma from seeking the presidency again. Only two terms as head of state are allowed, and the 81-year-old has already completed them. However, there could be a legal loophole here.

The politically savvy Zuma’s followers are already spreading the word that he prematurely ended his second presidency and stepped down six months earlier than planned. What the “MK” supporters conveniently overlook is that Zuma did not leave the Union Buildings, the government seat in Pretoria, voluntarily but was dropped by the ANC, his former party, due to massive corruption allegations and forced to resign.

Therefore, some in the ANC believe that Zuma’s political comeback is primarily a personal vendetta.