South Africa: Jacob Zuma, Ex-President of South Africa, has won a court case that allows him to run for office in the upcoming general election. This overturns a previous decision that prevented him from contesting the polls.
The Electoral Court’s verdict clears the way for Zuma to stand as a presidential candidate for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK), a political organisation he joined last year after denouncing the governing African National Congress (ANC) party that he once led.
The Electoral Commission previously disqualified Zuma from running for office because of his criminal record after receiving an objection to his candidacy. However, the court has now overturned the decision of the Electoral Commission. A general election is scheduled in South Africa for May, and it is anticipated to be the most competitive vote since 1994 when democracy was established.
In June 2021, former South African President Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail for contempt of court. Zuma refused to testify before a panel investigating allegations of corruption and cronyism during his presidency. His legal team argued that the sentence did not disqualify him from holding office since it followed civil rather than criminal proceedings. Additionally, they claimed that the sentence was shortened due to a remission.
Jajra Omarjel, a political analyst from South Africa, stated that the ruling was very surprising. This decision comes at a time when the ANC is facing difficulties in the polls due to a weak economy and accusations of corruption and mismanagement. According to some opinion votes, MK’s popularity rate stands at over 10 percent across the country, making it the third or fourth-largest political power behind the ANC and the Liberal Democratic Alliance.
The upcoming election is expected to be a close contest in the region of KwaZulu-Natal, which is seen as a crucial battleground. The party’s success in this region is largely attributed to the continuing influence of Zuma, despite the scandals and corruption allegations that surround him.
Zuma still enjoys considerable popularity, particularly among the more than 10 million Zulu people in the country. The election will determine the composition of the new parliament, which in turn will elect the new president of South Africa.
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