South Africa's new President, Thabo Mbeki, today named Jacob Zuma his deputy. The announcement ended speculation that Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the fiery leader of the Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party, would get the post in a move intended to strengthen peace between him and the African National Congress. Mr. Buthelezi remains the Home Affairs Minister. Mr. Zuma, the deputy leader of the African National Congress and a close ally of Mr. Mbeki, is considered to have been a key player in making inroads into the Zulu party's traditional base of support base.
In naming his Cabinet, President Mbeki kept key economic ministers in place, including Trevor Manuel as Finance Minister and Alex Erwin as Trade and Industry Minister, decisions that were widely applauded by the business community. Most of his Cabinet members served in President Nelson Mandela's Cabinet, although many will have new posts. Mr. Mbeki said he was ''not visualizing any major changes in policy.'' He also noted that the number of women had doubled, to 8, out of 29 posts. On the whole Mr. Mbeki's choices were applauded for rewarding competence and maintaining stability. ''The positive thing here is the continuity,'' said Sean Jacobs, a political analyst with the Institute for Democracy in South Africa. ''And he did get rid of a lot of dead wood.''
A new post, Special Minister in the President's Office, went to Essop Pahad, a friend from Mr. Mbeki's days as a student exile in England. Mr. Pahad's appointment was in line with Mr. Mbeki's desire to strengthen the presidency. In the last few weeks, he has announced that he would absorb the Deputy President's staff into his own office and assume the power to appoint the top administrators in the ministries.
In 1994 Mr. Mandela was obliged to cobble together a multiparty Government. But Mr. Mbeki, with a firm majority, can do as he chooses. Nevertheless, he has kept three Inkatha members in his Government: Mr. Buthelezi and two deputy ministers. Mr. Mbeki at least twice brushed off questions about whether he had offered the deputy's job to Mr. Buthelezi. Mr. Buthelezi told the South African Press Association today that he had never wanted the job, but earlier this week he said he had rejected an offer.
One big surprise was the switch of assignment for Dr. Nkosazana Zuma, who is to become Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Zuma, who is divorced from Mr. Zuma, is considered one of Mr. Mbeki's favorites though she has been a controversial Health Minister, taking on the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries and angering AIDS activists by refusing to finance the drug AZT for pregnant mothers infected with the virus that causes the disease.
Source: New Ypork Times
No comments:
Post a Comment