On May 9, 2009, Jacob Zuma was sworn in as South Africa’s newest president. President Zuma is immensely popular in the African state, as shown by his solid majority win in the presidential election as the candidate of the African National Congress (ANC).
Zuma has entered the presidency at a trying time, but his popularity may lead to change in the country for the first time in years. In his inauguration speech, President Zuma spoke of the problems plaguing South Africa, but remained confident that the country could be fixed. He added that “the foundations of our economy are strong and we will need to continue to build on them.”
President Zuma’s History
Jacob Zuma was born in South Africa’s Zuzuland and witnessed a turbulent time in the country’s history. He was imprisoned in the 1960s, serving his sentence alongside Nelson Mandela, for conspiring to overthrow the government. He was forced into exile after his involvement with the ANC, but returned in 1990 to help calm political violence.
President Zuma is very public with his private life and openly admits that he practices polygamy. He has been married four times and some reports say that he has 18 children. The Los Angeles Times reported that three wives were present at his inauguration, a first in the country's history.
Controversy as Deputy President
Despite President Zuma’s popularity, he has been the subject of several controversies in the past. In 2006, he was acquitted of the rape of his daughter’s friend, an AIDS infected woman he had unprotected sex with by his own admission. The court ruled that the sex was consensual and Zuma publicly stated that he believed he would not contract the virus because he had taken a shower after being with her, says BBC News.
At the same time, President Zuma faced corruption charges while serving as deputy president of South Africa. A court eventually dismissed all charges against him and he gained the public’s support, as many believed the government had rigged the charges against Zuma.
The Future of South Africa
There is one sure thing in the African state: South Africa is, along with most of the world, facing extreme problems. The country has the highest number of AIDS infected citizens in the world, the economic crisis is hitting the country hard, and few people trust the government.
But Zuma has a chance to use his overwhelming popularity for good. Although he has proven to be uneducated on AIDS issues and has a controversial past, he is likely to be welcomed by other foreign dignitaries and can once again introduce South Africa to the international stage.
A country can do little alone, and South Africa needs the rest of the world for help. Whether he wants to use the help of others and force the government to be accountable and accessible is up to him. But President Zuma just may be the one to turn the tide in South Africa.
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