civil society campaign to remove Zuma from office

Johannesburg - South Africa risks economic meltdown if President Jacob Zuma is recalled, the constituency which represents civil society at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) warned on Thursday.
Instead, NGOs should meet urgently so they could speak with one voice on the calls for Zuma’s impeachment, the Community Constituency said.
“It should be noted that Moody’s rating agency is coming back to South Africa in June. The lack of stability and other matters related to the good business environment will be considered by the rating agency. Let us avoid putting our country into junk status by our own doing, ie lack of stability,” the constituency said in a statement.
The plea follows the launch of a civil society campaign to remove Zuma from office. The “The South Africa We Demand” movement includes prominent religious, political and business leaders, unions and other community-based organisations.
There has been a growing crescendo of calls for Zuma to be shown the door, but ANC leaders have rallied behind him, warning that his removal will tear the party apart.
The calls are likely to fall on deaf ears, given the increasing anti-Zuma mood in the country. Also, the Nedlac community constituency is made up of organisations that are by and large linked to the state or the ANC-led alliance.
The constituency, led by Dumisani Mthalane from the SA National Civic Organisation, a part of the ANC-led alliance, said it objected to the current call for various civic groups to be involved in marches to force the president to step down, as there had been no consultation under one roof.
“We call for an inclusive process of consultation to take on board the broadest possible range of views to determine a common approach on the matter, which will go beyond simply what elements of the leadership hold as a position.”
It also accused some organisations, which it did not identify, as “force-feeding” and “frog marching” the agenda.
“The community constituency has noticed that there are individuals out there with no mandates, but pronouncing as though they carry mandates from their constituencies.
“These individuals want to wreak havoc in our peaceful society. These individuals have been fired, retired and some have failed to lead their previous organisations or were involved in corruption,” the group said.
“Church leaders are encouraged not to divide their congregations and followers by delving into the political matter that has to do with the political waves in the country. They should gather their congregations for them to be given a mandate on the matter and the mandate should carry a position from their congregations and followers.”It has called for a civil society summit, led by Nedlac, where ideas can be exchanged and a common view adopted.