Jacob Zuma Jacob Zuma’s resignation as president of South Africa is long overdue, the country’s bishops have said, noting that his scandal-plagued presidency fostered corruption and dereliction of duty at all levels of government.
“The fact that Mr. Zuma has been allowed to hold on to the highest position in the land despite long-standing and overwhelming evidence of his unfitness for office has done immense harm to our country’s international reputation, to its economy and, especially, to its poorest and most vulnerable citizens,” said the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
Zuma, 75, resigned on February 14 after nine years in office. In a televised address to the nation, he said he disagreed with the way the ruling African National Congress had pushed him toward an early exit, but would accept its orders. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was confirmed as president until 2019 general elections.
While for some Zuma’s resignation “may be a painful event, we call on all to accept his decision as part of our democratic process,” the bishops’ conference said in a statement issued by its president, Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town.
Noting that the Zuma presidency “degraded standards of morality and honour in our public life,” the bishops urged the ruling party “to take careful note of the way in which it allowed this situation to develop” and to “commit itself to a thorough reassessment of its internal standards and mechanisms of accountability.”
Zuma could face corruption charges, including those connected to an arms deal two decades ago.
“We pledge our prayerful support to the incoming administration and to all who hold public office in our country, that they may serve all the people of South Africa diligently, honestly, and with the integrity that the long-suffering people of this country deserve,” the bishops said.
Bronwen Dachs, Catholic News Service