[franki]

Originally Posted by ches

Back the truck up there, cowboy. They have not chosen Zuma as their presidential candidate, they have chosen him as the party leader. It would follow that he would be the presidential candidate at the next elections, assuming he is still the party leader at that time, but that is still 2 years away. Mbeki will remain president until 2009. ... As for the rape charges, he was found innocent, and not in the same sense that OJ Simpson was found innocent.

Personally I am not at all a fan of Zuma, however, I do not think that Zuma means the end for democracy in South Africa, and here's why. Zuma was very recently on a "world tour" (paid for by whom?) visiting investors and business leaders, making it clear that with him at the helm, economic policy will not change in South Africa. This tells me that Zuma is a poster boy/puppet leader, chosen because he appeals to the masses (to whom he promised socialism) while people with brains are pulling his strings.

Congrats on the optimism I wish I could see it that way!