South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are the voice of a radical movement that includes expropriation of white-owned land without compensation. It is led by Julius Malema, former president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). Malema later parted ways with ANC leader Jacob Zuma and was expelled from the party. He then formed his EFF as a rival party and won over 6 percent of the vote in the 2014 general election and over 8 percent of the vote in the 2016 local government elections.
Malema has long professed his admiration for Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, 92, who has confiscated virtually all white-owned land in Zimbabwe without compensation, disrupted the country's economy, education system, etc. It has carried out other radical policies that destroy governance. of the law. He did all this in the name of “liberation”. Mugabe has become the quintessential African “tycoon.” Nevertheless, despite his involvement in brutal domestic politics, Mugabe is widely regarded as a “hero of liberation” across Africa. Although there is no conclusive evidence, it is credibly said that Mugabe provided financial support to Malema and the EFF.
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sub-saharan africa
South Africa
robert mugabe
Zimbabwe
politics and government
The current rhetorical spat and perhaps definitive break between Malema and the EFF and Mugabe therefore comes as something of a surprise. Malema and the EFF are calling on Mugabe to step down. “President Mugabe's assumption of the presidency is not good for Africa's radical political project,” the EFF said in an official statement. He is a bastion of the reactionary phenomenon of 'death leading' that has paralyzed post-colonial African images and practices. The EFF accuses Mugabe and the “cowards” around him of promoting a cult of personality.
In response, Zimbabwe's Information Minister Christopher Muchowe characterized Malema as a “loud-mouthed Gucci revolutionary” and a “shrinking, loquacious joker”. According to South African media, Zimbabwean politician Maziwisa, a psychologist, said Malema was an “irrelevant individual who is desperately trying to gain political advantage in South Africa by insulting a great Zimbabwean figure”. .
As Zimbabwe continues its downward spiral under Mugabe, the EFF is clearly trying to distance itself from its former ally. Intentionally or not, a break with Mugabe will give the EFF credibility with at least some South African voters.
However, the break with Mugabe has made the EFF even more radical than in the past. Some potential domestic and foreign investors fear, without much evidence, that South Africa could follow the same path as Mugabe's Zimbabwe, and that the EFF is a stooge of Mugabe's government. There is. A break between the EFF and Mugabe may mean they sleep a little better at night, even if the EFF Leopard's position remains unchanged.
detail:
sub-saharan africa
South Africa
robert mugabe
Zimbabwe
politics and government