A Government of National Unity: A Lifeline for the ANC or a Real Push for Unity?


Introduction

The recent South African elections have left the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in a precarious position. For the first time in its history, they failed to secure a simple majority, forcing them to explore alternative governance structures.  The ANC's proposed solution: a Government of National Unity (GNU), has sparked intense debate, with some seeing it as a genuine attempt at unity and others ( like my self )  as a desperate bid for survival.

 

Background

The ANC's call for a GNU comes amidst growing public discontent with the party's performance.  Their grip on power is loosening, and the prospect of losing even more seats in future elections looms large. The GNU, by bringing in opposition parties, would essentially neutralize the threat posed by them, allowing the ANC to maintain a semblance of control.

However, the opposition, particularly the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), remains deeply sceptical.  They see the DA, a potential partner in a GNU, as representing the interests of former colonizers, and a fundamental clash of ideologies prevents any meaningful cooperation.  The alternative – a coalition government – would empower smaller parties, potentially jeopardizing the ANC's control over policy decisions.

 

The biggest merit of  a GNU and where it has worked

Reader , the biggest merit of a GNU is that it brings a certain degree of market growth and economic stability  which can be to the bigger benefit of the people . Any patriotic person would then put country first , party second and self last . Even if it means losing a government position . In 2009 Zimbabwe went on this adventure and everyone can testify that there was positive economic growth , relative stability, flow of money and general improvement on social welfare .

A GNU can also be an opportunity to address the fair dispensation of power ..In Zimbabwe it came with constitutional reform and democratic reforms like setting up independent commissions.

 

Historical perspective

However , South Africa has been here before and their first touch with a GNU created the very same issues of inequality , poverty and structural exclusion . The GNU of 1994 was eyed as a unifying pursuit for reconciliation but it failed  to reconcile  the structural and economic material realities of the majority and minority . South Africa today has the highest gini co-efficient (67%)  in the world with wealth heavily concentrated in the hands of a few elites . This set up gave a pass to the markets and White monopoly capital. 

 

Present day dynamics

If we put it into perspective you realize that under a GNU opposition parties have a lot to compromise . For example , DA will have to compromise on economic policies like free market etc. If they fail to do so they will be left out and become minority which will be politically paralyzing for them in terms of law making . It will be bad optics for them as well.

 

At the same time GNU according to some is going against the Azania people’s manifesto   principle of non- collaboration with the enemy ( DA and White oppressors) . Because in actual fact it gives a bit of certainty  to the market forces . A GNU still gives power to the market forces which is against the aspirations of the majority of SA who want a pro poor approach to governance to reverse the inequalities caused by apartheid and neoliberalism . A GNU technically reduces prospects of radical economic transformation in SA .

 

So what can actually work for the opposition parties is a Coalition.  The first one is that of a leftists coalition  which will upset the market forces and White monopoly capital and media will  fern it with  hysteria but this will be an opportunity for South Africans to actually collaborate against the neoliberals , capitalist ,  conservatives and white supremacists. This coalition of ANC , EFF and MK will restrain capital and hold elites accountable. It will give ANC and South Africans a balanceable chance to address the Phala Phala issue without losing to their enemy . The EFF has already filed a case with the courts on the matter and if the courts rule in their favour the ANC can invoke the step aside rule and remove Ramaphosa. Removing Ramaphosa will save the ANC from  itself   and allow them to renew but also it will   assure them genuine unity of the oppressed people and direct them towards good policy delivery and activate working to eradicate corruption and taking the party away from puppets of white monopoly capital.

Another coalition is that of the ANC , IFP and DA which will please the market forces and promise some level of policy predictability and moderate economic transformation with a bit of social conservativism . However , it will not grow the economy or advance the fundamental aspirations of South Africans.  It will be highly pro business . This coalition will be the reason for MK and EFF to destroy the ANC by exposing them as traitors who collaborated with the enemy  . It doesn’t guarantee stability for the ANC or survival for Ramaphosa . So one can clearly conclude  that based on these scenarios the ANC is cornered and their only way out is to compromise with  their lost comrades on the EFF and MK. A GNU doesn't sell .

While the ANC paints the GNU as a step towards national unity, I  argue it's a cynical strategy to cling to power.  I can  point to the party's recent history, marked by corruption, incompetence, and a lack of accountability, as evidence that the ANC's true motivation is self-preservation, not genuine reconciliation. A  GNU will help the ANC neutralize it's opponents and give  it  a chance at regime survival.  Because this has worked for their  sister liberation movement ZANU PF  in Zimbabwe in 2009. After losing to opposition and grappling with an economic melt down a GNU helped ZANU PF to gain a lifeline that assured them victory in 2013. The successes of the GNU  helped ZANU PF regain the trust of  Zimbabweans . The opposition has tried to claim the successes as well but haven’t really   worked for them in attracting the critical rural constituency who are majority. I am aware of the other complex factors that  impede opposition penetration in rural communities but that is a conversation for another day .

 

Critical Analysis

 It's true reader that GNUs come with a level of economic stability and growth but they are not a guarantee of political stability . Especially in SA’s  case , there are several irreconcilable factors that divide the political players and historical interest that can’t be compromised.   A GNU will definitely take the land question of the policy table and attract cooperation from white commercial farmers who benefit from the current spatial apartheid in SA . A GNU unites the elites more than it unites the suffering ordinary working people.

 

So far the ANC has been copying a lot from it’s sister movement in Zimbabwe and we can’t be sure of what they will copy next . We saw them  blocking Zuma from contesting in elections the same that Zanu PF did to Kasukuwere and also the attempt of infiltrating the opposition through structural gaps like what Zanu PF  did with Tshabangu . The ANC's Tshabangu in MK is Jabulani Khumalo who has approached the courts claiming he is the legitimate leader of the MK . This is an attempt to destabilise and demobilize the MK who appear to be the ANC's biggest threat. Now after failing to secure a simple majority they are looking to a GNU.  Zanu PF  did the same in 2009 . So far the only thing that ANC hasn’t  copied  is dictatorship.  Which is hard to dismiss because they are desperate for survival.

 

The debate surrounding the GNU boils down to a fundamental question: Is the ANC truly committed to national unity, or is it merely seeking a way to maintain its grip on power?  The candid  observation is that the oldest political party in Africa has realized its loss of power and is seeking regime survival and  is willing to condomise other players to achieve that.

 

Conclusively , South Africa is divided and it needs to be unified . However , it will not be unified by elite political compromise that stagnant the aspirations of radical transformation  which address the current declining conditions of injustice that South Africans endure. The ANC can't  be allowed to chose expediency over principles . The ANC must correct it’s contradictions and cleanse itself  , however,  it must not sell out on the aspirations  of the people by GNU compromise.

 

Liam Takura Kanhenga is an Intellectual and analyst from Zimbabwe. He writes in his own capacity 

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