JOHANNESBURG: Jacob Zuma’s supporters danced and sang in the streets yesterday in celebration as partial results from South Africa’s parliamentary elections showed him in line to become the country’s next president.
Zuma’s warmth and rise from poverty to political prominence have drawn adoring crowds throughout the election campaign, although critics question whether he can implement his populist agenda amid the global economic meltdown.
Preliminary results from the 10.09 million ballots counted so far showed Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC) party leading the vote with 66.70 percent. Parliament elects South Africa’s president by a simple majority, putting Zuma in line for the post when the new assembly votes in May.
A record 23 million South Africans registered to vote. A 77-percent turnout has been recorded at those polling stations where counting has finished. Final results are expected today.
Several thousand of Zuma’s supporters, though, did not wait to begin the celebrations, gathering in a square in downtown Johannesburg late yesterday afternoon.
People danced, some waving yellow flags with “Zuma 4 president” in bold black, while others sang Zuma’s signature anti-apartheid song “Umshini Wami,” or “Bring Me My Machine Gun.” The song has its roots among the ANC military training camps where frustrated guerrillas wished for weapons so they could return to fight apartheid.
Zuma later addressed his supporters, before leading the crowd in singing as green confetti blew across the stage. “We are not yet celebrating victory. Right now I am just coming to thank you. The real celebration is still on its way,” he said in Zulu.
The ANC views Zuma as the first leader who can energize voters since the legendary Nelson Mandela.
