Julius Malema
This week, the EFF leader, Mr. Malema admitted that he was contemplating taking the Covid-19 vaccination in Zimbabwe. Malema urged his fellow comrades to visit Zimbabwe and get vaccinated. Who would have thought that one day, South Africans will stampede to cross the Limpopo river for healthcare services in Zimbabwe?
Many people were sceptical about Vice President Chiwenga's appointment as the Minister of Health and Child Care but this week, Malema endorsed the way Zimbabwean authorities have managed the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccine roll out. "You were chasing Zimbabweans away and saying they were taking your jobs. It looks like you are going to be chased away when you go to look for a vaccine in Zimbabwe," said Mr. Malema.
"Zimbabwe is beating South Africa when it comes to vaccination. Let me tell you, people with money are going to Zimbabwe to be vaccinated if you didn't know" - Julius Malema
The Malema-led political party is highly organized, the members present themselves with great determination and vigour and their strategic approach is modern and different. The party's actions are premeditated and they are doing everything right to create an impression that they are ready to win political power and govern South Africa.
Zimbabwe has been vaccinating its citizenry using the Chinese-made Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines which were both authorized by the World Health Organisation. The roll out of the Sputnik V doses from Russia will also begin soon. There are some Mozambicans who are using the formal and informal entry points to access Nyamapanda Clinic, located less than a kilometre from the Nyamapanda border post.
Majority of the frontline workers in South Africa have not been vaccinated, particularly those who were working during the level five lockdown. These include, the police, security guards, taxi and bus drivers, retail workers, petrol attendants and the health workers, said Malema. This group is likely to cross the Beitbridge border post in search of the precious vaccine.
The Ramaphosa administration is obsessed with the Western produced vaccines to the exclusion of the Chinese and Russian produced vaccines. China has been donating vaccines to Zimbabwe while South Africa has been purchasing the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The delays in purchasing and supply have resulted in the rising number of infections and the subsequent third wave in South Africa. EFF is not happy about the developments.
The political mandate of the EFF is to reform the geopolitical landscape of South Africa. They are fighting for free education, equality and radical economic transformation. The establishment has proven beyond reasonable doubt that, it has the incentive to implement sound political, socio-economic reforms in the presence of the ANC regime.
EFF might not be good enough to some observers, but at least they are doing what is expected from the opposition. The party is setting the agenda for the ruling party and forcing the government of the day to respond. The EFF is the only opposition political formation in Africa so far that continues to update its members and members of the media on internal party affars.
The senior party officials have represented EFF exceedingly well on Twitter and other social media platforms. The skill of communication and persuasion is a must have for any politician. The EFF cabal speaks well and because of that skill set, they have been able to articulate their ideas so well, taking South Africans into confidence and making them believe that, the fighters can free them from white supremacy.
We cannot claim we are Africans, when we have nothing to show - Julius Malema
The job of a modern-day political communicator cannot be executed by one individual, it requires team work and the EFF team is doing exactly that. This week, the EFF hosted a press conference to update South Africa on the progress of building EFF branches in preparation for the Regional People's Assembly.
Be that as it may, according to Mr. Malema, the presser was convened to report on the EFF Council meeting key resolutions and most importantly provide a general criticism of the state of South Africa, Africa and the world.
EFF press conferences are a necessary discourse that propel political reform in South Africa. The battlefield for freedom is now on social media and EFF officials counter-attack ANC propaganda on WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. This is an innovative and contemporary media reform that EFF utilizes to reach out to so many people and persuade all at once.
Reforms are not an end in themselves, they are a means to an end. It is therefore impossible to achieve the end without the necessary reforms. Major highlights from Julius Malema's press briefing include; the EFF membership mobilization strategy, Covid-19 vaccines and Minister Zweli Mkhize's special leave. Malema thinks corruption has been placed on special leave not the other way round.
The Ramaphosa administration announced the third wave and in response, Malema called on the immediate closure of contact learning. Malema's suggestion makes sense. Covid-19 cases are increasing among students and teachers yet vaccination is low.
Opposition parties have mainly two mandates; to hold the government of the day accountable and to act accordingly as the government in waiting, (shadow government). The role of oversight means monitoring and evaluating government policies and programs and holding them to account. This is exactly what Malema did this week.
EFF is proactive, they comment on current affairs, identify malpractices within government institutions and they don't end there; as the government in-waiting, they also proffer sustainable recommendations - now that is effective leadership.
Malema clearly demonstrates to South Africa and the rest of the world how he would govern differently if he was in power. Malema further updated South Africa on what transpired at the Pan-African Parliament. Francophone states have in the past used their numerical strength to block the practice of rotational leadership in the organ.
There were other fundamental issues that Mr. Malema raised, including the Indian community running key state institutions, Eskom and others, a mission spearheaded by Pravin Gordhan. Racism at banks such as ABSA and FNB also came under the spotlight during the question and answer session.
To me, the EFF remains the most relevant, well resourced and organized opposition movement in South Africa and the alternative government in-waiting. Regardless of magnitude, every good act deserves recognition and this is what Julius Malema practiced this week. EFF is in control, not only in South Africa but also in the Pan-African Parliament. The fighters are likely not to rest anytime soon.
@stajicesimmz