ZUMA VICTORY MARKS NEW ERA FOR AFRICAN POWERHOUSE

Perpetual readers of my blogs might wonder why,i always sound proud and patriotic about the rainball nation - south Africa.Yes it's a home of 43million citizens and i am one of them.I did not go home when my fellow citizens were casting their votes for a new president - all i did was follow every campaign leading to the voting day ,on my beloved Al Jazeera channel.Of course,the voting was carried out in tranquility - so i heard Haru Mutasa reporting live from the boulevards of Auckland park,Johannesburg.

Jacob Zuma an African National Congress candidate enjoyed a landslide victory - which angered his adversaries,who had false hope on those who had desserted the ruling party to form Congress of people's party.Of course,Zuma is quite a controversial but charismatic leader in South Africa.Having served under Thabo Mbeki,as vice-president - only to be fired after an arms deal and corruption charge against his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik.But those of us following politics with moderate knowledge suspected that Zuma's plight was politically motivated.The complex of the matter emanates from the fact that South Africa has 11 official languages and Zulu being a predominant one - Zuma being Zulu himself.Mandela who became the first president of a democratic South Africa was xhosa speaking,Mbeki was also Xhosa speaking and the woman who replaced Zuma as vice-president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was also xhosa speaking.Hence the masses polarised against the Mbeki government and party gurus had no option but to oust him before his term of office expired.

Zuma's victory marks the beginning of a new dispensation for the Southern African region and Africa at large.In principle South Africa is the largest economy in Africa and far much better than most European countries.Also to bear in mind that it is part of the G20 - a gathering of the ultimate of the world's biggest and influential economies.That is the reason why FIFA awarded the 2010 World cup - barring the rotational system they talk about.We are the world's largest gold producer and third in platinum.

Zuma has quite a pragmatic attitude and those close to him say,he will be hands on with the Zimbabwean situation - which has seen 10million immigrants crossing into South Africa.Tendai Biti the Zimbabwean minister of Finance said that Zuma's victory is a good omen for his failed state - as there are mounting expectations for him to keep Mugabe at bay through tough diplomatic and foreign policies.Bearing in mind also that Zuma was the only outspoken ANC figure during the Zimbabwean political crisis.

The unemployment rate is hovering at 40% and the majority of people are still leaving in shacks and dilapidated conditions.We hold the highest murder rate in the world and there is a proliferation of the Aids epidemic.Those could be the main short and long run objectives of his presidency.There won't be any drastic changes to the constitution because historically when the ANC party got into power in 1994,they did very minimal amendments of note.

The fact that the ANC failed to garner 2/3 majority in the 400 member parliament is a blessing in disguise,as they will have to debate with the opposition parties for any change in policy.That means there could be a constant trend of democracy.

Zuma could be a catalyst in african politics - as he turns out to be a good mediator.His successes range from the Burundi,Rwanda and Inkatha Freedom party peace mediations.The Inkatha freedom party wagged a bloody civil war in the Kwazulu - natal province in South Africa.The violence was so extreme that it threatened the entire country - until a zuma led delegation successfully negotiated peace.For those who don't know where Burundi and Rwanda are - don't bother me.Look on your world map.

So the African powerhouse could be heading for better days of our lives.