Bravo President Zuma, in restoring Africa’s pride

Today Mr Jacob Zuma formally assumes the instruments of power as South Africa’s new president and tomorrow he will name his new Cabinet.

Today, history thrusts on Zuma’s shoulders the burden of leading SA towards achieving Nelson Mandela’s vision.

Today, Africa’s largest economy receives Zuma as the leader charged with bridging the black-white divide in post-Apartheid era

Today, as he is feted and garlanded, Zuma will be expected to fast-track the process of redeeming the black South Africans, majority of whom are living in squalid conditions, from the jaws of poverty and want.

Today the world expects Zuma will stir the pride in the continent and the passions awakened by Mandela – the anti-Apartheid hero and Africa’s most inspiring personality.

Today, Africa looks up to Zuma, who fought corruption charges just until days to the historic elections in April, to uplift her confidence, help repair her tattered image and restore the pride of her people.

Today, Zuma will pace up the corridor straddled over the years by African leaders — some of whom starred in the world as icons of change and pillars of democracy, and others who turned out to be despots and kleptocrats who presided over ruinous and villainous regimes.

Today, Africa looks up to Zuma, who though a child of destiny famed to have a way with his people but who was not lucky to get formal education, to lead in transforming South Africa’s ghettoes from the cages of poverty to economic havens.

Today, Africa has no illusion Zuma has his shortcomings and disgraced past, including dalliance with corrupt networks and having unprotected sex with an HIV positive woman young enough to be his daughter, claiming he took a cold bath to prevent infection.

Today, the continent prays and hopes he will lead the war against the pandemic, which has shaken South Africa, and the continent, to the core.

Today, African men and women look up to him with the hope he will disengage himself from the repugnant, retrogressive and chauvinistic attitude towards women he has displayed in the past.

Today, we all look up to Zuma to unite South Africa, a country scarred for decades by racial discrimination.

Today, South Africans look up to him to grow, not to rock, the economy — especially given the global slump.

Today, Africa’s face is awash with pride, buoyed by the words of a new leader joining the continent’s rulers, when Parliament voted to install him on Wednesday: "I stand before this House and the nation overwhelmed by the responsibility that is being thrust upon my shoulders. I am truly humbled by the opportunity to serve as the fourth president of the Republic of South Africa."

Today, because of Zuma’s unique connection with ordinary South Africans, the world looks up to him to live up to the verdict that; "In Jacob Zuma the people of South Africa have spoken eloquently."

Today, above all, the world hopes Zuma will seize the opportunity to disprove detractors who argue he is neither morally nor intellectually fit to follow in the footsteps of the Great Mandela.

Today, we look up to Zuma to make a difference in the way Africa is led, to be the voice of reason and the barometer of moral uprightness, impeccable and visionary leadership.

Bravo President Jacob Zuma.