I know for a fact that in some quarters of our society I won't receive any kudos for this article due to the sensitivity of my topic.  Do I write to get kudos or thumbs-ups from people? NO! Well! I'm inspired by Steve Biko's Book - I write what I like. Steve Biko was a man who had the guts to confront the status quo and he would rock the boat without fear of retribution. Do I mean to say I'm acting on that premise? Well, Yes!
I write this article after seeing the apoplexy that has resulted from the split of the ruling ANC. Many people within the ruling party have been issuing preposterous statements that the ANC will rule until Pourasia (second coming of Christ). As far as I know the bible teaches us that God cannot be mocked! He reaps what he sows Galatians 6; 7.

Firstly let me humble myself in commending Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma for the sterling role he has played and is continuing to play in providing leadership in our country. One of the things that Jacob Zuma has been subjected to has been the fact that he has been branded as a black sheep of the organization, that he's not as astute as other comrades around him.

Yet Zuma has never argued with anybody or defended himself as being an erudite politician. Instead Msholozi would charm audiences with his smile and laughter. Zuma has been portrayed as someone who's capable of galvanizing support for the ANC during elections. This is since the demise of the Big FOUR ( Winnie Madikizela- Mandela, Bantubonke Holomisa, Peter Mokaba and Chris Hani ) who were crowd pullers or charismatic leaders before 1994. People also forget that Jacob Zuma is one of the thinking members of the ANC.

Having listed all these attributes of Jacob Zuma, I don't see him as someone who can lead the country. I believe a Zuma presidency would have negative ramifications for the country as a whole due to a plethora of reasons which I'll talk about later on. I strongly believe that a leader must possess inherent leadership qualities. With due respect to Mr. Zuma I don't believe he's the right man to take us forward considering his legal woes, the sordid details surrounding his personal life et al.

Mr. Zuma is also beholden to a lot people: in his inner circle, businesspeople, Polokwane pirates, as well as personal friends or his donors. This provides the ingredients for corruption and nepotism should he ascend to the throne of Mahlambdlovu. I believe Zuma has also put himself in a precarious position by aligning himself with the leftist, populist leaders who are harboring ulterior motives to topple him. We have seen many people in his inner circle behaving as if they are the Presidents of ANC, I'm sure even the Tamil Tigers behave better than them.

I think Zuma should do the noble thing and step aside in the interest of peace and the image of our country. It would be suicidal for South Africans to elect a person who's got pending legal woes and who doesn't have a good social life that complements his leadership attributes. We are currently the laughing stock of the international community with his utterances on HIV/AIDS not to mention his preposterous statements on smoking zol and so on. Imagine newspapers across the world flashing headlines "President of South Africa convicted for fraud and tax evasion". Our reputation as a country will be severely tarnished by a man who often calls for his machine gun when things don't go his way.

Our economy would also feel the pinch in Zuma's presidency. No wonder he has been addressing the business community that economic policies would not change under his leadership once he ascends to the throne. Meanwhile on the other side the SACP and COSATU are saying all policies of Polokwane will be implemented once Zuma gets to Mahlampandlovu come hell or high water. I ask myself who has the last say in this country.

Sometimes I feel like I wasn't born in this country when I think about our country and the direction that it is taking. Surely we are going to the same situation of Idi Amin who said "Money is a Paper after all lets print it" in so far as our economy is concerned. A recent issue of Finweek Magazine has raised the alarm in saying that "the biggest immediate danger facing SA's economy and investment environment is the inevitable weakening of SA risk rating that will result from such a drastic political change". It adds that such an occurrence would increase the cost of foreign capital and could put a damper on the current voluntary inflow of portfolio and investment capital into South Africa.

My eyes are constantly well with tears when I think about our political malaise and the prospect of having Jacob Zuma as President and his legions of cacophonous supporters occupying prominent positions in his cabinet. The public has found Zuma supporters to be very pugnacious and arrogant - Mbalula, Malema, Phosa, Nzimande and Vavi in particular. They have portrayed Zuma as a political juggernaut or tsunami.
Imagine statements by prominent politicians like Vavi saying "So yes! Because Zuma is one of us we are prepared to kill and die for Zuma". I then asked myself why is Vavi driving a wedge between the people of South Africa - who is going to be killed and on what basis?

I couldn't think of an answer, or get one from Zuma supporters. I then remembered a famous quote by Count Otto van Bismarck from my school history classes. Bismarck said "It is not by speeches and votes of the majority that the great questions of the time are decided - that was the error of 1848 and 1849 - but by blood and iron."
Having known history as a dialogue between the past and the present in preparation for the future I think that, taking into account the latest political scenario, the chickens are coming home to roost.

If it wasn't for cool heads like Kgalema Montlanthe, Prince Mashele, Moeletsi Mbeki, Aubrey Mashiqi and others South Africa would be in a chaotic state. The Business Day Columnist Xolela Mangcu once wrote a column asking four questions about Jacob Zuma's Presidency:
1.) Zuma must allay our concern about corruption?
2.) Zuma must assure us that he is not embittered by his trials and tribulations:
3.) Would Zuma beholden to his backers?
4.) Would Zuma's attack on intellectuals, analysts lead to insecurities, in turn leading to intolerance.

Dr Mangcu continues to say "given the controversies surrounding Zuma's public actions, we are entitled to answers to all these questions". I strongly share these sentiments. A future Zuma presidency could ostracise certain members of the ANC and intelligentsia. Even though Zuma could surround himself with influential people, such people would tend to expose him to an ignominious public image defeat.

Professor Sipho Seepe recently wrote in his column - quoting a book "Beautiful Feathers" by Cyprian Ekwesi - "however a famous a man is outside, if he is not respected in his own home, he is like a bird with beautiful feathers but ordinary within." I believe Zuma should to take note of Ekwesi's book and do the noble thing of resigning before the situation gets out of his hand.

I would like to believe the emergence of Congress of the People is also bringing a change to the political climate of this country. In closing I would like to share what Proffesor Kader Asmal said at the inaugural of the President of  the Republic in 1999 using the metaphor of the Comrades Marathon. He said" those who complete the course will do so only because they do not , as fatigue stets in, convince themselves that the road ahead is still too long, the inclines too steep, the loneliness impossible to bear and the prize itself of doubtful value.

Xola Moni is a freelance writer based in East London