EFF STRONGLY CONDEMNS AGEIST STATEMENTS BY ZUMA AND MBETE IN PARLIAMENT
18 February 2016
The Economic Freedom Fighters (“EFF”) strongly condemns the mindless and ageists statements uttered by Jacob Zuma and Baleka Mbete during the presentation of the illegitimate President’s reply to the State of the Nation Address debate. Zuma, emboldened by the absence of the EFF in the National Assembly, chastised what he imagines to be disrespectful behaviour of members of parliament whose job is to hold him accountable, among other important things.
He went at length to mention his age as some standard by which members of parliament should afford him respect. Zuma went further to mention the leader of the IFP, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who is the oldest member of parliament as one who members of parliament should respect first on the basis of his age, followed by himself.
Mbete inspired by the ageist attitudes of her discredited President called UDM chief whip Nqabayomzi Kwankwa “a young man” and not “an honourable member” as is the standard practice in the National Assembly. This is not the behaviour by the Speaker of the National Assembly that the EFF will ever tolerate. The EFF will not allow Mbete to behave in the National Assembly like a “mistress” presiding over school children by showing contempt and disrespect to the members of parliament in this manner.
We wish to remind Zuma that as the EFF we have no respect for him, regardless of how old he may be and we regard him as an illegitimate and discredited leader who has no right to be standing in the National Assembly and pronounce on any matters of our state and the world. We will not accept anyone to impose themselves on us or the country and demand respect on the basis of their age. Ageism is the number one demon of any human progress and it has no place in politics and parliament.
It is important that both Zuma and Baleka be alive to the historic truth that successful revolutions have always been led by the youth. From the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara who were in their twenties, to the Libyan Revolution led by Colonel Gaddafi. The youth were always at the forefront of changing the course of history and redefining the nature of society they live in.
The recent MLK International Award that Mbete received was of a youth who led the civil rights movement in the United States of America. Dr. Martin Luther King jr. led the Montgomery Bus Boycotts only at the age of 26. This boycott lasted 385 days and placed him as the foremost national leader and spokesperson of black people's rights and resulted in the desegregation of all public buses.
Revolutionary ideas are born out the youth who possess the requisite energy and militancy to overthrow oppressive systems and liberate the people from the tyranny of old leaders who overstay their welcome and suffer from moral and intellectual bankruptcy. The age that Zuma and Baleka throw around to exaggerate their relevance and importance has served no good for the country and the poor.
Zuma's age never stopped him from breaking the constitution, undermining the office of the public protector and stealing public funds to build his mansion in Nkandla. The age of many ANC leaders is not helping them to lead the country out of poverty, unemployment, under-education, homelessness, landlessness and disease.
The EFF will continue to challenge Zuma and Mbete without any fear and with no regard for their age. If they feel they are too old, then it is time for them to step aside and find old-age homes where their ageism can find meaningless expression.
Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, 18 February 2016
