South Africa's new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party is aiming to win a parliamentary majority in a May 29 election so that it can implement reforms without resistance from opponents, former President Jacob Zuma said on Saturday. An Ipsos opinion poll published in April showed MK would win 8.4% of the vote, far short of the party's 66% objective. Speaking in Zulu at the Orlando Stadium in South Africa's biggest township Soweto, Zuma promised to provide free education for disadvantaged children, create jobs and fight corruption. Zuma told the crowd he had no choice but to stay in politics because other elected officials did not care about improving people's lives. Last week, South Africa's top court heard legal arguments on whether the ex-president can run for parliament.

Source: Daily Nation May 19, 2024 05:48 UTC