JOHANNESBURG, August 7 (ANA) – African National Congress MPs have no excuse and should vote to fire President Jacob Zuma in the motion of no confidence, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Monday, welcoming the announcement by Speaker Baleka Mbete that she will allow a secret ballot for Tuesday’s vote.
“The DA welcomes today’s decision by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, to allow tomorrow’s Motion of No Confidence in President Jacob Zuma to be conducted via secret ballot. ANC MPs now have no excuse. They must use their vote tomorrow to stand up to grand corruption and vote to remove Jacob Zuma as President,” Maimane said.
“While the removal of Jacob Zuma will not solve every problem in our nation, it would be the beginning of a national rebuilding project that is urgently required," said Maimane.
He said the DA’s vote will be no secret as they will be voting to fire Jacob Zuma.
Other opposition parties have also welcomed Mbete's "ground-breaking" announcement.
Congress of the People said that "we believe that the Speaker had limited room to maneuver because of the constraints placed on her by the Concourt ruling and the massive public outcry for her to put the interests of the country first. There was simply no space for her to play the usual ping pong with the future of our democracy."
Cope spokespreson, Pakes Dikgetsi, said it is the first step in the right direction and lays the basis for all MP's to exercise their vote without threads and intimidation that has been coming specifically from the ANC and is in keeping with their Oath of Office.
"Now that this hindrance has been removed, we expect all MP's to put the interests on the country first and do the right thing for the sake of our people," Dikgetsi said.
The Freedom Front Plus, IFP, UDM as well as the ACDP welcomed Mbete's decision.
The opposition parties will also lead a march to Parliament today to show support for the motion of no confidence in President Zuma.
