African interest in the South African elections grows as the African National Congress and Jacob Zuma celebrate a big win.
Africa looked on as South Africa's ruling ANC on Friday (April 24) celebrated a commanding lead in an election that will install Jacob Zuma as president and put him under immediate pressure to deal with a faltering economy and improve the lives of the poor.
Outside the country, new leadership for South Africa could impact most heavily on its neighbour, ... Read more

African interest in the South African elections grows as the African National Congress and Jacob Zuma celebrate a big win.
Africa looked on as South Africa's ruling ANC on Friday (April 24) celebrated a commanding lead in an election that will install Jacob Zuma as president and put him under immediate pressure to deal with a faltering economy and improve the lives of the poor.
Outside the country, new leadership for South Africa could impact most heavily on its neighbour, Zimbabwe.
Jacob Zuma has already been far more outspoken about Zimbabwe than any post-Apartheid South African president and if he were to take a similar line on Zimbabwe to his union supporters, that could make life uncomfortable for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

"There is a possibility though that he (Zuma) may tighten the screws on Mugabe because of the influence of the South African communist party as well as COSATU, who are the major players in his camp, in the ANC,"
John Makumbe, an Harare-based political analyst said.
But some Harare residents believe the ANC's policies will not change with a change of leadership
"I don't think it will change when Zuma comes in. They are the same organisation, they share the same policies, so Mothlante (outgoing president) policies versus Zuma's policies will be the same, I don't expect them to change," Harare resident Tafara Manguda.
Zuma, due to be sworn in early next month, will be under pressure to deliver from day one.
The rand currency firmed against the dollar to a new 6-1/2-month high, aided by a strong euro and as investors responded to a peaceful vote and the result as expected.
The 67-year-old Zuma will become president only three weeks after managing to get prosecutors to drop an eight-year-old corruption case on a technicality. His supporters dismiss the accusations against him as politically motivated.
Some foreign investors are less enthusiastic about Zuma, fearing trade union allies will push him to the left. The continent's biggest economy may already be in recession for the first time in 17 years.
Election officials estimated the turnout at 76 percent, the same as in 2004. Observers from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community and African Union said on Friday the election was free and fair.
For many Africans the South African democratic exercise is something to emulate and evidence that democracy can work in Africa.

"I think Zimbabweans should emulate what has been done in South Africa, the elections were free and fair," a Harare resident said.

"What we need to remember is that we Africans, we can take our destiny in our hands without fighting and swimming into anarchy. And that's what we have learned from this election," John Jack Olivier, a teacher in the Ivory Coast said.
In Lagos, businessman Christopher Nwakpa, said the South African polls made him proud to be African.

"As an African, I am proud of what the South Africans have done so far, it shows that multi democracy is really working in Africa," he said. Close