VOA标准英语--南非非国大要求Zuma下台

South Africa’s ANC Party Orders President Zuma to Step Down

South Africa’s ruling party has ordered Jacob Zuma to step down as president. It is not clear, however, if Zuma plans to follow the order.

Zuma’s party, the African National Congress, or ANC, made the order on Tuesday. It came after a week of negotiations¹ failed to persuade the president to quit.

Ace² Magashule is the secretary-general of the ANC. He spoke³ to reporters on Tuesday. Magaschule said party leaders informed Zuma of their decision after meeting for thirteen hours in Pretoria.

Zuma has not made an official statement about the decision. And Magashule said the ANC had not given Zuma an exact time to respond. But Magashule said he spoke with the president and expects Zuma to respond by Wednesday.

The South African constitution does not require Zuma to agree to his party’s wishes. But if he refuses to step down, the issue will go to the parliament. Lawmakers there will vote on a motion of no confidence. If a majority of lawmakers support the motion, Zuma will be removed.

Magashule said Zuma had asked the party to give him three to six months before stepping down. The ANC rejected the request, saying the situation “requires us to act with urgency.”

Magashule said the party needs to restore the country’s confidence in their government and work quickly toward economic recovery.

A history of scandal

Zuma became president in 2009. Since then, he has been linked to a number of scandals. One relates to misuse⁴ of public money. South Africa’s highest court found that Zuma violated the constitution by using about $20 million of public funds to improve his home.

Zuma has also been charged with corruption⁵ related to a weapons deal he made in the late 1990s. State lawyers are expected to announce soon if they will restore those charges.

South Africa has also seen its economy suffer during Zuma’s time in office. And investment from banks and mining companies has slowed. ANC party officials say the issues are a result of the problems and political uncertainty⁶ surrounding Zuma.

Political pressure

If Zuma leaves, Cyril Ramaphosa, would likely become the next South African president. Ramaphosa is currently the president of the ANC. He narrowly defeated Zuma’s ex-wife for the position.

Since Ramaphosa was elected party president, pressure has increased on the 75-year-old Zuma to step down.

However, the party’s leadership was divided on when Zuma should leave, the secretary general of the ANC said. Zuma's current term is scheduled to end next year, when South Africa holds general elections.

I’m Phil Dierking.

Words in This Story

confidence - n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something?

dissolve - v. to officially end ?

motion - n. a formal suggestion or proposal that is made at a meeting for something to be done?

respond - v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request?

uncertain - adj. not exactly known or decided

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 ace   

n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的

参考例句：

• A good negotiator always has more than one ace in the hole.谈判高手总有数张王牌在手。
• He is an ace mechanic.He can repair any cars.他是一流的机械师,什么车都会修。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 misuse   

n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用

参考例句：

• It disturbs me profoundly that you so misuse your talents.你如此滥用自己的才能，使我深感不安。
• He was sacked for computer misuse.他因滥用计算机而被解雇了。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。