VOA标准英语10月-African National Congress Split Looms

Former African National Congress chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota is planning a conference to discuss what he says are serious departures by the current ANC leadership from the party's core principles and the country's constitution. VOA's Delia Robertson reports from Johannesburg, Lekota says his plans will likely lead to a split in South Africa's ruling party.
　

Mosiuoa Lekota reacts at news conference in Johannesburg, 08 Oct 2008

After weeks of speculation¹, Mosiuoa Lekota has publicly announced plans that are likely to lead to a split in the African National Congress. He told a media conference a split seems inevitable².

"Sir, it seems that we are serving today, divorce papers. This is probably the parting of the ways, it probably is. We hope that sense may still prevail in others to review their position, if not there is no going back," he said.

Lekota was chairperson of the ANC for 10 years, until last December, and was the country's defense³ minister until resigning two weeks ago. He said that for some time ANC leaders have subjugated⁴ the principles in the ANC founding document, the Freedom Charter, and the national constitution to personal interest.

Lekota said they have forgotten the price South Africans paid for those principles.

"We paid the price for these principles in the [Freedom] Charter, we paid the price in exile, we paid the price underground in this country, we paid the price on Robben Island and other places. Then many of our comrades have died for these principles, it would be a betrayal on our part not to rise to defend the legacy⁵ they left us," he said.

Lekota said the recent axing of former President Thabo Mbeki was the the final straw.
　

Jacob Zuma (File)

But in a thinly veiled reference to ANC president, Jacob Zuma, he said ANC leaders are fostering tribalism and ignoring important demands of the charter and constitution, such as equality before the law. The ANC has called for a political solution to the potential corruption⁶ charges against Zuma.

"What has happened to the clause in the freedom charter, 'all shall be equal before the law?' If one deviates⁷ from that clause are we then going to have political solutions for each and every criminal case that arises in this nation. Or is it only for this particular individual, or that other individual. If so, who is deviating⁸ from the Freedom Charter," he said.

Lekota is a long standing⁹ member of the ANC who first came to prominence¹⁰ during the student protests of 1976. He was jailed on Robben Island for his political activities and was a founding member of the United Democratic Front after his release from the island in the 1980s.

The UDF became the internal wing of the ANC and was responsible for revitalizing the organization within the country. It has fallen into the doldrums in the 1960s, after it was outlawed¹² and leaders like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo were jailed or exiled.

People who know him well have previously¹³ told VOA that he is a highly principled democrat¹¹. Some have said that of all the senior figures in the ANC, he is most like former President Nelson Mandela in his commitment to the core principles of the party's Freedom Charter which is the sub-text of the national constitution.

Lekota says he has appealed privately¹⁴ and publicly to the ANC leadership to rethink its current positions on issues of principle and said if they do he will review his own plans. Party treasurer¹⁵ Matthews Phosa says he plans to meet with Lekota on Thursday to try to keep the marriage intact.

There has been negative reaction from others in the ANC and its partners, but widespread approval from opposition¹⁶ parties.

1 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

2 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 subjugated   

v.征服，降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The prince had appeared and subjugated the poor little handmaid. 王子出现了，这使穷苦的小丫头不胜仰慕。 来自辞典例句
• As we know, rule over subjugated peoples is incompatible with the gentile constitution. 我们知道，对被征服者的统治，是和氏族制度不相容的。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 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。

7 deviates   

v.偏离，越轨( deviate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The boy's behavior deviates from the usual pattern. 这个男孩子的举止与一般人不同。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The limit occurs when the ordinate deviates appreciably from unity. 这个限度发生在纵坐标明显地从单位1偏离的时候。 来自辞典例句

8 deviating   

v.偏离，越轨( deviate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I compromise by using a prepared text and deviating from it whenever I feel the need. 我搞折衷办法，准备一份讲稿，觉得需要的时候就自由发挥。 来自辞典例句
• Theories deviating practices are inane, while practices deviating theories are blindfold. 脱离实践的理论是空泛的，脱离理论指导的实践是盲目的。 来自互联网

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

11 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

12 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

13 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

14 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

15 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

16 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。