South Africa's Sex-President

Nothing is working in Ghana and we don’t know who is in control, the greedy bustards or the inward looking guys but we are at least much better than South Africa where the people are now saddled with a problematic President.

The problem with President Jacob Zuma is not a disease but his reckless libido. It is sad that at the World Economic Conference in Davos , Switzerland , the more exciting contribution from South Africa had nothing to do with economy and development but President Zuma's statements about his polygamy, his promiscuity and Zulu culture.

Democracy throws up all sorts and that is probably what makes it beautiful. Whatever it throws up, society gets a chance to learn fresh and often unimaginable lessons. After the end of apartheid, South Africans had Nelson Mandela as President. He is father of the nation, the eternal symbol of South African renaissance.

His successor, Thabo Mbeki cut a fine picture of decorum and dignity. The current President is neither Mandela nor Mbeki: he has nothing of their attributes. He came to power riding the wave crests of populism but as President he has robbed the office of its gravitas, turning South Africa into a laughing stock.

He has confirmed the average African's worst fears, that in good time, South Africa often touted as a special African country (under Mandela and Mbeki) will go the way of other African countries. Zuma , South Africa 's most prototypical African President to date, has proven this to be true. In a country where women's rights used to be taken seriously, his treatment of women as sex objects puts all South African women to ridicule. In a country where HIV/AIDS poses a serious public health challenge his love of unprotected sex jeopardises the safe sex campaign. Polygamy may be accepted among his Zulu stock, but his fathering of a love child raises grave moral questions.

Zuma has 20 children from so many women. A former wife committed suicide claiming that marriage to Zuma was "hell". He has three official wives, all playing the role of First Lady collectively and in turns. The mother of his latest child, a love child, is the daughter of his friend, Irving Khoza, head of South Africa 's World Cup 2010 organizing committee and owner of the Orlando Pirates football club.

Zuma has had to pay a fine as Zulu custom requires for putting Somono Khoza in the family way outside wedlock. He insists that he loves his wives equally. He was once quoted saying he could not contract HIV because he took a shower after having unprotected sex. Jacob Zuma may be good at winning popular votes, but as President, he is working too hard at becoming an embarrassment to his country.

He has complained about excessive media scrutiny of his private life. He talks about his cultural rights. How about his responsibilities as a national role model? His party, the ANC is preaching a "one partner" message to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS but the President keeps many women and talks about cultural rights. In 2005, he was accused of raping another friend's daughter.

He is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom in March as a guest of the Queen. In June, South Africa will be hosting the World Cup. What will South Africans do with their President: other men will be afraid to leave their wives alone with him for a second.

While Jacob Zuma hops from one bed to another, the black voting majority which brought him to power in the hope that he will show a better understanding of their plight in post-apartheid South Africa is badly short-changed. They remain poor, homeless and alienated as they keep wondering: what has the end of apartheid brought us? The opposition wants President Jacob Zuma to undergo a sex-addiction therapy. ANC members want Zuma to be left alone.

They should be singing Lethu Mshini Wani (Bring me my machine gun) and their guns should be trained on Zuma if that will force him to concentrate on the job. It is a shame.