Wednesday 5 November 2014

Jacob Zuma Resigns

acob Zuma has resigned from his position as President of the Republic of South Africa.

He has not yet confirmed this verbally, nor has he released the letter of resignation. Still, it is accepted that he has resigned. We may or may not have resigned for him: it doesn’t matter who resigned him, only that he has resigned. Those of us who know and accept that he has resigned will simply spread the word that he’s resigned until it is known from one end of South Africa to the other that he has resigned, and that anybody who says otherwise – including Zuma himself – is woefully mistaken on the matter.

This is not a petition: it’s the declaration of an accomplished fact. This accomplished fact may take a few weeks or months for Zuma to admit. But he has certainly resigned. It is something that doesn’t need courts, processes, tribunals, committees, parliaments and advisers to acknowledge. They’re absolutely wonderful but Jacob Zuma’s resignation doesn’t depend on their acknowledgement. It doesn’t even depend on his. It depends on ours. He’s resigned because weacknowledge that he’s resigned. In short, “He’s Resigned” – #HesResigned, #ZumasResigned

Spread that. Yell it from the rooftops. Tell it on the mountain. Share it on twitter. Tell your friends and family. One by one, your friends, families, colleagues and neighbors will also see it. How could they have doubted it for an instant? Zuma has resigned, no matter what even Zuma says on the matter. He doesn’t call the shots. WE do. He doesn’t confirm the facts. WE do. We confirm that he has resigned. No President can lead people who resolutely believe and accept that he’s resigned. If he speaks, we’ll chant, “You’ve resigned!” and accept nothing beside.

He’s resigned. It’s a fact whether he acknowledges it or not. Presidency can be so stressful – so many decisions to make, problems to solve and people to please. Among these many stressors, Jacob Zuma may have forgotten that he’s resigned. This is understandable and we’ll pardon these effects of this strain, and relieve him of his duties. Because he’s resigned.

The Office of the Presidency may deny that this has happened. It doesn’t matter, for we will simply chant, “He’s resigned!” in spite of their denial. In its confusion, the media will release reports that say he hasn’t resigned. In response, we will simply click the reply button and say #HesResigned in the comments section. We will write letters to editors, gently correcting them, saying #ZumasResigned. On forums, in message boards, on every conceivable platform, we will say, #ZumasResigned.

Oh, I can already hear the protests. “But – but – this is treason, it’s silly, it’s sedition, it’s untrue, it can’t be, it’s a rumour…!” So? He’s resigned, and the brief consequences of highlighting this fact cannot postpone the inevitable. And it’s inevitable because it’s happened already. And it’s happened already because WE say it’s happened already.

We will say #HesResigned on our Facebook statuses and on our bumper stickers. We will wear t-shirts that say #HesResigned. We will raise funds, buy advertising space and put up billboards and adverts saying, #ZumasResigned. That alone will cause colossal damage to the image of the government until the embarrassment is overwhelming. Then they’ll have to get rid of him. But it doesn’t even have to go that far. If every person who realizes that he has resigned just spreads this news, as news, it will become news. We will tell stories that begin with the words, “Remember when Jacob Zuma was President…” regardless of whether he has given his resignation in or not. We will consign him to the archives of history whether he is ready to be consigned or not. Why? Because he’s resigned. #HesResigned #ZumasResigned

There is no need for him to deny or affirm this fact. There is no need for the media or society to investigate the news: we are now deciding and creating the news just as President Zuma has decided and created the truth about Nkandla (and other issues) all along. How can it be a mere rumour that he’s resigned if so many people are saying the same thing?

Spread the news. Jacob Zuma has resigned.