Zuma rival would renew arms probe

GHANA NEWS »Tueday, 21 April 2009

Mvume Dandala is a respected advocate for African social justice
Opposition South African presidential candidate Mvume Dandala has told the BBC he would reopen a corruption case involving his main rival if elected.

African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma was accused of corruption in connection with an arms deal.

He denied the charges and the case against him was recently withdrawn.


Bishop Dandala said all implicated, including people from his Congress of the People party, would have to face the consequences of their actions.

His party, Cope, was founded last year after former President Thabo Mbeki was ousted following a power struggle with Mr Zuma.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reports that more than 23 million people, including 16,000 of the South African diaspora, have registered to vote in what is being seen as the most keenly contested election since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Voting has already started for those who are disabled, pregnant and those who will be temporarily out of the country on Wednesday.

Election officials and security force members who will be on duty on election day also go to the polls on Monday and Tuesday.

Cancer

Bishop Dandala told the BBC's Network Africa programme that if Cope won the general election, the party would aim to tackle corruption within the first 100 days of office.