New charges threaten Zuma's presidency chances
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Jacob Zuma's dramatic political comeback could be nipped in the bud by new charges laid against him by South African prosecutors.
A week ago he was elected leader of the ruling African National Congress and the next glittering prize -- becoming South Africa's president in 2009 -- seemed within his grasp.
But on Friday, prosecutors ordered Zuma to stand trial on various counts of racketeering, money laundering, corruption and fraud tied to an arms deal in a High Court trial that is scheduled to begin on August 14, 2008.
Zuma, who is popular with trade unions and rank-and-file ANC members, had made a strong political recovery in the past year after being acquitted in a 2006 rape trial and then seeing an earlier corruption case collapse on procedural grounds.
He beat his rival, state President Thabo Mbeki, in a bruising race to lead the ANC, which led the fight against apartheid.
The party dominates politics so he would be almost certain to take over as head of state when Mbeki has to step down in 2009 if he is still head of the party or not in jail.
Zuma has said he will step down if convicted in a trial.
His rise to the top ANC job has worried some investors, who fear his left-leaning trade union, and communist allies will try to steer him away from policies that have delivered economic growth.
But Zuma has been busy meeting investors at home and abroad in a charm offensive designed to reassure them that he will not make sweeping changes to Africa's biggest economy.
His supporters also have accused Mbeki and other state officials of trying to smear Zuma with the corruption case.
"What you have is an instruction by those in state power to change the outcome of the (leadership) conference," said Sipho Seepe, a political analyst and Mbeki critic. "This is simply sour grapes from the presidency."
Many observers, however, were stunned when Zuma admitted during his rape trial that he had unprotected sex with his HIV-positive accuser and took a shower afterwards to reduce the risk of infection.
That case and bribery allegations in an arms scandal often overshadow his status as an anti-apartheid hero who spent a decade in prison with Nelson Mandela.
Yet, Zuma has successfully portrayed himself as a man of the people, enjoying wide support from the ANC rank-and-file, who believe he is a strong leader who can help millions of poor South Africans still living in grim townships.
A former member of ANC's Umkhonto we Sizwe military wing, Zuma rose to become head of intelligence, a post that gave him leverage with allies and opponents alike.
Hailing from KwaZulu-Natal province, Zuma has earned respect as a peacemaker at home, mediating between the ANC and the Zulu-dominated Inkatha Freedom Party in the early 1990s to head off a possible civil war.
The 65-year-old Zulu politician often follows traditional ways, shedding his suit for Zulu regalia -- a shield and cow hide -- when he retreats to his rural homeland.
He has been cagey about how he would fight an AIDS epidemic and rampant crime, and keep the country's economic boom going.
(Editing by Giles Elgood)
