Former South African President Jacob Zuma is taking to life outside the presidency with ease, venturing into to a number of activities he previously wasn’t known for.
Having joined social media in December last year, Zuma is now venturing into the music business, signing a record deal.
The record deal will see the 76-year former head of state record his famed songs of protest that made him really popular.
The eThekwini municipality – covering the city of Durban – has agreed for Zuma to record the album.
Chief of parks, recreation and culture for eThekwini Thembinkosi Ngcobo said Zuma would not earn a fee from the album adding the venture is aimed more at preserving the country’s heritage.
Zuma is expected to start recording the album in April.
Sealed a deal to preserve our heritage through song with ex Pres #JacobZuma. We arrived at his house while he was having lunch & invited us to join him. He then enthralled us with his story telling skills. He will do live recording of his famous struggle songs in April pic.twitter.com/CTdXsiBr1o
— Thembinkosi Ngcobo (@Tnngcobo) December 30, 2018
Opposition politicians have reacted with outrage and promised to fight the record deal.
Councillor Nicola Graham, of the Democratic Alliance, has called the municipality’s move an ANC slush fund.
“This city is not an ANC slush fund and we will not tolerate its continued capture and abuse!” Graham posted on Facebook.
Once revered as an anti-apartheid hero who served in the party of the late Nelson Mandela, Zuma has fallen from grace amid a slew of corruption scandals.
He has frequently been accused of using government resources to fund his lifestyle while in office and in 2016 was ordered to repay some of the $15 million in public funds used to upgrade his private home.
