ANC bullies new kid on the political block

South Africa's main party, the ANC, seems to be on a mission to prevent the newest player on the country's political block from  having a fair shot in next year's national and provincial elections.

Earlier this week, the former freedom movement demanded from the Congress of the People (COPE) to ditch its name as the current one refers to the 1955 gathering, which  gave birth to the so-called Freedom Charter.

And this is wrong, said ANC-president Jacob Zuma, as the 'dissidents' are not allowed to use any of the ANC's structures or heritage.

"Rubbish", was the reply of COPE leaders Terror Lekota and Mbhazima Shilowa. "The ANC cannot claim copyright on the terms 'congress' and 'people'."

The counter attack was presented by the ANC a day later. It looks as if the party led by Jacob Zuma has decided that South Africans will have to go the voting stations not in May next year but on March 25. Two months earlier then expected.

It does not require a PhD to realise that with this decision, the chances of COPE having sufficient time to campaign and raise funds for their campaign have been seriously diminished.

It makes me sad and angry, as this reeks like political oppression of note. Let's be frank, how else can we classify it when one political party robs the other from a fair chance to participate in an election?

Perhaps it is too soon to judge, but to me this smells like Zimbabwe. It is a faint smell, but it is there.