VOA常速英语2007年-African National Congress Opens with Rowdy Disp

By Delia Robertson
Polokwane
16 December 2007

South Africa's ruling African National Congress has opened a national conference that could decide who becomes the country's next president. VOA's Delia Robertson reports from the meeting in Polokwane, the capital of Limpopo Province, the five-day conference opened with bitter divisions between incumbent¹ President Thabo Mbeki and his party deputy, Jacob Zuma.

South African President Thabo Mbeki opened the conference with a two-hour address about the state of the country and party during the past five years. He spoke² of a stable economy underpinned³ by consistent growth, of significant reductions in unemployment and poverty, and improvements in education, health, and other social programs

Even so, he said poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment remain high in many parts of South Africa and greater effort and commitment is needed until all South Africans can enjoy the benefits of economic advancement⁴.

 

"The outcomes of this national conference must demonstrate in clear terms that our movement is ready and willing to respond to the new phase of our national democratic revolution - and sue to accomplish the goals it set," Mbeki said. "This is what the masses of our people expect. We dare not disappoint their expectations."

 

But Mr. Mbeki lamented⁵ trends in the ruling party toward patronage⁶, corruption⁷ and personal enrichment at any cost. He said these activities rob from the poor, and that it is incumbent on delegates to select leaders who will regenerate⁸, what he termed, "the moral force of leaders of the past".

 

"If so, what measures are needed consciously to restore the moral force of our movement, so that within the organization and throughout all levels of the state our movement is inoculated⁹ from the insidious¹⁰ enticements of corruption, patronage and lust¹¹ for power," he asked.

 

Mr. Mbeki cannot run for a third term as the country's president, but is facing stiff competition from ANC deputy Jacob Zuma in seeking re-election as party leader.

If Mr. Zuma wins the leadership race, he is a strong contender to become South African president in 2009 because of the party's overwhelming support among South Africa's black majority. He was fired from the government by Mr. Mbeki after being linked to a corruption scandal, but is is going into the leadership vote Sunday with a significant lead.

The start of the meeting, and Mr. Mbeki's address, was delayed by a loud and angry dispute between party chairman Terror Lekota, who is running the conference, and Secretary-General of the Youth League Sihle Zikalala and others over the counting of ballots¹³.

Zuma supporters oppose electronic ballot¹² counting in the party leader election, demanding a manual count. While they argue publicly that manual counting is a tradition at ANC conferences, privately¹⁴ they say they are concerned that Mr. Mbeki's supporters might rig the vote.

 

The party conference has agreed that at least 50 percent of the new national executive committee, which may increase from 60 to 90 members, will be women.

 

Voting results may be known Monday.

1 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 underpinned   

v.用砖石结构等从下面支撑（墙等）( underpin的过去式和过去分词 )；加固（墙等）的基础；为（论据、主张等）打下基础；加强

参考例句：

• The report is underpinned by extensive research. 这份报告以广泛的研究为基础。
• The statue of Diana was underpinned with charred piles. Diana雕像是建造在炭化了的木桩上的。 来自辞典例句

4 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

5 lamented   

adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• her late lamented husband 她那令人怀念的已故的丈夫
• We lamented over our bad luck. 我们为自己的不幸而悲伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 patronage   

n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场

参考例句：

• Though it was not yet noon,there was considerable patronage.虽然时间未到中午，店中已有许多顾客惠顾。
• I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this.很抱歉，我的赞助只能到此为止。

7 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

8 regenerate   

vt.使恢复，使新生；vi.恢复，再生；adj.恢复的

参考例句：

• Their aim is to regenerate British industry.他们的目的是复兴英国的工业。
• Although it is not easy,you have the power to regenerate your life.尽管这不容易，但你有使生活重获新生的能力。

9 inoculated   

v.给…做预防注射( inoculate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A pedigree pup should have been inoculated against serious diseases before it's sold. 纯种狗应该在出售前注射预防严重疾病的针。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Disease can be spread by dirty tools, insects, inoculated soil. 疾病也能由不干净的工具，昆虫，接种的土壤传播。 来自辞典例句

10 insidious   

adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧

参考例句：

• That insidious man bad-mouthed me to almost everyone else.那个阴险的家伙几乎见人便说我的坏话。
• Organized crime has an insidious influence on all who come into contact with it.所有和集团犯罪有关的人都会不知不觉地受坏影响。

11 lust   

n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望

参考例句：

• He was filled with lust for power.他内心充满了对权力的渴望。
• Sensing the explorer's lust for gold, the chief wisely presented gold ornaments as gifts.酋长觉察出探险者们垂涎黄金的欲念，就聪明地把金饰品作为礼物赠送给他们。

12 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

13 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。