VOA标准英语 South Africa's National Poll to Be Contested by 26 P

In South Africa's election Wednesday, 26 parties will field national candidates with several more choosing only to contest the provincial¹ polls.
　
President of S. Africa's ruling party African National Congress, Jacob Zuma

If South Africa's current parliament is anything to go by, the 400 seats of the national legislature will go to just 14 or 15 parties, with just three or four of those getting more than 10 seats in the house.

African National Congress President Jacob Zuma, confident his party will do very well in the election, wrapped up a recent rally with Siyaya, an old struggle song that expresses determination to reach a goal regardless of how long it takes. For Zuma, the successful conclusion to his single-minded struggle of nearly 10 years to become South Africa's president must seem very close.

The latest polls suggest the ANC will lose between five and 10 percent of its support, but still win the national election convincingly with about 60 percent of the vote. The ANC is the oldest liberation party in Africa and will celebrate its centenary in 2012.

The party came to power in 1994 promising² a "better life for all" which included jobs, houses, and a significant reduction in the grinding poverty of the black population after three centuries of white oppression.

Significant progress has been made in a number of areas, but the ANC in government has missed many of its own targets and the gap between rich and poor has become wider in the past 15 years. Speaking at Sunday's ANC rally, former President Nelson Mandela did not endorse³ Zuma, and did not offer praise for his party's achievements. Instead, he chose to remind ANC leaders of what he sees as their duty.
　
Mangosuthu Buthelezi (file photo)

"As we strive to secure a decisive victory for our organization in the upcoming elections, let us remember our primary task. It is to eradicate⁴ poverty and ensure a better life for all. The ANC has the historical responsibility to lead our nation and help build a united, non-racial society," Mr. Mandela said.

Lagging somewhat behind the ANC are two older parties and one new one. The Zulu-dominated Inkatha Freedom Party of Mangosuthu has been losing ground since 1994 and all indications are that trend will likely continue in 2009. Analysts⁵ say the party pursues a narrow rural-nationalist agenda that does not have a crossover appeal outside of its base in Kwazulu/Natal.

Polls suggest the white-dominated Democratic Alliance is also likely to lose ground this time around. Current leader Helen Zille is fluent in Xhosa and enjoys greater appeal with black voters than her predecessor⁶. While black membership of the party is growing, analysts say their numbers remain too low to significantly expand the party.
　
Mosiua Lekota addresses a press conference in Bloemfontein, 15 Dec 2008

A newcomer, the Congress of the People (COPE), looks set to make a credible⁷ impact in this election just four months after its launch. With a leadership and support base that seems to neatly⁸ reflect the national demographic, the party's launch has generated significant interest.

But internal squabbling over how to position itself, indecisive and lackluster early campaigning and a lack of funds has worn off some of the initial shine.

Party president, a former ANC chairman, tells VOA the goal of COPE is to offer South Africans a credible alternative, including having a greater say in the election of their leaders.

"So we think this first and foremost: once the people are able to elect directly and put people in office, and have the capacity to even withdraw them if those people fail them, that will compel leadership of quality rather than of loyalty⁹ to some party or the other," said Lekota.

But he knows the chances his party will win this election are very slim. Lekota tells VOA that for now he hopes COPE will be the largest opposition¹⁰ force in parliament and that hard work will bring better results in future elections.

1 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

4 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

7 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

8 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

9 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。