Zuma scandal sullies UK visit

The South African President Zuma has arrived in the UK amid a torrent of insults, causing fears of a diplomatic row.

"Vile buffoon" and "sex-obsessed bigot" were among the UK headlines that have sparked controversy at the start of President Zuma's first state visit to the UK since his inauguration last May.

High on the agenda for discussions with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown are the World Cup, Zimbabwe, Education and Climate Change.

But President Zuma's arrival has been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding his extra-marital affairs. The President recently acknowledged that he had fathered his 20th child with the daughter of one of South Africa’s leading football officials.

World Cup

This is not the football-related message South Africa is aiming to share with the world. With less than 100 days to go before the World Cup, the fear is that this news may overshadow other high-profile matters.

The visit is an important showcase event for Zuma and for South Africa. Speaking to the South African newspaper, political analyst Dirk Kotze said: "This is his opportunity to present himself as a statesman, leading Africa’s most powerful nation."

HIV/ Aids lobby group, Treatment Action Campaign, has questioned the impact of the president's actions: "South Africa has the world's largest HIV epidemic. The President holds the highest office in South Africa and therefore there are high expectations of him, as a leader, as an elder and as a role model."

Their concern is that his actions may have seriously undermined all those who are trying to meet the prevention target of reducing HIV transmission by half.

Positive

Marcus Low, from TAC, states that it isn’t all negative.  He challenges the UK’s sensationalist media frenzy.  "Under Zuma’s leadership we have seen some concrete changes in HIV policy, which he has to get some credit for, " he said.

Last year the government published new treatment guidelines. President Zuma also launched a testing campaign and said he was going to be tested himself.

Perhaps Zuma's actions have, inversely, been a way of drawing the world's attention to this critical subject.

Marcus Low, TAC editor, questions the president's actions