It seems like everyone right now wants to take up arms. First we had Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe saying that he would not accept defeat in the upcoming presidential election and that if he were to loose he would ‘take up arms’ and fight to remain in power. Now yesterday, ANC Youth League President, Julius Malema was in Thaba’Nchu in the Free State in his first Youth Day address and he said that the Youth League was ready to ‘take up arms’ and kill for Jacob Zuma if Zuma was found to be guilty of the charges he is facing.

Malema’s comments, as expected, have not been welcome by many. The ANC themselves have distanced themselves away from the Youth League leaders statement. Opposition political parties in South Africa have come out condemning these statements, with the DA (Democratic Alliance) saying the statement was a ‘Mugabe style’ saying.

Which is true in a way as Mugabe said the exact same thing. Now can you imagine if Mugabe was to take up arms in Zimbabwe and then Malema also takes up arms, there could be a disaster in Southern Africa! There are calls for Malema to apologise for saying what he said with some asking for Jacob Zuma to come out and make a statement with regards to what Malema said.

Why is it that everyone seems to want to ‘take up arms’?