Africa's oldest liberation movement celebrates 102 anniversary .

Crystal van Vyk* South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday celebrated its 102nd anniversary, with leader, President Jacob Zuma reportedly saying the party will rule the country forever. The ANC, in power since the end of apartheid in 1994, faces its toughest electoral battle yet this year, amid accusations of corruption. Formed in 1922 at a Wesleyan Church in Mangaung, the ANC is Africa's oldest liberation movement. As part of the celebrations, the ANC's top six officials, including Zuma, led mobilisation campaigns in four regions of Mpumalanga. Zuma interacted with ordinary people at the Kanyamzane township, where he told them the ANC will stay in power, whether the party's detractors liked it or not. "We will continue to run this government forever and ever. Whether they (detractors) like it or not," he was reported to have said. Party spokesperson, Jackson Mthembu reiterated Zuma's words. The ANC said since 1994, it had made substantial progress in consolidating democracy, achieving political stability, extending basic services and promoting respect for values and various freedoms that are enshrined in the constitution. These events in Mpumlanga will culminate in the launch of the party's 2014 election manifesto and the presentation of its traditional January 8 statement. ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, the Mail and Guardian reported, on Tuesday said the manifesto would not be a surprise for those familiar with the party. "It is a continuation of the work we have been doing," he said. "We are going to build on the five priority areas we selected in 2009, we will put emphasis more on the areas where there have been difficulty [and] I would imagine that jobs and the economy would be a major focus." The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) was one of the first organisations to congratulate the ANC. Cosatu and the South African Communist Party are in an alliance with the ANC. *Read the original article on Theafricareport.com : Africa's oldest liberation movement celebrates 102 anniversary | Southern Africa : @theafricareport on Twitter | theafricareport on Facebook]]>