voa标准英语2008年-South African National Convention Under Way

A two-day national convention convened¹ by former leaders of the ruling African National Congress is under way in Johannesburg. VOA's Delia Robertson reports from the convention, it is likely to lead to a call for a formation of a new political party.

Some 6,000 exuberant² and vocal³ South Africans, most of them traditional supporters of the ruling African National Congress, came to the Sandton Convention Center to register their support for the formation of a new political party.

Most have already resigned their membership in the ANC, or by their attendance have ensured that they will be expelled, as promised earlier this week by ANC President Jacob Zuma. Out on the stump⁴ in KwaZulu/Natal Saturday, Zuma said those leaving the party were poisonous snakes.
　

Mosiuoa Lekota greets supporters at a Convention in Johannesburg, 01 Nov 2008

In welcoming delegates, co-convenor and former ANC chairman, Mosiuoa Lekota said the current leaders of the ruling party are abusing their power to advance their personal interests and those of their supporters.

"The issue before our nation is whether we will have, we will put power in the hands of men and women who are committed to sustaining this constitution or not," he said. "That the issue. If the issue confronting the people of this country must rather be watered down or sustained, I say the majority of them will vote for a party that seeks to sustain that constitution."

The catalyst⁵ for the breakaway movement was the ousting⁶ of former South African President Thabo Mbeki by Zuma just months before his term of office ended. The ANC said it had lost confidence in him following a court ruling in which the judge said the ongoing⁷ corruption⁸ investigation⁹ against Zuma may have been politically motivated.

Even before a new party has been formally agreed or a political platform adopted, it is clear the new party will seek to change the current proportional electoral system and to directly elect the president of the country.

Barney Pityana, rector of the University of South Africa and former head of the statutory Human Right's Commission, tells VOA the system no longer meets the needs of the country because the trust inherent in the system is being betrayed by the current ANC leadership.

"The responsibility of the political leaders whom we trust because we elect them, I guess, is never to betray that trust," said Pityana. "And part of that trust is based on their real commitment to the constitution and to enhancing our democracy, not just by word but also by deed."

"I have said that there are certain developments in the country that really completely betray that trust in our country today. The first one is a culture of intolerance and violence, violent language and intimidation¹⁰, that clearly has become in the stock-in-trade of the ANC of our time," he added.

Several opposition¹¹ parties also sent delegates to the convention - most had encouraging words for the new movement. Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, celebrating his 80th birthday in KwaZulu/Natal said in a statement sent to the convention that South Africa's democracy is ailing¹² and that the people of South Africa have been forgotten by the African National Congress.

1 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

2 exuberant   

adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的

参考例句：

• Hothouse plants do not possess exuberant vitality.在温室里培养出来的东西，不会有强大的生命力。
• All those mother trees in the garden are exuberant.果园里的那些母树都长得十分茂盛。

3 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

4 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。

5 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

6 ousting   

驱逐( oust的现在分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• The resulting financial chaos led to the ousting of Bristol-Myers' s boss. 随后引发的财政混乱导致了百时美施贵宝的总裁下台。
• The ousting of the president has drawn widespread criticism across Latin America and the wider world. 洪都拉斯总统被驱逐时间引起拉丁美洲甚至全世界的广泛批评。

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 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。

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

10 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

11 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。

12 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。