The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) is launching its election manifesto in Soweto on Saturday. As the party launches its manifesto, job creation will feature prominently in its electoral promises.
The ACDP was founded in 1993 under the leadership of Kenneth Meshoe – a priest, politician and MP, who has been a Member of Parliament since 1994.
Meshoe has been the president of the ACDP since its formation. But why was the ACDP formed?
Meshoe says, “ACDP was founded to ensure that we take care of the most important building block of any society, the family. The ACDP had to ensure that the family remained central because without the family, you cannot have a society that is together, a society that is one, a society that is united. So the ACDP was started to first ensure that families are strong in our country and secondly that we have policies that are not anti-God. Many politicians, they don’t take seriously the issue of allowing God to also have an acknowledgment in the running of the country, but I can assure you that when we acknowledge God in our affairs, things would go better for us as a nation.”
The ACDP regards policies such as the legalisation of the termination of pregnancy or abortion as ungodly.
Reverend Meshoe says even if a woman or a young girl has been raped, abortion is still not an option.
“Without wanting to be personal, there are secretaries, there are ministers, and there are pastors I know who are products of rape. There are professionals who are products of rape. Rape obviously must be condemned. So the ACDP says rather than destroy this innocent life let that baby be given up for adoption. If the mother is supported, if the mother is encouraged, if they are given all the help they need, they can carry that baby and if they don’t want that baby, give that baby away for adoption.”
Meshoe predicts that there will be a coalition government after this year’s general elections. And he believes the ACDP will be part of that coalition.
Meshoe adds: “So the ACDP is saying we are definitely going to come back and we are hoping that we are going to be part of the multi-party government that is going to cause the ruling party for a change to be in the opposition benches. It will be a big shock for me as an individual if the ANC wins the elections. If they win the election, for me it will be an indication that our maturity politically still has much to be desired.”
– By
