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JOHANNESBURG， April 27 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of South Africans took to the streets across the country on Wednesday to press their demand that President Jacob Zuma steps down.

The protests， organized by over 75 civil organizations， followed a Constitutional Court judgment on March 31 which found that Zuma failed to defend， respect and uphold the Constitution by ignoring Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's recommendations regarding payment for security upgrades at his private home in Nkandla， KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The protests took place in Johannesburg， Cape Town， Durban and other cities across the country.

In Johannesburg， hundreds of protesters，which include academics， politicians， environmentalists， students， trade unionists and social activists， sang liberation songs and waved placards calling on Zuma to resign.

"own with Zuma" and "Zuma must fall"， they chanted.

"It is the duty of the President to defend the Constitution. Zuma had disregarded that and that is a sign that he is no longer fit to be president and we demand that he must resign immediately. We are calling on his party， the African National Congress (ANC) to recall him，" said Reverend Moss Ntlha， general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa，

As the country will hold local government elections on August 3， the ANC will "be punished by the voters with Zuma as the president"， Ntlha said， adding that they will continue to call for the President to step down until the government listens.

He said: "If the government cannot listen to opposition political parties we think that they can listen to the civil society."

Nelson Qekema from the opposition Azapo party called on South Africans to defend the Constitution by forcing Zuma to resign.

"We must defend the fruits of our liberation and democracy. We must stand up and show Zuma the door，" he said.

Ferrial Adam， an environment activist from Unite Against Corruption， said they will continue to mobilise the South Africans to protest until Zuma heeds their call.

ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa told Xinhua that the party will not recall the president and still has faith in his leadership.

"We are not going to recall the president and we have no reason to do that. We are 100 percent behind the president and still have faith in his leadership，" said the spokesperson.

Kodwa also stated that those who were demonstrating were exercising their democratic right.

The protests took place as the country marked the Freedom Day， which is dedicated to the first all-race elections that ended the apartheid government in 1994.

by Christine Lagat and David Musyoka

NAIROBI Rush Keanu Neal Jersey , April 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's strategic engagement with China to propel industrial revolution heralds immense social and economic benefits to the East Africa nation, experts told Xinhua.

The Kenyan Vision 2030 blue print identifies the industrial sector as key to promote job creation and export earnings in the country. Policymakers and experts noted that Kenya has developed a sound policy and regulatory framework to encourage growth of a vibrant manufacturing sector.

Gerishon Ikiara Rush Sean Harlow Jersey , a Kenyan economist, said the country's industrial progress is on track thanks to political stewardship and foreign direct investments from China.

"Kenya is among the most industrialized country in the region but this feat would not have been achieved were it not for robust engagement with China. The Asian giant has invested heavily in manufacturing Rush Duke Riley Jersey , transport and energy sectors," Ikiara told Xinhua during an interview in Nairobi.

Government statistics indicated the industrial sector accounts for 12 to 14 percent of Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Post independent Kenyan regimes have prioritized diversification of the economy to promote service and industrial sectors.

Ikiara noted that despite initial hiccups Rush Takkarist McKinley Jersey , Kenya's industrial sector is on the right trajectory and could unleash prosperity for future generations.

"It is true that our industrial growth stagnated briefly but has picked up lately. We are leading exporters of manufactured goods in the east and central Africa region," said the economist.

He noted that Kenya is a leader in agroprocessing Rush Isaiah Oliver Jersey , metal works and tannery, and Sino-Kenya cooperation in motor vehicle assembly and light industries has unleashed new jobs and prosperity to ordinary citizens.

Ikiara Rush Calvin Ridley Jersey , who also served as permanent secretary in the ministry of transport and communication, noted that China has provided technical expertise and financial resources to develop home grown industries in Kenya.

"China has injected vitality in our industrial sector. It has helped us diversify our economy. Besides assisting us set up car assembly plants Rush Vic Beasley Jr Jersey , China has trained local artisans to produce low- cost goods," Ikiara said.

He noted that Sino-Kenya cooperation in the industrial sector dates back to the 1970s and has blossomed lately as governments intensified diversification of the economy.

African countries have reached out to China to acquire capital and technical skills required to establish a thriving industrial sector. Ikiara noted that Sino-Africa industrial cooperation has lifted the continent from economic stagnation.

"As for now Women's Ito Smith Jersey , we are able to manufacture low-cost goods thanks to equipment sourced from China. Unlike the West, China has focused on homegrown solutions to our poverty and under- development Women's Deadrin Senat Jersey ," Ikiara told Xinhua.

"China has adopted a strategic approach by helping us set up and own the plants," said the economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

China is a leading investor in the nascent Kenya's extractive industry. Ikiara noted that China has injected huge capital to help Kenya develop the oil and gas sectors.

"Local consortiums have partnered with Chinese investors to extract coal and set up oil re.