South African Twitter users are using the social networking platform to protest the proposed updated translation of the Bible to isiZulu language, the Inquisitr reports.
The translation is being sponsored by South African President Jacob Zuma, in cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church.
The Sunday Times reports that the president's foundation is going to cooperate with the Roman Catholic Church to update the existing Zulu language translation of the Bible. The sponsorship is for a fixed amount of 500,000 Rands (around £28,100) and will pay for the 18 volunteers of the project.
According to a statement issued by the Jacob Zuma Foundation, as quoted by the Sunday Times, the current translation to the isiZulu language is "inadequate." The Foundation states that it will work to directly translate the Bible from the Hebrew, Aramaic and other Biblical languages directly to IsiZulu.
According to the Inquistr, the protests stem from bitterness over the case that accused President Zuma of misappropriating public funds. South African Twitter users feel that President Zuma is not the person to decide on moral issues and the accuracy of Biblical translations given his exposure to the scandal.
Twitter user Cat_93839 cynically wondered what "the new translation is for thou shalt not steal," while user phuti7 wrote that the sponsorship "won't wash away [President Zuma's] corrupt ways."
In 2014, Zuma was accused of irregular use of public funds. The case alleged that Zuma used the government's money to upgrade the construction of his personal home in Nkandla, South Africa. In October 2014, the IOL reported that the ANC had dismissed the case and ruled that Zuma had not stolen the people's money for the upgrades carried out on his private residence.
The ruling was criticised by opposition spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. Ndlozi stated that the fact that only ANC members had deliberated the case is an attempt to "whitewash the accountability of President Jacob Zuma".
