HUNDREDS of protesters marched outside South Africa’s parliament yesterday hours before an annual state-of-the-nation speech by President Jacob Zuma, whom they accuse of corruption and mismanaging the country’s flagging economy.

Zuma’s speech, scheduled to be televised nationally at 1700 GMT, came amid growing criticism over a taxpayer-funded 250 million (then $23 million) upgrade to his private home and years of weak economic growth in Africa’s most industrialised country.

Investors also want to know why Zuma fired two finance ministers in one week in December. Minister Nhlanhla Nene was replaced by relatively unknown lawmaker, David van Rooyen, sparking a selling frenzy in the markets. Zuma swiftly replaced van Rooyen with the respected Pravin Gordhan.

BNP Paribas Securities SA economist, Jeffrey Schultz, said the reshuffle “brought into question political stability of this economy and in particular, the independence of national treasury in helping set policy in South Africa.”

“The markets will be looking for some level of commitment from government that it remains committed to sustainable fiscal policy and a generally pro-business, pro-investment environment,” he said.

According to Reuters, South Africa’s rand currency hit a record low of 17.9950 in January after weakening by more than a quarter to the dollar last year. The central bank has forecast growth to reach only 0.9 per cent this year. Unemployment is at 25 per cent.

The agriculture sector is reeling under the worst drought in three decades, forcing Africa’s top grain producer to import maize. The mining sector, hit hard by slowing demand from China, is shedding jobs and shutting unviable mines.