Succession Options 2
It is clear that the question of succession is starting to get to President Mbeki, with his now regular pleading for politicians to stop fighting and to do what is best for the country.
The ANC’s “policy think tank” are also considering whether to allow Mbeki to retain his Preidency of the ANC while someone else takes over as president. This idea was put forth a while ago as well. A number of people are against it within the ANC because it might create two centers of power and undermine the position of President of South Africa, which I agree with. The ANC would need to undergo some serious internal transformation for such a scheme to work, and that would have to make the role of ANC purely ceremonial (and the ANC already has a semi-ceremonial head in Chairman Masouia Lekota). So I don’t think it’s that much of a practical excuse.
What Mbeki needs to do, despite his calls for for a female president, is put his weight behind a candidate who would carry on his policies but who is almost impervious to criticism from the left, or the right or anybody else for that matter. Someone who is almost universally acknowledged as one of the best leaders in government today and who has the necessary ‘struggle credentials’ and almost zero taint from the various government scandals brewing these days.
And if you’re a long time reader of this blog you know exactly who I’m talking about.
Trackbacks
Use the following link to trackback from your own site:
http://www.politics.za.net/articles/trackback/139
And if we’re not, why not inform us?
It’s my main man, Trevor “T-Money” Manuel.