ANC rejects charges of Mbeki dictatorship

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s ruling party has rejected charges from its governing partners that it was veering towards dictatorship under President Thabo Mbeki’s leadership.

“Statements about tendencies towards ‘dictatorship’ and the centralisation of powers … are not borne out by reality,” African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe told a news conference. Motlanthe, speaking after a weekend meeting of the party’s national executive committee, said there had been allusions to a “Bonapartist presidency” and “imperial presidency” which were all false.The influential Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) – a partner in the ruling tripartite alliance – recently blasted Mbeki for saying that he would like his successor to be a woman.”It cannot be correct that others’ hands are tied by protocol while the president declares his own candidature and then consistently calls for a woman president in public instead of using the ANC structures,” general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said last week.”We may be drifting towards dictatorship,” said Vavi.Cosatu has been a staunch supporter of former deputy president Jacob Zuma who was earlier this month acquitted of raping an HIV-positive family friend.The South African Communist Party (SACP) – another alliance partner – has also attacked Mbeki, with leader Blade Nzimande saying that “the presidency is overly powerful and concentrated.”Motlanthe said the ANC would “seek an opportunity to discuss these matters with the SACP and Cosatu as part of the continuous and ongoing engagement among alliance partners.”Motlanthe acknowledged that Zuma’s rape trial may have dented the party’s image.He said “certain events and pronouncements over the last few months may have damaged the image of the movement …these include proceedings of the recent trial on charges of rape of the ANC deputy president, related events and associated commentary.”Once the frontrunner to succeed Mbeki, Zuma was axed as the country’s number two leader last June following the conviction of his financial adviser in a corruption scandal.His supporters have maintained that the subsequent rape charge and the corruption case were part of a conspiracy to block his ascent to the presidency.Zuma is due to go on trial for graft in July.Mbeki, who has appointed a woman, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in Zuma’s place has drawn flak for publicly saying that he would like a female successor.- Nampa-AFPMotlanthe, speaking after a weekend meeting of the party’s national executive committee, said there had been allusions to a “Bonapartist presidency” and “imperial presidency” which were all false.The influential Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) – a partner in the ruling tripartite alliance – recently blasted Mbeki for saying that he would like his successor to be a woman.”It cannot be correct that others’ hands are tied by protocol while the president declares his own candidature and then consistently calls for a woman president in public instead of using the ANC structures,” general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said last week.”We may be drifting towards dictatorship,” said Vavi.Cosatu has been a staunch supporter of former deputy president Jacob Zuma who was earlier this month acquitted of raping an HIV-positive family friend.The South African Communist Party (SACP) – another alliance partner – has also attacked Mbeki, with leader Blade Nzimande saying that “the presidency is overly powerful and concentrated.”Motlanthe said the ANC would “seek an opportunity to discuss these matters with the SACP and Cosatu as part of the continuous and ongoing engagement among alliance partners.”Motlanthe acknowledged that Zuma’s rape trial may have dented the party’s image.He said “certain events and pronouncements over the last few months may have damaged the image of the movement …these include proceedings of the recent trial on charges of rape of the ANC deputy president, related events and associated commentary.”Once the frontrunner to succeed Mbeki, Zuma was axed as the country’s number two leader last June following the conviction of his financial adviser in a corruption scandal.His supporters have maintained that the subsequent rape charge and the corruption case were part of a conspiracy to block his ascent to the presidency.Zuma is due to go on trial for graft in July.Mbeki, who has appointed a woman, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in Zuma’s place has drawn flak for publicly saying that he would like a female successor.- Nampa-AFP