Mbeki gets second term as SA president

CAPE TOWN – President Thabo Mbeki was elected unopposed for a second term on Friday, pledging to fight poverty and improve opportunities for all South Africans after his party scored its biggest victory yet in a decade of multiracial democracy.

“Despite the fact of our hard-won freedom and democracy, very many of our people continue to lead miserable lives,” Mbeki told parliament. “We share a common responsibility… to speed up the process towards the achievement of the goal of a better life for all our people.”Lawmakers broke into cheers after re-electing Mbeki at their first session since April 14 general elections.Mbeki’s African National Congress, which led South Africa out of apartheid in 1994, won 270 of the National Assembly’s 400 seats and also led in voting for nine provincial assemblies.Though the winner was a foregone conclusion, the size of the majority showed South Africans still willing to wait for more tangible benefits of the momentous changes of a decade ago.While a new black elite is transforming South African suburbs and boardrooms, the country continues to be plagued by poverty, unemployment, crime and AIDS.Millions live in squalid townships, and the gap between rich and poor is increasing.”Whatever anyone and all of us might have said during the election campaign, we are aware of our people’s sincere appreciation of the changes that have taken place during the last 10 years,” said Mbeki, dressed in a navy suit and silver tie.”That appreciation also tells us what else we need to do to respond to the needs of our people.”Opposition leaders congratulated Mbeki and promised to work with the ruling party to meet South Africa’s challenges.- Nampa-AP”We share a common responsibility… to speed up the process towards the achievement of the goal of a better life for all our people.”Lawmakers broke into cheers after re-electing Mbeki at their first session since April 14 general elections.Mbeki’s African National Congress, which led South Africa out of apartheid in 1994, won 270 of the National Assembly’s 400 seats and also led in voting for nine provincial assemblies.Though the winner was a foregone conclusion, the size of the majority showed South Africans still willing to wait for more tangible benefits of the momentous changes of a decade ago.While a new black elite is transforming South African suburbs and boardrooms, the country continues to be plagued by poverty, unemployment, crime and AIDS.Millions live in squalid townships, and the gap between rich and poor is increasing.”Whatever anyone and all of us might have said during the election campaign, we are aware of our people’s sincere appreciation of the changes that have taken place during the last 10 years,” said Mbeki, dressed in a navy suit and silver tie.”That appreciation also tells us what else we need to do to respond to the needs of our people.”Opposition leaders congratulated Mbeki and promised to work with the ruling party to meet South Africa’s challenges.- Nampa-AP