The prospect of President Thabo Mbeki staying on as African National Congress (ANC) head would harm the country, official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon said on Monday.
At a farewell meeting in Port Elizabeth — ahead of stepping down on May 6 — the DA leader said an anointed presidential successor would become a ”puppet president owing his or her position to Mbeki” when he or she assumed office at the end of Mbeki’s constitutional two terms in 2009.
Leon noted that the campaign had begun to re-elect Mbeki as ANC leader at the ruling party’s conference in December, although Mbeki had remained silent about the matter.
Leon, who has led the DA and its predecessor Democratic Party since 1994, said: ”And if that [new] president tries to be his own man or woman, the real prospect of two centres of national power would be ruinous indeed.
”It would be ruinous, because the state’s already faltering capacity would stall further. It would be ruinous because turf wars would break out between these rival camps.
”Worst of all, Mr Mbeki’s staying would set a grim precedent: he would undo many of the positive achievements to date of his presidency, playing into the hands of Afro-pessimists, who denounce our continent’s leaders for failing to leave office when their time has passed.
”By contrast, what a fine example Nelson Mandela set us when he voluntarily stepped down as party leader in 1997 and as President in 1999. That is the finest precedent this fine president could set us; and that is the precedent I urge Mr Mbeki, in the interests of all South Africans, to emulate.”
Leon, who will remain an MP until 2009, said: ”I passionately believe — and my own decision to vacate my post attests to this — that any viable and vital political organisation needs the fresh ideas, fresh energy and fresh vision that a change of helmsman or woman brings.”
Three leaders are vying for Leon’s post — Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille, Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip and federal chairperson Joe Seremane. The new DA leader will be elected on Sunday May 6. — I-Net Bridge