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(TALKZIMBABWE) Motlanthe to replace Mbeki

Motlanthe to replace Mbeki
Our reporter
Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:02:00 +0000

THE African National Congress party of South Africa has chosen its Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to serve as interim president of the country after president after Thabo Mbeki leaves office on Thursday, the Zimbabwe Guardian has learnt. The ANC’s Jessie Duarte says while parliament still has to vote on the matter today – that will just be a formality.

“Mr Kgalema Motlanthe is the ANC’s preferred candidate to become the next president of the Republic of South Africa. He will probably be sworn in immediately after the resignation of President Mbeki takes effect on the 25th of September.”

According to the SA’s Constitution, the Deputy President of the country should step in should the president resign, but Duarte says she does not want to speculate on Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s future as the circumstances of president Mbeki’s resignation were different.

“The rumours that are being spread around with regards to the Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - we can’t confirm those because it’s a rumour. She has not resigned. There’s no intention for her to resign.”

Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the ANC's ouster of Mbeki, accusing South Africa's ruling party of humiliating the deposed leader. He warned that the action might lead to instability.

“I am deeply disturbed that the nation, the state, South Africa has been subordinated to a political party,” Tutu said.

“Why humiliate the nation’s president in this fashion?” he told Reuters, adding that Mbeki's removal was unnecessary and risked destabilizing the nation.

“It is good old-fashioned tit-for-tat. Our country deserves better. The way of retribution leads to a banana republic,” Tutu said.

ANC told Mbeki over the weekend he must resign after nine years at the helm.

In his first public comments since President Mbeki’s ouster, the ANC president, Jacob Zuma said the name of an acting president would be announced “at an appropriate moment” but added that Motlanthe “will be equal to the task ... if given that responsibility.”

ANC chief whip Nathi Mthetwa said last Thursday would be Mbeki's last day in office.

WHO IS MOTLANTHE?

Motlanthe, a student activist and trade unionist, who fought in the struggle to end white rule, was jailed with former President Nelson Mandela under the apartheid government in the 1970s.

He is seen as a patient man, whose decision-making style favours consultation. He has repeatedly said that his job was to “accurately and as faithfully as possible” reflect the views of the membership.

He is a preferred candidate because of his deep knowledge of the party's way of operating, while basing this on historical knowledge and theoretical assuredness.

Zuma is expected to become South Africa’s president after elections that must be held by July. He is barred by the constitution from taking over immediately because he is not a member of parliament.

Labels: ANC, KGALEMA MOTLANTHE

posted by MrK @ 7:21 PM