Zuma to run for ANC leadership

Zuma primed to topple Mbeki in ANC leadership vote

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MEMBERS of South Africa's ruling party voted for a new leader Tuesday with all the signs pointing to defeat for President Thabo Mbeki at the hands of arch rival Jacob Zuma.

As the front-page of The Star newspaper proclaimed: "Stage Set for Zuma Victory," the 65-year-old was among the first of 3,900 African National Congress members to cast their ballots at the University of Limpopo.

Zuma, whose arrival at the conference venue was greeted with wild applause from delegates queuing to vote, beamed with confidence and waved at supporters before entering the university's library where ballot boxes had been placed.

Corruption-accused Zuma's status as frontrunner has been cemented since Sunday during a bitter conference where the erosion of Mbeki's authority has been starkly illustrated.

The president, who has led Africa's largest economy since 1999, looked on glumly late Monday as Zuma's choice of chief lieutenants received an overwhelming show of hands during a nominations process.

ANC party deputy president Jacob Zuma arrives for the second day of the party conference in Polokwane. Members of South Africa's ruling party voted for a new leader with all the signs pointing to defeat for President Thabo Mbeki at the hands of arch rival Jacob Zuma.

The incumbent's allies were booed and heckled whenever they took to the stage, while an ovation at the end of a long-winded Mbeki opening speech was interrupted by Zuma supporters singing their man's controversial signature tune Umshini Wam (Zulu for Bring Me My Machinegun).

Victory would cap a remarkable political comeback for the scandal-plagued Zuma, who was sacked by Mbeki as deputy head of state in 2005 when his financial advisor was jailed for fraud.

He is still the subject of a related graft probe, which could damage Zuma's chances of becoming state president in 2009 in what should have been a seamless ascension in the case of a party victory.

Acquitted last year of raping a family friend less than half his age, Zuma was ridiculed for testifying in court that he had showered after sex with his HIV-positive accuser to prevent infection.

While Mbeki has two years left as state president, his authority would be badly undermined if unseated as ANC leader, with some commentators predicting he could face efforts by Zuma's camp to force him out of office early.

ANC President Thabo Mbeki attend the ANC 52nd National Congress in Polokwane. Members of South Africa's ruling party voted for a new leader with all the signs pointing to defeat for Mbeki at the hands of arch rival Jacob Zuma.

The two men were formally nominated on Monday night after squabbles between the two camps over balloting procedures held up the start of the process for more than 24 hours.

While voting was to have begun at 6:00 am (0400 GMT), delays over the printing of the ballot papers postponed the start for nearly three hours as lengthy queues built up outside the library.

A small group of Zuma backers gathered outside the polling venue on Tuesday morning, chanting their candidate's name and heckling known Zuma critics as they arrived to vote.

Blowing on whistles and wearing pro-Zuma T-shirts, the group used a two-handed rolling gesture to indicate their wish for change at the top.

"We are in South Africa, not Zimbabwe. Two terms are enough," shouted one in a dig at Zimbabwe's ruler of 27 years, Robert Mugabe.

Mbeki arrived at the venue in the afternoon to a warm reception from a few dozen delegates who chanted "Thabo, Thabo we love you".

"President Mbeki is a good leader, no one matches him," said ANC provincial secretary Handi Siphato, leading an earlier march of Mbeki supporters. "He has performed well and has done a lot for the country. The economy is growing every year and is set to reach six percent in 2009."

The smiling president held his fist up in the air and appeared relaxed as he greeted supporters before casting his vote.

ANC officials said the vote would continue until the queue ran dry, predicting the results would be announced by Tuesday night.

An ethnic Zulu whose earthy charm contrasts sharply with the aloof Mbeki, Zuma has cashed in on growing disillusionment with the government's failure to eradicate poverty in the 13 years since the end of whites-only rule.

Although Mbeki can point to an uninterrupted period of growth, unemployment is unofficially estimated to be around 40 percent. - AFP
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