ANC recalls Mbeki: unity or something else?

Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general of the African National Congress, has confirmed that the National Executive Committee had reached consensus in the early hours of Saturday morning to recall national President Thabo Mbeki.

Mbeki is not expected to fight the recall although the Constitution does not provide the steps that would need to be taken to implement this in a situation where the president steps down. What will be required is for parliament to design the process to send Mbeki back to the party and appoint the acting president. This will take place during the course of next week. It was, however, confirmed that this will not be in terms of Section 89 or 102 of the Constitution.

Mantashe confirmed that Mbeki was still president until the process has taken effect and emphasised that they didn’t select an alternative while the president was still in place. In addition there was no question of anyone proceeding against the president at this stage as no charges had been laid as yet.

The ANC stressed that the steps were not being taken to punish Mbeki but rather to unite the party. Moreover they expect him to still be a part of the process including continuing his mediation in Zimbabwe and other areas that Mbeki considers of importance to him.

The NEC was of the view that stability and continuity were of primary importance in taking their decision.

Mantashe repeatedly highlighted that an area of major concern to the NEC was the possibility that the decision of Judge Chris Nicholson in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, which invalidated the charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma, was becoming the target for reversal. The NEC believed that finality had been achieved in the High Court but news of the NPA seeking leave to appeal and the cabinet seeking to repeal parts of the judgment indicated more confrontation ahead.

In accordance therewith and the issues raised by Nicholson, which referred back to the ongoing split between Zuma and Mbeki, it was decided that the time to act had arrived.

Helen Zille, leader of the Democratic Alliance, was scathing in her response claiming that this was ANC double-speak aimed at undermining the Constitution, achieving a political solution for Zuma while designed to exact political revenge and points’ scoring.

Bantu Holimisa of the UDM called it an act of political barbarism and said that the voters must ensure that the ANC’s two-thirds majority is reduced because after this who knew what the new order was capable of.

Patricia De Lille of the Independent Democrats called Mbeki the most senior casualty of the arms deal. She said that the ANC should have taken the allegations more seriously when they were first raised by her.

Economists said that the world was focused on the sub-prime debacle at the moment but would be looking for stability in the days ahead. Finance Minister Trevor Manuel is not expected to resign.

In the next few days a number of questions are going to arise:

Having taken the decision, are the ANC now going to achieve the unity purportedly being sought by this extraordinary move?

Will the ANC now be able to control those unruly elements within and outside the party who have been totally disrespectful of everyone including the ANC president, the party and the country in failing to heed any number of calls by the ANC?

Has the decision been taken in the interests of unity or is it an attempt to protect the ANC president regardless of the cost to constitutionality, the party or the country?

What will the impact be on the ANC in terms of the forthcoming election?

Will those who support Mbeki perceive this decision as an attempt at unity or revenge and if the latter, will it occasion a stay-away on election day?

The decision having been taken, I believe that it is vital that the ANC ensure that it enforces strict discipline among its followers and the alliance. Demonstrate clearly to the country that from hereon in militancy and loutish behaviour is a thing of the past.

Oh, and extending a huge olive branch to Thabo Mbeki and his supporters wouldn’t be a bad idea.

I for one am going to miss him.