Mbeki challenged
Khumalo challenges Mbeki on succession debate
An ally and confidante of embattled ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma has sneered at President Thabo Mbeki's statement that the next president of the country should be a woman.
Elias Khumalo, a businessman, said on Wednesday that Mbeki should resign now and give his position to a woman to show his commitment to the statement he made at the weekend.
The statement has been viewed with suspicion by those backing Zuma, who feel this is a plan by Mbeki to personally appoint the next president and prevent Zuma from ascending to the position.
Khumalo said it was baffling that Mbeki was opening a debate on the presidential succession now after commenting that the time was not right for such debate when the issue was raised by the ANC Youth League in 2005.
Mbeki's comment ran contrary to ANC policy
Khumalo, a former business associate of Muziwendoda Kunene, who has been implicated in the hoax email scandal connected to the ANC's succession battle, said Mbeki's comment ran contrary to ANC policy.
He is also a leading figure in the Friends of Jacob Zuma organisation, which is responsible for mobilising financial support for Zuma's legal defence.
"It has never happened in the ANC that you have a president deciding unilaterally on his preference (of a successor). This is a sign of autocracy," said Khumalo.
He said he feared that Mbeki's call could be viewed by some people as an attempt to ensure that whoever succeeded him, whether male or female, was more "docile and controllable".
"If the president is so passionate that the next president should be a female, he can actually demonstrate that by resigning now to give the chance to a woman. I do not think anybody would oppose that because he would be practising what he is preaching," said Khumalo, adding that empowering women was a policy of the ANC and not of an individual in the party.
Mbeki's call for a woman president has also been criticised by Cosatu
Mbeki's call for a woman president has also been criticised by Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal, with its Secretary, Zet Luzipho, saying the timing of the call raises many questions.
He warned that "women should not be used for selfish political agendas" hidden in campaigns for women empowerment.
He asked why Mbeki was so confident that the next president would be a woman.
Luzipho has been at the forefront of pro-Zuma campaigns in the province.
Khumalo challenges Mbeki on succession debate
An ally and confidante of embattled ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma has sneered at President Thabo Mbeki's statement that the next president of the country should be a woman.
Elias Khumalo, a businessman, said on Wednesday that Mbeki should resign now and give his position to a woman to show his commitment to the statement he made at the weekend.
The statement has been viewed with suspicion by those backing Zuma, who feel this is a plan by Mbeki to personally appoint the next president and prevent Zuma from ascending to the position.
Khumalo said it was baffling that Mbeki was opening a debate on the presidential succession now after commenting that the time was not right for such debate when the issue was raised by the ANC Youth League in 2005.
Mbeki's comment ran contrary to ANC policy
Khumalo, a former business associate of Muziwendoda Kunene, who has been implicated in the hoax email scandal connected to the ANC's succession battle, said Mbeki's comment ran contrary to ANC policy.
He is also a leading figure in the Friends of Jacob Zuma organisation, which is responsible for mobilising financial support for Zuma's legal defence.
"It has never happened in the ANC that you have a president deciding unilaterally on his preference (of a successor). This is a sign of autocracy," said Khumalo.
He said he feared that Mbeki's call could be viewed by some people as an attempt to ensure that whoever succeeded him, whether male or female, was more "docile and controllable".
"If the president is so passionate that the next president should be a female, he can actually demonstrate that by resigning now to give the chance to a woman. I do not think anybody would oppose that because he would be practising what he is preaching," said Khumalo, adding that empowering women was a policy of the ANC and not of an individual in the party.
Mbeki's call for a woman president has also been criticised by Cosatu
Mbeki's call for a woman president has also been criticised by Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal, with its Secretary, Zet Luzipho, saying the timing of the call raises many questions.
He warned that "women should not be used for selfish political agendas" hidden in campaigns for women empowerment.
He asked why Mbeki was so confident that the next president would be a woman.
Luzipho has been at the forefront of pro-Zuma campaigns in the province.
