Bishop Tutu says he may not vote
Steve Hayes
05/10/2008 12:19 - (SA)
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# Tutu praises peaceful transition
# Tutu: I am deeply disturbed
Johannesburg - Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said he would welcome the
creation of a viable opposition in South Africa, after ruling party infighting
forced former president Thabo Mbeki to resign, in remarks published on Sunday.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who turns 77 on Tuesday, told the Sunday Times
newspaper he was dismayed by the turmoil in the ruling African National
Congress (ANC), the party that brought Nelson Mandela to power after the end
of apartheid.
"I would think you really need to have a viable opposition... one that gives
the impression that it could become an alternative government," he said.
"We don't have anything like that just now and that's probably not such a good
thing," he added.
"Democracy flourishes where there is vigorous debate and people are actually
careful of what they do, knowing that the electorate can take their revenge,
that they can be kicked out of office at the next election."
The ANC holds nearly 70% of the seats in parliament, dominating South African
politics.
But analysts say many moderate and middle-class blacks are disillusioned by
the party after the leadership forced Mbeki to resign on September 20.
The rivalry between Mbeki and ANC leader Jacob Zuma has fed daily media
reports of a potential split within the ruling party ahead of next year's
elections.
Tutu told the paper he was so unhappy at the political bickering he would not
vote if polls were held tomorrow.
"I would be sufficiently unhappy not to vote," he said, unless "there are
attempts at healing rifts and people are not into the business of rubbing
people's noses in the dust."
He warned that the ANC's feud could lead to ongoing political battles as rival
leaders vie for power, raising social tensions and heightening the risk of
violence.
"I pray that it doesn't happen, but we could easily find ourselves in a
situation where we have a series of sort of mini-coups," he said.
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
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