SOUTH AFRICA VOTES

by RAY FLEMING
NELSON Mandela's appearance at the African National Congress' big pre-election rally in South Africa on Sunday was probably his Last Hurrah for the party which has been his life, whether as a young activist, as a prisoner or as his country's first black president. Now 90, Mr Mandela was making it clear that he wanted the controversial Jacob Zuma to lead the ANC into a further period of government. Although there has been some strengthening of opposition to the ANC and some disappointment among the ANC's own members, it is unlikely that tomorrow's election will bring any result other than victory for the party which has had the loyalty of the Africa voters since the apartheid state was abolished. There are plenty of questions hanging over Jacob Zuma. He is a natural politician, able to connect with most constituencies in multi-racial South Africa, but there are fears that he tries too hard to be all things to all men. Sooner or later he will have to establish priorities - on Sunday Mandela said the first should be “the eradication of poverty”, a huge task. Beyond the many domestic problems facing Zuma is the question of whether he has the qualities to become the African leader that the continent needs - that Nelson Mandela was but Thabo Mbeki was not. Although his own country must come first, there is no doubt that Africa as a whole needs a charis