THABO MBEKI,South Af-rica's president,has had a mixed record during his seven years in power(see our survey in this issue).But perhaps the best thing he has done for Africa is to declare that he will call it a day after his second term in of-fice,as the constitution requires,and not seek re-election in 2009.His predecessor,Nelson Mandela,resigned after just one term,in 1999,and now lives in saintly retirement.For many other African leaders,unfortunately,staying in power becomes an all-consuming passion,always to the detriment of their own country and people.That has been true of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe for some time,of course.But with the emergence of a new generation of leaders in the 19905,as part of what Mr Mbeki himself dubbed the "African renaissance",it was hoped that the introduction of new constitutions with two-term limits on power would consign the "big man" syndrome of African politics to history.
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