Imagine how seriously children become affected when their parents are not on speaking terms. And when the president and deputy president of a party whose reign affects the lives of millions of people are not on speaking terms, something has to be done.

Of course, I’m talking about the cold relations between ANC president Thabo Mbeki and his deputy Jacob Zuma.

Both Zuma and Mbeki say they have now “started a process of intensive interactions” between themselves to find mature ways of dealing with their problems.

There is no doubt that on one hand, Mbeki — like his former chief prosecutor Bulelani Ngcuka — believes there is a prima facie case of corruption against Zuma. He would not otherwise have fired from his Cabinet a man he fondly calls his comrade of more than 30 years.

Zuma, on the other hand, believes there’s a systematic and concerted effort to prevent him from assuming the highest office in the land once Mbeki leaves.

His supporters see it that way as well.

They have gone to the extent of alleging that state institutions like the National Prosecuting Authority have been abused for Mbeki’s personal agendas against Zuma.

Mbeki clearly appears hurt by the allegation. He therefore cannot be blamed for suggesting that an internal commission be appointed to investigate whether he is indeed leading a political conspiracy against Zuma, as alleged.

Instead of rejecting it outright, the ANC alliance partners in Cosatu and the SACP must be brave and be receptive to the idea of a commission. It is a noble idea.

For their part, Mbeki and the ANC must also demonstrate strong leadership. There is a need for them to also agree to a suggestion that the mandate of such a commission be extended to look into why the ANC has been so characterised by conspiracy allegations, as has been the case since both Mbeki and Zuma were elected to positions of power.

The party’s National Executive Committee should have made the appointment of such a commission its priority during its meeting last weekend.

However, by mandating Mbeki and Zuma to lead a process of finding a solution to break their stand-off, including considering the desirability of such a commission, the ANC opted to pass the buck instead.

As both Mbeki and Zuma are central to the rift wrecking the party, the ANC is wrong in expecting the protagonists to become complainants and judges at the same time.

Where trust is broken, a third party is needed to restore it. A commission would have been a viable option.

Some ANC members believe that such a commission could also help to unravel how tragic Mbeki and Zuma’s presidency has been for the ANC.

They believe — as they demonstrated at the party’s recent National General Council — that the symptoms of the ANC’s present problems can be traced to the party’s 1997 Mafikeng national conference. It was at the Mafikeng conference that Mbeki and Zuma were elected party president and deputy president respectively.

The Mafikeng gathering was to become the ANC’s watershed in many ways.

It was at that conference that Nelson Mandela stepped down as party president when many in the ANC still wanted him to continue.

It was at that same conference that some controversial policy proposals were put into effect after Mandela had stepped down.

Chief among those was the centralisation of power in the party’s presidency.

One of these policy changes saw the election of provincial premiers transferred from ANC constituencies to the party president. This system was completed with the appointment of the so-called Deployment Committee under the chairmanship of Zuma.

The Deployment Committee was given powers to control the appointment of officials to government office. Apart from the political patronage it dispensed, the system alienated some of the best minds in the party. Many quit politics. Many despaired because they said the system had effectively stifled debate within the ruling party.

These powers were later extended to include the appointment of executive municipality mayors by the ANC president and the Deployment Committee. No one dared question the system.

Even before the Mafikeng conference, all potential candidates who had ambitions to campaign for the party’s presidency and deputy presidency had been silenced.

Last weekend’s joint statement by Mbeki and Zuma fell short of admitting to a lack of debate within the party.

While Zuma is battling to ward off corruption charges and Mbeki is struggling to contain his rebellious ANC troops, it would be advisable for the ANC to stop dithering.

Mbeki’s suggested inquiry must be accepted. For a probe of such a nature to take off, both Mbeki and Zuma must be asked to stand down from their party activities to allow the process to run smoothly.

This would then give the ANC an opportunity to elect an interim leadership capable of uniting the two warring factions.

It would also allow Mbeki to concentrate strictly on his business of running the government while Zuma is slugging it out in court.

With acknowledgement to the Sunday Times.