The ANC's leadership contest has been variously characterised as being "the evil of two lessers" or as choosing between a rock and a hard place.

It is true that neither President Thabo Mbeki or Jacob Zuma present themselves as unblemished candidates, but the recent provincial nomination process made it quite clear that a third or compromise candidate is highly unlikely.

Mbeki, the serving president of the party, has become increasingly removed from the grassroots, probably through a series of policy or strategic mistakes.

These include the HIV/Aids debacle, his misguided loyalty to woefully underperforming Cabinet colleagues, and the murk that continues to swirl around the arms deal.

His general aloofness has also extended to his apparent attitude towards the crime problem that is ripping all communities in the country apart.

Mbeki has, however, kept an extremely steady hand on the country's economy and governance under his stewardship has generally been good.

He has proved to be an outstanding statesman for the African continent and deserves credit for his several peace initiatives across the continent.

Zuma's positives appear to be few, perhaps the most compelling being that he is an alternative to Mbeki's increasingly distant reign.

He has a warmth and a common touch that is alien to his rival, but that hardly makes leadership material.

Zuma's supposed leftists credentials appear to be a fiction promoted by his advisors and the man has barely made a coherent policy statement since launching his campaign for the party leadership.

He asserts little moral authority. His own statements during his rape trial revealed a man of poor moral judgement and prone to reckless behaviour.

There are also worrying questions about the people funding Zuma's campaign and those advising him, and to what extent he feels beholden to them. Is he simply going to be a puppet?

The ANC's 52nd elective conference in Polokwane this weekend has a vital choice to make, perhaps the party's most important since this country embraced democracy.

Choosing Mbeki would at least allow us all to sleep better at night.

With acknowledgements to Cape Argus.