What does the ANC have in store for it in 2008? The party will have the chance to paint its picture in its traditional “January 8” statement at a gathering in Pretoria to honor the ANC's 96th birthday next week. A day before the newly constituted National Executive Committee will meet. Two key issues will be Thabo Mbeki's lame-duck status and the corruption charges hanging over Jacob Zuma's head. Thabo Mbeki is not known for going down without a fight. And a Zuma conviction (or even a vigorous prosecutorial case) in the trial scheduled to begin in August will throw the succession doors open once again.