South African President Thabo Mbeki yesterday lauded his counterparts in Mozambique and Namibia for their commitment to stepping down at the end of their office terms, saying it was a sign that democracy in Africa was maturing.

Mbeki was speaking at the World Economic Forum meeting for Africa in Maputo which was opened by Mozambican President Joachim Chissano earlier yesterday.

"I always like to make predictions about President Chissano... A prediction I would like to make is that after the next elections (in Mozambique) he would have retired," Mbeki said at the opening session.

"That is an important signal. He (Chissano) is not going to stay until he is 80 years old," Mbeki added jokingly.

Equally in Namibia, President Sam Nujoma who is 75 years old and has lead the country since 1990, said he would step down after his third term in office.

"Nujoma won't be the candidate for Swapo (the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation)," Mbeki said in a reference to November presidential elections in Namibia.

"I think progress is being made in the democratic processes on the continent," he added.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, 80, who has been in power for the past 24 years, recently said in an interview that he too was not planning to stand for another term. - Sapa-AFP