Johannesburg - Axed deputy president Jacob Zuma says the race for the presidency of the ANC remains wide open, the Mercury website reported on Monday.

The matter had to be left to the people to decide, he told the Mercury in an interview.

Asked whether he had aspirations for the position, Zuma said: "You cannot live a life of wanting to be a president and stop working. It is the ANC that decides and not an individual."

Zuma also told the paper he had always wanted to write a book about his life in the struggle, in exile and on Robben Island, and the reasons why he was facing current challenges.

He was released from his post as deputy president last June after his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty on fraud and corruption charges.

The ANC deputy president has since been charged with corruption. He is also facing a rape charge.

'I want to work with people'

It has been alleged by some that Zuma's problems, including the corruption charges, had to do with the battle for presidential succession within the ANC.

On his plans, Zuma said he would like to see his children growing up and being educated, and to work with the people whether he was in government or not.

"I cannot plan for responsibilities in the future...generally I want to work with people."

Zuma joined the municipal election campaign in Durban on Sunday, addressing an election rally in Chesterville.

In the interview, Zuma discounted suggestions that there was a silent Xhosa-Zulu war which had led to his support being limited in KwaZulu-Natal.

"This is not a Xhosa-Zulu issue. As one of the leaders of the ANC, I have support across the country, otherwise I wouldn't have been elected to many leadership positions, including that of being the deputy president," he said.

"It was not Zulus who were electing me, but I was elected by the people from across the board. The truth is that wherever I go, be it Limpopo or the Eastern Cape, I get the same reception I get in KZN."

With acknowledgements to Sapa and News24.