April 22 (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is widely expected to win a general election on Wednesday with party leader Jacob Zuma becoming the country's next president.

Below are key issues in South Africa, the continent's biggest economy and a regional diplomatic power.

ECONOMY

-- The economy shrank by 1.8 percent in Q4 2008, as manufacturing output plunged in the wake of the global financial crisis.

-- Manufacturing output fell 15 percent in February, a record year-on-year drop, having slumped by 12.9 percent in the year to January, making the first recession in 17 years likely.

-- Inflation has been above the central bank's 3 to 6 percent target band since April 2007. It peaked in August 2008 and stood at 8.6 percent year-on-year in February.

CORRUPTION