Nelson Mandela: Africa’s Demagogues will Dance on his Grave

By Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

The anti-apartheid icon was a spoiler to Africa's demagogues

On Sunday, December 15, 2013 the whole world was glued to the television sets to closely follow and bid their final fare well to the anti- apartheid icon: Nelson Rohlahla Madiba Mandela as he was being laid to rest in Qunu his place of birth, in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.

The over fifty heads of state, including Bill Clinton, George Bush and Jimmy Carter the former US presidents who graced his Memorial Service in FBN Stadium, Johannesburg, on December 10 were further proof that even in death he was one of his kind.

Mourning for Madiba was characterized by singing and dancing to celebrate his dedication of his life to the freedom, prosperity and unity of South Africa. Even the whole world was unanimous in its verdict that Madiba was truly a statesman.

In his eulogy to the world icon, US president Barrack Obama castigated the many leaders who want to associate themselves with Nelson Mandela but will not tolerate dissent from those they lead.

“There are too many of us who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality. There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people.

And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.”

There is no doubt that Africa’s strongmen like Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe scoffed at Obama’s critique with the usual rhetoric of “interfering in Africa’s affairs yet the Continent is best suited to deal with its problems.”

And these two men will never fail to remind everyone how they greatly supported the South Africans against the apartheid leeches.

“We trained their fighters and provided the much needed logistics at a time when the whole world looked at these freedom fighters as terrorists,” is all they can brag about.

But they will never emulate Nelson Mandela in bringing about good leadership on the continent, reconciliation, justice and development. It is because they are selfish, stupid, criminals bent on accumulating obscene wealth.

After spending 27 years as an apartheid prisoner, Mandela finally became the first black South African president. He then preached and practiced reconciliation and strived for a country where everyone leads a dignified life. And because he was one of his kind, he gave away power after only one term. The popularity, the agony of apartheid and trappings of state power did not intoxicate him.

As the African National Congress (ANC) paid its tribute to its hero, current South African president Jacob Zuma admitted that Madiba set very high standards. He only fell short of adding that: which pretenders cannot match.

“Madiba combined two things which are not easy to do. He combined theory and practice.”

Zuma is another leader who many times has looked bent on overturning the ideals of the post apartheid era as laid down by Madiba. Zuma has often proved to be a nuisance, bent on personal enrichment, and failed to tolerate dissent from the people he leads even as the frail Madiba looked on.

The world looks on curiously to see whether the death of the statesman will offer Zuma an opportunity to do some soul-searching and uphold the values of the anti apartheid struggle for which many sacrificed their lives. 

For Museveni, who spent most of his active years gun-trotting in the name of fighting for freedom, power has corrupted him to the extent of raping the constitution he helped promulgate so that he can cling to power.

He is now celebrating 27 years of rule but still wants more powers and more years as president. His allergy to political competition has seen him destroy all institutions and incarcerate his opponents. He is presiding over the most corrupt and destructive regime in the history of the country.

On many occasions Museveni has alluded to Uganda as an animal that he went out to hunt but after killing it, people are coming demanding to have a share of it. He has gone to the extent of declaring that he alone has the potential or rather “the vision” to lead Uganda. That is the mentality of a man who never tires to remind the world that he is a freedom fighter and a great supporter of freedom for the Africans.

His role model from Zimbabwe is no different. The prosperous and world-class Rhodesia he took over from the Whites is today the laughing stock of the continent with half of the population living in exile. Those soldiering on in the country have endured an uncertain future, dehumanization and abject poverty.

Africa’s plight is compounded by the many failed rulers who cannot admit so, and instead keep shifting the blame to others. The different institutions and sectors that would have gone a long way in eradicating poverty have either been neglected or turned into avenues for looting the country.

These experts at clinging to power, together with their families and cronies, are today struggling to become richer than the countries they have colonized. They dish national resources to their fronts as if they were personal property.

Action Aid, an international Non Governmental Organisation says that of the meager resources thrown to the agricultural sector, the back bone of Uganda’s economy, 30% is stolen. This is on top of government’s refusal to allocate 10% of the national budget to the sector that employs over 70% of the 35 million Ugandans. State House, the army and suppression of freedoms have been preferred to Agriculture.

Elders and academicians too have failed to guide the continent to safety as whatever they do and say is influenced by the billions of shillings, donations and appointments from the rulers. They only wait for the favours to stop coming their way to make any objective contributions to the country. 

The major difference and challenge that Madiba posed to Africa’s demagogues is that he wished everyone well and longed for a society that espoused decency and dignity. And if there was a thing like turning a country into a personal property, then it is Nelson Mandela who would have justifiably done so. But since he did not, then no African ruler should turn their countries into personal properties.

Mandela always delivered a message of tolerance, dignity and freedom from oppression and humiliation. This message was not only for South Africans, but for all the oppressed the world over.

This message was a thorn in the flesh of Africa’s dictators who like referring to themselves as freedom fighters and patriots. That is the major reason why they will dance on Mandela’s grave. He has been a spoiler and constant reminder of the oppressed African to stand up and fight for good governance.

The best fare well the oppressed masses, the world over, can give the anti- apartheid hero is to pile on the dictators’ bad day by rising up and demand for justice, respect for human dignity, accountability and tolerance. If the uprising in South Sudan is a result of emulating Nelson Madiba Mandela, then the world icon will have received the befitting send off.

Madiba’s death should mark a new era in Africa’s search for sustainable peace and development. It is the best way to keep alive the struggle to enable Africans own Africa, and work for Africa.