Comment & Analysis
6 - 08 December 2013 - The Observer
Mandela legacy – peace
Sycophantic praises &
Tokwe Mukosi: Tragedy, Colonial but poverty for blacks
bootlicking: the curse
Mandela: Capitalism
Legacies and Disaster
of African politics
6 - 9 March 2014 - The Observer
Comment & Opinion
Comment:
COMMENT
acceptance that in its sparring with thenpresident FW de Klerk in the early 1990s, the
ANC under Mandela, a self-confessed economic
N the 10 years after he withdrew from novice, focused too much on the quest for
Silence Chihuri Nelson Mandela divided his time political comes up with the most endearing superlatives.
see who rather than economic power.
public life,
Commentalways Analysis
& the ANC’s stance
OR a mansion in countries have more or OfIn less there are terms, rewards to be racked in
decades our one of Johannesburg’s
course polite
between
less, and rather his ancestral home in
through this unhelpful, distasteful and the dinne r
wealthiest suburbs andsimilarly, all suffered from translated into a quip popular at sometime really
Qunu, a the samein Southperpetual bad governance, parties of wealthy of sycophantic give them the
village kind of Africa’s impoverished nauseating flurry whites: “We’ll and bootlicking
eastern Cape.
corruption, nepotism, dictatorship, impunity vote but because the loudest and most avid cheerleaders
activities keep the banks.”
Gumede, a professor at Wits
The contrast could not have been starker. lack areWilliam entrusted with responsibilities that are
and general incompetence. There is a disturbing
always
In one, his neighbours were cast in the Business School in Johannesburg, said it was
of accountability and transparency at the core of our commensurately disproportionate to their capabilities.
image of the white “Rand Lords”, the mining wrong to argue that Mandela sold out.
governance systems that borders built the sprawling
The sad outcome from this negotiations affairs
“However, the economic pathetic state ofwere
magnates and bankers who on the arrogance of
those inand Africa’s who often behave likefrom own not as we have in the political ones,” he said. office
city - public office biggest economy - they the is that robust as its sparring with leaders in
acceptance that perpetually incompetent thenBY REUTERS
presidentare somehow glib acceptance among most in
“There was a sustained through a system
vast gold reserves in they rule.
the countries and people the rock beneath their feet.
who FW de Klerk in the early 1990s, the of stageANC under Mandela, self-confessed economic
In the other, they were black peasant farmers the ANCstunts allathey not in any way help our people
managed that that do needed to do was capture
much on
N the 10 years after he withdrew from novice, focused too and then the quest for
living in thatched “rondavel” huts and eking out political power, Everything they could transform
in any long term.
revolves
public life, Nelson Mandela divided his time political rather than economic power. around the leader
the economy. terms, simplistic stance
a living onawindswept one of Johannesburg’sthat In less polite It was a the ANC’sargument, and
hillsides in scenes
between mansion in
and those around him are in return adequately rewarded
have hardly changed his ancestral home in translated into a Mandela argument.”
wealthiest suburbs andin centuries, let alone the it was also thequip popular at their dinner are wide
for keeping their eyes shut while the mouths
two decades since the end of apartheid.
of wealthy whites: “We’ll give them the
Qunu, a village in South Africa’s impoverished parties South Africa and the world watched in awe
vote openkeep the banks.”the 1990, Mandela left Cape
but and February
eastern Cape.
While few query Mandela’s achievement when, oncheering all 11, way through the oft life-terms
of their Gumede, a prison and Wits
Town’s “idols”.
in The contrast couldAfrica back from the brink William Victor Versterprofessor atraised his fist
dragging South not have been starker.
In one, his neighbours 1990s cast in the Business Schoolthe crowds asof praise rather than actual
were and brokering in salute to ofin Johannesburg,stepped was on his
of civil war in the early
Because
this system he said it out
image of the white “Rand Lords”, the mining wrong to argue that Mandela sold out.
a peaceful end to three centuries of white and the nation’s “Long Walk to Freedom” - the
performance economic negotiations were
“However, the appraisal neither the leaders nor their
magnates and bankers who built the sprawling
dominance, tougher questions are being asked as robust as the political autobiography.
city - and Africa’s biggest economy - from the not title of his subsequent efficient execution of duties
cheerleader care about ones,” he said.
The start of momentous political transition,
of gold reserves in the rock beneath
“There was a glibaacceptance among most in all benefit
vastthe country he leaves behind. their feet.
because either way, they are all rewarded. They
Despite more were black peasant farmers the it was also a key moment do was capture
In the other, theythan 10 years of affirmative ANC that all they needed to in the evolution of a
out power, and both the only transform
living into redress the balance under the banner cult the arrangement andat home people who suffer are
action thatched “rondavel” huts and eking out political of Mandelathen they could and abroad.
a living on windswept God ... Nelsonscenes that the economy. of the tent and no wonder some and end up
Tsvangirai chosen by empowerment”,
Man It myth
of “black economic hillsides in Chamisa South those outand was a simplistic argument, people
have hardly changed of centuries, letmost unequal was also 1993, soulswasreturn for survival. To complicate
In their he in awarded
Africa remains one in the world’s alone the it tradingthe Mandela argument.” the Nobel Peace
They (our mal-governors), create circumstances
South Africa and the world watched in awe
two decades since the end of apartheid.
jointly with de Klerk, part 1995
societies an environment whereby achievementhave Prize,February 11, 1990, Mandela inof Capehe wonof
and whites still control those who
huge swathes matters further, those who areand left the system
that While few query Mandela’s
breed
when, on
ofindeed endowed well beyond their actual brink and over all but the mostfromand raised his fistthosehe
the economy. Africa back from the needs Town’s Victor actually eat diehard trough while as who
in
are dragging South
patronage Verster prison the right-wingers
In war words of leading trade unionist saluted the overwhelmingly white Springbok side
of civil theThosethe earlynot haveand reduced to sub- salute to the crowds shut out of theout on train. On the
in who do 1990s are brokering in shun it are in turn as he stepped gravy his
subsistence.
Zwelinzima Vavi, three centuries of an Irish the won the Rugby World Cup in Johannesburg.
a peaceful end toits structure is akin towhite and that nation’s “Lon g Walk to Freedom” - the
humans who live from hand to mouth being asked not of He subsequent autobiography. asglass does pay to
his it, it would therefore stained
dominance, tougher questions are andsome white
coffee - black at the bottom, with often do title face of is immortalised in a appear if it window
start of a giant Regina Mundi to be an honest and
of the andwhere their next meal would come from. It TheSoweto’s momentouspunishingtransition,statues
country he leaves of chocolate on the top.
behind.
even know a sprinkling
be
in a sycophant while it is political church;
froth
it self-respecting critic of the or raising
Despite against thanbackdrop of a affirmative six was also a dancing, boxingstatus quo. his afist are
more the whiteyears of sea of grinding of him key moment in the evolution of
10 household earns
is opulence
On average, a
action to redress the balance under the banner cult of Mandela both at home and abroad.
dotted myth
times
poverty. moreeconomic empowerment”, South in ManUnfortunately,the country; and of incompetence,
and across this cyclic wheel in 2012 the
of “black than a black one, and nearly one
three remains one of the world’s most in which our central he was awarded of Nobelnotes bearing
Africa blacks theunemployed, compared with one In 1993, bankpatronage andthe bank accountability has
Because of is abject state of poverty unequal
sycophancy, issued a set lack of Peace
his face.
in 20 whites.
societies used to live, still control huge swathes Prize, jointly with de Klerk, and in 1995 he won
people are and whites they become subdued and rather been re-invented in Africa for all too long. This is what
over allThe the most diehard about the noteshe
but announcement right-wingers as came on
of the economy.are fodder for critics of the 1994
Such ratios
indebtedthe those inof leading trade treat them as hasthe overwhelmingly white Springbokpeople to a life
government who
In to that
settlement words brought the curtainunionist on February 11, the 22nd majority of our side release
down saluted condemned the vast anniversary of his
Zwelinzima a century of institutionalised behave won prison.
subjects ratherVavi, its structure is Ruling partieswhite- fromthe Rugby World Cup in Johannesburg.those that
nearly half than fellow citizens. akin to an Irish that of endless suffering because, unfortunately,
coffee - black at the bottom, with some white
like dynasties thatand saw Mandela their ranks are well He is or such any way a stained glass windowalways the
rule immortalised in connected toitthem are
In giant an atmosphere,
minority rule ensure that those in anointed South Soweto’s are in Regina Mundi church; was perhaps
in
statues
froth and a sprinkling of chocolate on the top.
Africa’s first black president.
looked after at the a white of those who earns six of him dancing, boxing or raising of his single fiveminority whereas those who are ruled fist are
On average, expense household do not belong inevitable that some episodes his are the majority.
term president very handsomely
The
to them. numbers black one, and nearly one in dotted On one the country;are glossed over. to be in
times more than a also support the anecdotal yearacross ashand it pays and in 2012 the
evidence fromofficials behave like zealots one wealthy urban neighbourhoods central His close a set of bank party, to be in any way
bank issued be in a friendship with
three blacks is unemployed, compared with who are government, topersonalruling notes bearingLibyan
Government
his leader
in 20 whites.
including Mandela’s Houghton - where, 19 years face. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi drew criticism
answerable onlyare fodder for critics their parties and The announcement about the notesand or the ruling
Such ratios to themselves and Nation”, most -associated with the government came who said:
and a fierce rebuttal from Mandela, on
after the birth of his “Rainbow of the 1994
they holdblack people to compatriots inhousemaids, “Those who22nd irritated bytoken, if you arewith in
the rest of their the curtain utter on February while feel anniversary our friendship not
settlement that brought be seen are down disdain. party 11, thealso on the same of his release
of the
nearly and century of so, there is no distinction government or ruling party, it does equally pay to
Usually half adisturbingly institutionalised white- from prison. Gaddafi can go jump in the pool.” sing
President
security guards or gardeners.
In such an atmosphere, it was perhaps
minority rule and saw Mandela anointed South
between a rulinghas gone athe government because the sycophantic praises and bootlick those in power especially
The 2010 “blood diamonds” testimony of
“Mandela party and bit too far in doing good
inevitable that some episodes of his single fiveAfrica’s first black president.
to service is always communities, really in some if oneassupermodel Naomi Campbell at a Hague
the numbers stuffed with the apologists year term president are glossed over.
civilThe non-blackalso support party anecdotal and Britishwants an easy way up the economic and business
evidence the expense urban neighbourhoods cases at party is often a (blacks),” Zimbabwean war crimes the flip friendship withuncomfortableof
the ruling from wealthy of flipside of the government His close personal side of things, theLibyan
ladder. On tribunal also shone an vast majority
including Mandela’s Houghton - where, 19 years leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi drew criticism
President Robert Mugabe said in a documentary lightpeople continue Mandela hosted in by an equally
and vice versa. of his “Rainbow Nation”, most - and a fierce a dinnerfrombe short changed 1997 for
our on rebuttal to Mandela,
after the birth African television in May 2013.
Liberian warlord Charles Taylor, who said:
whose presence
aired on South
of Our black people to be seensystem of patronage culpable feel irritated by our friendship with prey on
the governments create a are housemaids, “Those who breed of opposition politicians who
at the table called into question South Africa’s
“That’s being too saintly, too good.”
security those or gardeners. to that system are the vulnerability and jump in the pool.”
whereby guards down” - Winnie.The defenders ofPresident Gaddafi can go desperation of our people most
‘ethical’ “blood diamonds” testimony of
“He let us who subscribe
The 2010foreign policy.
“Mandela has gone a bit too far in doing good
rewardednon-black communities, really in some that of Then there Naomiinfamous ‘Arms Deal’,through
handsomely for their deft services violent
whom are on the Campbell at a poverty,
Mandela’s settlement note that Mugabe’ssuch British supermodel istheir wits end due to Hague a $5
to the
seizure of expense of (blacks),” Zimbabwean the crimes defencealso shone an uncomfortable
itcases at the white-owned farms in neighbouring billion tribunal way into their contract that hearts with
becomes unattractive to be honourable. At best, war worming their equipment impoverished erupted
on dinner scandal for Mandela’s for
President Robert bootlicking in documentary lightthe a massive better things when 1997 successor,
Zimbabwe from 2000 triggered an eight-year
services vary from Mugabe saidanda sycophantic praise intopromise ofMandela hosted in they trade positions
aired on South African television in May 2013. the Thabo Mbeki, and remains the defining episode
economic showeringand often undeserved accolades with warlord Charles Taylor, whose presence
collapse of confirmed his fall in Liberian the sitting governments.
singing and being too saintly, too good.”
at in table called into from post-apartheid grace.
“That’s
eyes of outsiders from respected liberation hero the the ANC’s slide question South Africa’s
to incompetentdown” - Winnie.The defenders ofparty
‘ethical’For as long as we do not produce politicians of the
foreign policy.
“He let us but senior government and ruling
Amid fierce criticism of Mbeki $5 the
and
to international pariah.
Mandela’s worst there are that whose puppetry so calibre that the infamous
officials. At settlement notethoseMugabe’s violentis in Then there isis aboveJacob ‘Arms Deal’, a scruples this
current president, the compromise of
Zuma, erupted
Yet of white-owned farms in neighbouring billion defence equipment contract thatalso embroiled
his criticism of Mandela finds echoes
seizure
extreme corners of 2000African National Congress in massive scandal for Mandela’s successor,chosen to
some that from prepared to inflict physical harm into a the cycle many South Africans have
Zimbabwe they are the triggered an eight-year on viciousfurore,of poverty and disease will continue
those who dare speakand confirmed his fall in the Thabo Mbeki, people because our governments will continue
plague our that the deal was first announced in
(ANC), collapse out against their puppet masters.
economicthe 101-year-old liberation movement to forget and remains the defining episode
eyes of disturbing aspectrespected liberation and the the ANC’s slide from intolerant and unaccountable with
outsiders from of the unions hero in to be incompetent, post-apartheid grace.
that joined forces withour political tomfoolery is 1998, when Mandela was still in office.
One
Amid fierce criticism of Mbeki and the
to international pariah.
Communist Party to
that Yet his criticism of topple apartheid. bootlicking impunity.the streets Zuma,the opposition politicians
this kind of sycophantic praisefinds echoes in currentOn Also, Jacob ofso, our sprawling black
singing,
president,
Mandelathe wife of British township of and sadly
Soweto, also embroiled and
where police
In a 2010 interview with
and vigilante enforcement of support is no longer only the furore, many South Africans have chosenvery same
some corners of the African National Congress in will continue to be the carbon copies of the
disgruntled unemployed youngsters still face
author V.S. Naipaul, the anti-apartheid firebrand forget that the deal was first announced in off
(ANC), to 101-year-old liberation movement to
confined the the ruling parties and government. The dictatorships and fountains of patronage that they
and joined forces with the unions and the 1998, sporadic, violent still in office.
that “Mother of the Nation” Winnie Madikizela- inwhen Mandela was protests over poor housing
disease is now so contagiousformer has significantly and public seek to replace. are plenty who do not
supposedly services,
Mandela Party to her that it
the
Communistaccused topple apartheid.husband of On the streets of there sprawling black
spread ato theafter beingwith the wife of 27 years in buyAnd of Soweto, where police parties continue
In out realms of our opposition British township while our ruling and opposition and
the Mandela myth.
selling 2010 interview broken by his parties who
author V.S. prisons. sole reason of replacing those disgruntled themselves on saying: ‘I am sets for the
apartheid Naipaul,
ironically exist for the the anti-apartheid firebrand in to “Mandela keptand their respective hereof hangers
fete unemployed youngsters still face off
protests over poor housing What
and“Mandela did go
“Mother of the Nation” Winnie Madikizela- in sporadic, violentthe
power with a supposedlyto prison and he went in people, majority of servant of will continue to suffer.
better alternative governance on, the I am
our people the nation.’
Mandela accused her former husband of and public services, there are plenty who do not
that allowed politics
there as a burning young revolutionary. Butin in did Mandela myth.
look the he do? He signed papers bar of nationalwhite
models. out after being broken by his 27 years
selling The sycophantic voices are actually loudest buy It is time for the raising of the
people to keep saying: ‘I and thefor the
farms,”
what came out,”
quoted
apartheid prisons. she wasthe rulingas saying. with “Mandela kept onthe minesam hereparticularly said
the opposition ranks than in
party ranks
in Africa generally and Zimbabwe
where
“Mandela let us down. He agreed to in people, I am the servant of the nation.’ What
“Mandela did go to prison and he went a bad 49-year-old Majozi Pilane, who runs a roadside
party rank and file falling over each otherwe hero still on stall selling sweets and cigarettes. the clarion call to
to are warship honour and dedicated service will be
deal as a burning young revolutionary.
there for the blacks. Economically, But look did he do? He signed papers that allowed white
their leaders in return for snippets very much ‘white’.
serve in public mines and the farms,” said the few
people “He did the office. Not self-enrichmentthe poor
to keep absolutely nothing for all of
whatoutside. The economy is of donor funds.
the came out,” she was quoted as saying.
“Mandelaof the opposition is agreed to who gave people of this Pilane, whoabject a roadside
let us blacks, He idolised and showered while the majority wallow in runs poverty.
down. but so many a bad 49-year-old Majozi country.”
ItThe leader token
has a few
deal for the blacks. Economically, we unrewarded.”stall selling sweets and cigarettes.
their life and struggle have died are still on
with praisesin thein some cases blasphemous accolades
Silence Chihuri writes in his own personal capacity. He can be contacted
“He did absolutely nothing for all the poor
the outside. The economy is very much ‘white’.
- email country.”
academics, there is broad
with Even loyalists competing inso many who gave to
party amongblacks, but outdoing each other people ofThe [email protected] or Twitter @SChihuri
by this Telegraph
It has a few token
BY REUTERS
T
An African icon I
Comment:
Mandela legacy – peace
F poverty for blacks
on African terms but
he Tokwe Mukosi Dam
6 - 08 December 2013 - Project (TMDP) relates more to its history
The Observer
and contemporary placement in our national understanding of
“development”.
Originally the TMDP was one of the grand dam building initiatives
of the then Southern Rhodesian government. Its primary blueprints are therefore
informed by the modernization policies of the settler state. This would not be
a problem if we were to consider modernization as progressive, with or without
context.
Because its genesis resides in President Nelson Mandela, everyone will want
n mourning former South African the same said settler colony that was Rhodesia, its
pretext is for their own.on the basisaof economic exclusion. Particularly that of
to claim him also founded And that is good thing.
the peasant farmer. In fact, the part confessionals about their own countries’
Some will want to claim him asTMDP is reminiscent of the Kariba Dam project
complicity in aiding apartheid. resided in its catchment area, at that time. They were
and its effect on those that
Others as participants within racist frameworks and in the then repressive and racist
arbitrarily relocated in domestic, continental and global struggles that brought
down the last bastion of settler colonialism in Africa.
name of modernization and tourism.
Others still in their own failures and fervent desire to be judged as better players
Because the TMDP blueprints had the intended
in the struggles against colonialism and imperialism. dimension of bringing water to
an arid Lowveld, will join was not for will however the local. It was water largely
Like everyone else, Ithe water the queue. I application in claim Nelson Mandela as an
African icon before being held insugarby his farmers/companies further downstream.
intended for the large scale awe cane global reach.
An Tourismicon in the sense that before we were benefit in the Mandela as a global
African would then have been an additional enamored to same way that Lake
n mourning in marketing)
brand (as theyimagined, largely as he was an African leader who can afford will want
Kariba is say former South African President Nelson Mandela, everyone it.
a holiday resort for those faced with decisions as
to claim that faced other And that is a of his and
tough as those him for their own. African iconsgood thing. later times.
Where we fast forward to our contemporary context,about of the fundamentals
some their own countries’
He wasSome will want to claim him as the ‘acceptable type’. Otherwise they would
never a leader to be deemed part confessionals
complicity of that apartheid. colonial
aiding dam as at
of the ideain and others imprisoned oninception remain unchanged. forremains a
not have had him
the infamous Robben Island It so many
Others as participants in domestic, continental and global struggles that brought
years.
blueprint suited moreof settler colonialism in Africa.than a broader democratic and
to the settler state economy
down the last bastion
Neither was still one to betray to the and ferventorratescomrades in thebetteragainst
he Hence prior either his cause his to flooding as fight players
national one. in their own failures unexpecteddesire of be judged(it was expected),
Others
apartheid. He was not a romantic whoin praise of the projecteither a religious or a
in the struggles against colonialism viewed people
government ministers were talking and imperialism. from on the similar grounds
messianic standpoint. I will join the queue. I will however claim Nelson Mandela as an
of Like everyone else, downstream agriculture and promote tourism, the latter in
how it will irrigate
He Africanleader who being held in awe by his global reach. history, even before the
was a icon before was cognizant of his placement in
similar fashion toin the sense that before we were enamored togood’ portrayals of
age of satellite television, internet and mass marketing. The ‘feel Mandela as a global
An African icon Kariba’s hospitality industry.
brand (as they say long after he he was an African some of the families that have
this African icon, came in marketing) had decided that leader faced with his people’s
The compensation that was reportedly given to the struggle for decisions as
tough as be his life.faced other
freedom shall those thatfor decades African icons of his and later times.
lived in the basin
has been described as not only minimal but also
He was never a leader
the ‘acceptable type’. Otherwise they would
I do not for once think thatto be deemed hand-outs tha t becoming the iconic have a
Mandela envisaged
without adequateand others The cash on thehimself were given did for sofigure
context. imprisoned
not have had him
infamous Robben Island not many
that would adorn murals, cups and t-shirts. His primary task was, together with
years. utilitarian element to them in relation to actual relocation. Those that
specific multi-racial fashion, the pursuit of
others and in a was he one to betray either his cause thehis comrades in the fight against
goals of the Freedom Charter.
Neither
or
managed to there not a romantic who viewed will exactly where religiousview
It is trite that acquire thefellowcompensation stayedattempt either athey were or a
apartheid. He was are said Africans who people from to mistakenly and
messianic money for
Mandela from standpoint. livelihood concerns because there was no holistic relocation
utilized thethe perspective of not having achieved the goals of the Freedom
CharterHe Anda leader who was cognizant of hisappears to be none in even before the
as though also reported that
plan. was it ishe wrote it alone. there still placement in history, effect.
and
marketing. The ‘feel
Or age of satellite television, internetresultmistakes rapid flooding the CODESA talks
those that will argue that as amade mass the in relation to good’ portrayals of
The current came long he
of
does his indicate
this African icon,relocation after he had decided that the struggle for not people’s
that led to majority black government in South Africa. Apart from theirs being an
freedom shall be his life.
any preparation by provincial andhave to point out
opinionI that we must respect, weMandela envisaged himselfthat this is a mistaken long
would central government in relation to afigure
and
do not for once think that
becoming the iconic
ahistoricalwould of the man. if it is and t-shirts. His primary task was,been a publicly
view adorn murals,
term relocation plan. Or cups there, by now there should have together with
that
others and even Oliver Tambo’s the displaced and generational task was to
Mandela and in a multi-racial fashion,revolutionarythe goals of the Freedom Charter.
announced place of relocation for the pursuit of families.
lead theIn the long run,Africa to attain independence ascontinues to of what isview
ItANC and South
is trite that there are fellow Africans who will attemptstage
the humanitarian disaster that a first to mistakenlyin still
unfold
the
Mandela from the perspective of Revolution (NDR).
referred to as the National Democraticnot having achieved the goals of the Freedom
Lowveld becomeshecrisis created by an inefficient government which then seeks
Charter as though a wrote it alone.
And because there is no politics without stages, they were correct to negotiate
to the
to Or those impression for that he made mistakes in constitution. CODESA talks
give the that will argue it inclusive and these tragic developments occurring,
with the white Nationalists thatandid not foreseeceasefirerelation from theirs being an
that led to majority black government in South Africa. Apart
regardless of of must respect, we would have to point
That initial that wethe revolutionamountswasrainfall. out up to subsequent cadres
opinion task the unexpected done, it of and remains that this is a mistaken and
ahistorical view ofin the 1970s, as it is now, that once embarked upon, that whole
of the NDR to continuethe man. towards the fulfillment of the rest of the aspirations
It was known working
of the antiwould and even Oliver Tambo’s revolutionary and generational task was to
apartheid struggle. submerged under water. What the post-independence
Mandela
area the ANC and South Africa to attain
eventually be
lead
In Nkrumahist parlance, Mandela sought independence as a first stage of what is still
and contemporary governments failedfirstdo was to not only failin anticipation
to the political kingdom to change the
referred to as the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).
that everything else would follow.
And because there is the social without stages, they were correct to negotiate
definitive framework of no politicsimpact of the dam but further retained colonial
It has been whitefor the South Africans, but it is a processconstitution. democratic
with the slow Nationalists for an inclusive and ceasefire that remains
notions of development andThere was never going to be a to subsequent cadres
modernization.
and is most initial task of the revolution done, it was and remains up complete departure
That definitely underway.
from the past in to continue working towards the fulfillmenta complete departure from
Tragic as it is at the moment, the has never been of the rest of the aspirations
of the NDR South Africa just as thereTokwe Mukosi Dam story will unfortunately
the same inanti apartheid struggle. of those that failed to prevent the negative impact
of
be the Zimbabwe.
told from the high offices
In Nkrumahist with the vagaries of
We all still grapple parlance, Mandela sought first the political kingdom in anticipation
that everything flooding has had on colonialism and imperialism. We however
people’s lives. They will however, in true
that the rapid else would follow.
are not beholden to them. Nationalist sentiment alone is not enough either for
fashion or forslow forrenowned Africans, but it is a process that remains as “disaster
with Zimbabwe.
It has been what a the South academic and activist has referred to democratic
South Africa
and is most
underway. There was never going to be a complete departure
capitalism” definitely and Cabral, taught the economic complete departure insist
periphery and still from
Mandela, like relegate the majority poor to us that beenmust navigate our ideals
Nyerere
from the past in South Africa just as there has never we a
with the same in Zimbabwe. phenomenal post-independence ‘modernization’ success
what is most pragmatic while ensuring that future generations do not forget
the dam project is a
that their task is grapple withrevolutions to higher stages and within generational
We
story. all still to take our the vagaries of colonialism and imperialis m. We however
contexts.not beholden to them. Nationalist sentiment alone is not enough either for
are
The reality for Zimbabwe.
South Africa or of the matter is that the project remains mired in the legacy of
colonial perceptions and understandings of modernization/development with
Mandela, like Nyerere and Cabral, taught us that we must navigate our ideals
with what is most
little their task isits pragmatic revolutions to higher stages and withindo nothistory,
regard of toimpact onwhile ensuring that future generations from forget
a majority poor. Instead of learning generational
that
take our
contexts.
we have unfortunately chosen to repeat it. And sadly, the Tokwe Mukosi Dam
Project is the current evidence at hand.
Mandela:
I
An African icon I
on African terms
I
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reporting. If we do not meet these standards register your
The Observer newspaper subscribes to a Code of Conduct
that with the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
complaintspromotes truthful, accurate, fair and balanced news
reporting. If we do not meet these standards register your
on:
complaints with04-708 035 or 708 417.
the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
on:
No. 38 Harvey Brown Ave, Milton Park, Harare
04-708 035 or 708 417.
or [email protected]
No. 38 Harvey Brown Ave, Milton Park, Harare
or [email protected]
or [email protected]
or [email protected]
their life in the struggle have died unrewarded.”
The Observer isacademics, Sunday broad
Even among a weekly there is
newspaper published by Woodberg
The Observer Zimbabwe. Sunday
Advertising, is a weekly
newspaper published by Woodberg
Editor: Barnabas Thondhlana
Advertising, Zimbabwe.
Email: [email protected]
Editor: Barnabas Thondhlana
Cell: 0772964428
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 0772964428
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