Political Perspective

I WANTED to devote this column to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who was, in my humble view, Africa’s greatest leader.

I’m not sure, however, that I could say anything that hasn’t already been said about him, except to offer a limited personal perspective and say that I am honoured that I was able to shake his hand and spend a short time in discussion with him on one of his rare visits to Namibia after his release in 1990.

It’s not that he was perfect, because, like anyone else, he was not, and he would be first to acknowledge that fact. While his iconic status was largely developed as the focal point of the anti-apartheid movement during his 27 years in prison on Robben Island, after his release he lived up to almost-impossible expectations, even transcending these at times. Our continent and its people should rightfully be proud that we were able to share this revered son of the soil with the rest of the world.

I don’t want to talk about Mandela’s rich history or the fact that he became the first black President of South Africa who stepped down after one term, because all of this is widely documented, and the inadequacy of my words will not do him justice.

But as a young child growing up under apartheid, he was my inspiration, like he was for many others. It was the spirit of Mandela, as well as others like our own Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, and all they embodied in terms of commitment and selfless sacrifice, that spurred me on to do what I did in life and to engage in journalistic activism to fight an inhumane system in all its manifestations and to accept whatever personal consequences came as a result.

My personal experience of Madiba was all too brief and fleeting, but it is a moment in time I shall never forget. And it also encapsulates why, I believe, he deserves to be described as ‘great’. Because over and above all the good characteristics of compassion and caring, the humility, leadership by example, respect for the rights of all; the sense of justice and fairness and lack of bitterness even after nearly three decades in a jail cell – all of which I admire – Mandela always had a human touch and always took time to make all those he met feel special. Just so with me.

(Forgive the inadequacy of my words) but so it was one day after his release and on a short visit to Namibia that I received a call from the ANC inviting me to meet Mandela. To say that I was astounded is an understatement, and while I did not know why he wanted to see me, I leapt at the opportunity.

While I somewhat uncharacteristically fumbled for words on shaking hands and embracing this hero of the struggle, Madiba was warm and gracious in his greeting. He told me that over the long years in incarceration, the prisoners had, from time to time, access to newspapers that were often smuggled onto the Island and they would share them among themselves.

Toivo ya Toivo had access to Namibian (then South West African) newspapers and Mandela said he had been an avid reader of my columns from my time at the Windhoek Advertiser from 1976 and the Windhoek Observer from 1978; later The Namibian in 1985. He merely wanted to express his appreciation to me for speaking out against apartheid oppression, which he knew had come at a personal cost.

There are sadly all too few leaders like him, past or present, on the African continent. There are undoubtedly those who have made good contributions but never were they tested as Mandela was over decades and on such a world scale.

Nelson Mandela died on my birthday. I tweeted later that “I was sleeping under the night sky in the desert when Madiba died. Maybe he was one of those shooting stars”. I’d like to think he was.

I hope that Africa, and the world, will live up to his legacy. He did not want statues in his honour, but he would have been delighted if people would follow his example by being kinder and more compassionate to one another.

Finally, as Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka said upon hearing the news: “The soul of Africa has departed, and there is nothing miraculous left in the world”. May he be proved wrong and that there will be more ‘Madibas’ to follow. What greater tribute could there be to this most amazing man?

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