President Robert Mugabe finally broke his 24 hour silence and
issued a statement on the death of former South Africa President Nelson
Mandela.
The bizarre silence as other world leaders and celebrities spoke out
had triggered criticism in the media and social networks given Mugabe’s
criticism of Mandela in the past.
In his message addressed to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma Mugabe said:
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe,
Zanu-PF and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to extend deep
condolences to you and, through you to the Government and people of the
Republic of South Africa, on the death of the great icon of African
liberation, freedom fighter and the first President of a free,
independent and democratic South Africa, Mr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on
5th December 2013.
“Mr Nelson Mandela’s renowned and illustrious political life will
forever remain a beacon of excellence. Not only was he a great champion
of the emancipation of the oppressed, but he also was a humble and
compassionate leader who showed selfless dedication to the service of
his people.
“We join the rest of the nation in mourning his departure. The late
Nelson Mandela will forever remain in our minds as an unflinching
fighter for justice.”
Mugabe though appears to have had a frosty relationship with Mandela.
Only this year Mugabe slammed Mandela’s reconciliation policies, and
labelled him “too much of a saint” in a television interview.
“Mandela has gone a bit too far in doing good to the non-black
communities, really in some cases at the expense of [blacks]…,” Mugabe
reportedly told talk show host Dali Tambo in an interview.
“That is being too saintly, too good, too much of a saint,” he said.
In July last year Mugabe brought his quiet feud with Mandela into the
open, jealously claiming his coalition partner Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai had nothing to celebrate from being likened to the
anti-apartheid icon.
No comments:
Post a Comment