As the world celebrates Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's 90th birthday on July 18, 2008, it is impossible to remove one's eyes from another old man who resides in the Zimbabwe State House and still clings to power almost 10 years after Mandela voluntarily and graciously left the South African "State House." The histories of South Africa and Zimbabwe are intricately interwoven. The British colonialists entered and occupied the two countries at about the same time and it was in essence the same people (e.g. Cecil John Rhodes, Leander Starr Jameson etc.) who "explored" the two countries. There was even a time (during the time of colonisation) where there were suggestions to form one country out of South Africa and the then Rhodesia. Some people today still think it would have been a good idea. There are deep and long cultural ties between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Ndebeles in Zimbabwe are in essence Zulus who left South Africa as they fled from Chaka (the Great Zulu King and Warrior). The Vendas in the Limpopo are culturally related to the Karangas/Shonas across the river.
Because of these many links between the two countries one can not miss the paradox and irony of having two old men (90yr old Mandela and 84yr old Mugabe) who have had such a great influence on their respected nations, but will leave very opposite legacies when they die one day.
It is almost sure that the day Mandela dies, the world will mourn him and everybody will feel that a great, important man has left the stage. There will be a deep sense of loss and grief and there are even people who speculate that the "Mandela Factor" is propping the South African economy and image, and the day he dies, there will be a deep in the economy and the world's perception about South Africa.
But it is also almost certain that the day Mugabe dies, many people in the world will talk of a man who inherited a beautiful and rich country; a country with great potential to succeed but "ran the country to ruins." Whether this assessment about Mugabe is right or wrong, is another debate, but that is indeed the prevailing perception and it is almost impossible to change that perception.
Both Mugabe and Mandela were driven into the liberation struggle by the injustices of the white colonial masters on their fellow country men.
Both managed to get a decent education at a time when education was a rare privilege for blacks. Mandela trained as a lawyer and Mugabe a teacher (and went on to get at least six academic degrees).
Both spent sometime studying at Forth Hare University (Eastern Cape, South Africa).
Both spent time in prison and faced personal persecution for the white regimes for their political activities.
Both developed a vision of what their countries should look like when they finally become free from oppression.
Both started well and achieved very high recognition from the world, as statesmen, African leaders and as leaders who worked for the reconciliation between the former white masters and the black oppressed masses.
But at some point in their lives, their courses diverged tremendously.
The differences between Mugabe and Mandela couldn't be any greater and clearer.
While the world celebrates Madela's 90th birthay, Mugabe is vilified as a tyrant, dictator, destroyer-of-a-nation and a power hungry megalomaniac. There are many theories that have been developed to try and explain why some leaders, who all start with good and noble intentions, end up like the villified Mugabe and others end up like the glorified Mandela.
I don't claim to be an expert in human psychology to be able to conduct an analysis of what makes some people turn out to be like Mandela and others like Mugabe, but I am convinced it has to do with the choices people make.
Although circumstances people find themselves in can indeed influence people's lives, but each person's legacy is defined through one's choices inspite of the circumstances.
Although Mandela spent many years in prison (more than Mugabe) and missed many years with his family (which even had an effect of leading to the break up of his marriage with Winnie Mandela, he was not there when his kids were growing up), he chose to forgive and reconcile with the former white oppressors. He based his task on reconciling people who were once enemies. He knew that the alternative (retribution) would destroy the nation and he had to withstand lots of pressure from his fellow black compatriots who indeed wanted "justice" (revenge).
Although Mandela knew that transforming South Africa into a just society would not be completed in his life time, he preached patience and was willing to pass on the baton of leadership to a new generation of leaders.
Although Mandela knew that not everybody loved/liked him and that there were political opponents who were always working to hinder his progress, he still realised that it was important to work with all political actors.
Although Mandela knew that his position of power (as President) gave him access to wealth and personal riches, he chose not to be tempted to be corrupt and be rich while millions of black South Africans were poor.
Although Mandela knew that he had reason to be bitter, he chose not to harbor bitterness and resentment. No wonder some people say that he could only live to be 90 because he constantly feeds on love and grace towards others.
As Bill Clinton (ex US President) once said, "when Mandela enters the room, we all stand up and cheer and clap, because on our best days, we all want to be a Mandela."
On the other hand Mugabe knew that transforming Zimbabwe into a just society was full of challenges and he chose to use force and violence (ovet and covet) to drive his angenda.
Mugabe knew that there will be political opponents to his agenda, and he chose to see them as enemies who needed to be eliminated.
Mugabe knew that a position of power gave him access to wealth, and he was tempted to be corrupt and use bribe as a means of protecting his position, even millions of Zimbabweans are poor.
And I am sure that when Mugabe enters the room, the vast majority of people in the world will NOT stand up and cheer and clap, because the vast majority does not want to end up like Mugabe.
On this note, happy birthday Nelson Rolinhlanhla Mandela on your 90th.
May the Lord Almighty continue to be gracious to you.
May the promise of God to Abraham (another Father of the Nation) indeed come true to you too "You however will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age." Genesis 15:15
God bless you Madiba!
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Aren't we comparing a mango and an orange? I believe we are 'angelizing' Mandela while demonizing Mugabe. As you say, this is a paradox. As such let us treat it as a paradox. Lets go back to the negotiation tables and see how those tables transform both Mandela, the once feared 'terrorist' known as the ' black pimpernel' and Mugabe, the once rebel, into saints. And then ask ourselves why then one saint become a demon and, like lucifer, fell from the amazing grace bestowed by the west on whom it wish to be gracious to regardless of his Mobutuism, Zenawism or Musevenism.
Mugabe is both a creation of the West as he is a creation of Africa. He is a reflection of our gullible compromising spirit. But he is also a reflection of our frustrating victim mentality especially when our Ubuntu/ Ujamaa/Utu that lead us to compromises is abused. When Nyerere and Samora told then fighting Mugabe to go to the table or else they won't support his liberation struggles little did they know then how far the ever calculating West will play a trick on their colleague.
No wonder the once 'Jewel of Africa' got so tied to the apron strings of Britain to the extent that it could hardly move beyond the Lancaster Limits for more than a decades.When it attempted to do so the wrath of the west buttressed by woes of African turned on our once hero. Here in Tanzania some people are even thinking of renaming a school that was named after Mugabe in the early 1980s. Africa is indeed full of paradoxes and ironies!
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