Mandela breaks silence and calls Mugabe regime ‘a tragic failure’

By Tererai Karimakwenda
June 26, 2008

The moral authority of former South African President and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela, has joined the long list of those critical of the Mugabe regime. In London for a musical extravaganza celebrating his 90th birthday, Mandela on Wednesday addressed the crisis at a charity dinner attended by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former American President Bill Clinton.

Mandela said: “Nearer to home we had seen the outbreak of violence against fellow Africans in our own country and the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe." The statement was short and to the point, but the applause he received for finally speaking out publicly was thunderous. It was as if the world breathed a sigh of relief because Mandela was the one voice that was still missing, as global condemnation of the recent state sponsored violence intensified this week.

Ivor Jenkins, Director of the Institute for Democratic Alternatives in South Africa, described Mandela’s comments as ‘fantastic and significant’ because the respected world leader no longer comments on world events that he says current leaders should be dealing with.

Jenkins said: “The fact that he has spoken speaks volumes, because it means that one of the highest moral people in this world has in strong terms, even if it was one line, condemned what is happening in our neighbouring country.”

It is also known that Mandela rarely differs with President Thabo Mbeki, publicly. Mbeki has lost much credibility with his peers and from the international community, for pursuing his policy of ‘quiet diplomacy’ that has completely failed Zimbabwe.

But Jenkins said Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF do not care about anyone’s opinion and Mandela’s comments would make no difference to them. The regime has ignored the African Union, SADC and the United Nations. He believes that only action will resolve the Zimbabwe crisis, and if South Africa closed its border the Mugabe regime would fold within 3 weeks time.

Several members of the Zimbabwe Vigil group in London had demonstrated outside Mandela’s dinner venue, waving placards that said "Mandela ignores Mugabe's terror. Shame" and "Mandela speak out. Support a free Zimbabwe". Vigil coordinator Rose Benton said they were pleased when Mandela waved at them.