admin
President Mugabe yesterday sent a condolence message to South African leader, Mr Jacob Zuma, following the death of founding President Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela.Mandela (95) succumbed to a lung infection at his Johannesburg residence on Thursday. He will be buried on December 15 at his rural home in Qunu.
“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, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on 5th December 2013,” said President Mugabe.
He said Mandela’s endeavours and achievements in the pre and post independence era would be continuously cherished in the minds of Zimbabweans.
“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,” said President Mugabe.
He expressed condolences to Mandela’s wife, children and the family.
“I also would like to take this opportunity, Your Excellency, to convey our deepest condolences to his wife, his children, grandchildren and the entire Mandela family on this sad loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Born on July 18 in Umtata in Transkei, Mandela rose from rural obscurity to challenge oppression by the apartheid government and was among the first to advocate armed resistance to apartheid in 1960.
He was detained for 27 years at Robben Island prison and was elected president in landmark all-race elections in 1994 before he retired in 1999.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, an honour he shared with Frederik W de Klerk, the white Afrikaner leader who released him from jail as arguably the world’s most famous political prisoner.
As president, Mr Mandela faced the monumental task of forging a new nation from the deep racial injustices left over from the apartheid era, making reconciliation the theme of his time in office.
In 1999, Cde Mandela retired and was succeeded by Mr Thabo Mbeki and his last major appearance on the global stage came in 2010 when he attended the championship match of the soccer World Cup, where he received a thunderous ovation from the 90 000 at the stadium in Soweto.
Former South Africa’s former President Thabo Mbeki hailed the Zimbabwe’s agrarian reform saying the country delayed it because it paved way for the former’s fight for independence. South Africa’s independence could have delayed if Zimbabwe implemented its land reform soon after 1980 independence.
Bilateral relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe improved substantially as apartheid legally ended. President Mugabe met publicly Mr Mandela for the first time on January 27, 1994 in the presence of Botswana’s President Ketumile Masire urging a peaceful resolution to a military mutiny in Lesotho.
Mr Mandela visited Harare in early 1995 and the two countries debated trade issues and efforts to dismantle apartheid-era tariffs.
In November 1995, a ceremony attended by Mr Mandela and President Mugabe marked the opening of a new bridge linking the two countries, across the Limpopo River.
Zimbabweans joined the rest of the world in mourning the death of South African first black president and the icon of the anti-apartheid struggle, Nelson Mandela, who died aged 95 on Thursday night.
The world was plunged into mourning as news of Mandela’s death filtered through on Thursday night and yesterday. Mandela’s demise dominated interactions on the streets and the social media sites while politicians also poured praises on Madiba, as he was affectionately known.
“He was obviously a high profile figure. As a party we are saddened by his death. We know he was an icon of the struggle having been imprisoned for 27 years,” Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said.
MDC-T organising secretary Nelson Chamisa told Chronicle: “Mandela taught me to manage and condition anger into a moral force and deflate bitterness into positive energy for human progress.
“He reminded me to build a society in which none is exploited, terrorised or disadvantaged by another.”
Zapu leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa said Zimbabwe, which shares a common liberation history with neighbouring South Africa, was mourning Madiba’s death.
“Our towering shade has gone. He was among pioneer nationalists and some of us were inspired to join the struggle by people like him,” he said.
Dr Dabengwa reminisced about Mandela’s famous treason trial speech in which he said he was prepared to die for a cause of freedom.
“That speech runs through my mind to this day. Such words kept us strong during the struggle. Iphumule indoda endala (a great man has rested).
“Mandela is not a man to mourn but to celebrate. It’s my birthday today and indeed a day to celebrate not my own life alone but Mandela’s as well.”
Environment, Climate and Water Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere posted on his Twitter account: “A giant and brave fighter. No easy walk to freedom. Tata you inspired us.”
To the former Education Minister David Coltart, Mandela defended the rights of all Africans irrespective of their colour or creed.
UK-based academic Dr Brilliant Mhlanga said: “It’s indeed befitting that we should celebrate the man for his great achievements. His name will linger forever.”
Mandela’s legacy goes beyond South Africa as he was respected across the globe, MDC spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube added: “It’s a sad loss not only for the Mandela family, South Africa and the ANC but indeed for Africa and the world at large.
“He will remain an icon and reminder of how much a people can achieve when guided by the strength of their desire rather than fear.
“He chose to forgive and build when it would have been easier to destroy. We salute his life, the life of a unique African leader. We wish unity and peace for South Africa at this dark time. Mandela cannot be mourned, he can only be celebrated, and his memory lives forever.”
Mandela is survived by wife Graca Machel, three daughters, 18 grand children, nine great grand children and three step grand children.
He had four step children through his marriage to Machel. — Harare Corr/Chronicle Reporter
Online Reporter