Terence Zimwara
Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected
president who passed away in December of 2013 is widely regarded as the
greatest statesman to ever come out from Africa.
Some even place him as the greatest statesman of all time
because of mainly what he did after his release from prison. Mandela spent 27
years in prison and when he was released he chose to forgive everyone that had
wronged him and it was this act that won him admirers for the rest of his life.
At his memorial service world leaders including three former
United States presidents, incumbent Barack Obama, French president and his
predecessor, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Tony Blair all attended.
In total more than
100 world leaders showed up for the memorial service something that normally
happens in Western capitals like Washington or Brussels further highlighting
the immense respect and popularity Mandela had.
On Facebook, twitter and other social media, messages of
condolences poured in as ordinary people joined in reflecting the life of a man
that brought some degree of peace to his country.
However Mandela’s legacy is not complete without criticism
from those who feel he did not do enough to address the economic imbalances
created under the apartheid system.
From inside South Africa, black people still complain that
they are still relatively poor when compared to their white counterparts and more
so this is still the case almost 20 years after the end of apartheid.
Others sensationally accuse him of being partly to blame for
the high levels of crime and violence among the youths because it was Mandela
that brought to an end corporal punishment in schools thus breeding an
undisciplined youth.
Others say his policies have mainly benefitted whites who
have remained rich despite initiatives like the Black Economic Empowerment
(BEE). However it is north of the Limpopo River when where some of the stinging
criticism of the man seems to emanate from.
Opinion is sharply divided among Zimbabweans when it comes
to Nelson Mandela’s legacy. While some joined the rest of the world in the
reflecting the life of an international icon, others were questioning what they
termed the exaggeration of the man’s success.
Shane a 25 year old Zimbabwean male had this to say about
Mandela’s legacy.
“Mandela was celebrated for the qualities that he had which
many African leaders still do not have. Mandela served one term and stepped
down a feat which has not been matched by any African leader,” said Shane.
Shane added that Mandela was a champion of reconciliation.
Having spent 27 years in prison, he did not seek revenge against his former
oppressors once he was in power.
Chiedza a young woman from Harare agreed with Shane although
she felt the world ignored some of Madiba’s misdemeanors and chose to highlight
only the positive that he had achieved.
“Although he was a hero, he was also a womanizer but the
world chose to prosecute his ex wife, Winnie Mandela,” said Chiedza.
She said Winnie Mandela had an affair once but she came out
the worst as the world has made it appear as she was the only one guilty of
this.
“If Mandela was all about forgiving, how come he failed to
forgive his wife for one act which he was also guilty of,” lamented Chiedza.
A journalist who prefers to remain anonymous believed that
Madiba had delivered some positives during his reign but his heroism was staged
managed.
“Mandela was a moderate leader who favoured negotiations
while opposed to protests as was espoused by Steve Biko. In the end Mandela left
blacks in the political reins while the economy was left in the hands of the
minority whites and that is his legacy,” said the journalist.
These sentiments are shared by the majority of Zimbabweans who
feel that while the man deserves his legacy there remains many unsaid truths
that are being conveniently left out.
On the political front Madiba divides opinion again because
of some of his policies which challenged the Zimbabwe’s long standing position
in the region.
For the instance when the regional body Southern African
Development Community (SADC) was created Zimbabwe had always exercised a
leading role because it was largely its brain child.
While the leadership of the body was rotated between the
member states, the Organ on Security and Defence of SADC was however
permanently stationed in Zimbabwe as part of a long standing agreement between
the states.
South Africa which later joined the regional body insisted
that the chairmanship had to include the security organ as well leading to
disagreements which were widely reported at the time.
Since then South Africa has replaced Zimbabwe as the big
brother of the region and that is why many here do not share the same
sentiments with the rest of the world when it comes to Mandela’s legacy.
So depending on one’s ideological leanings, Madiba’s legacy
will remain a subject of an unending debate among Zimbabweans even as the rest
of the world agrees he was a true hero.
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