Opinion / Columnist
Nelson Mandela or Robert Mugabe?
03 Apr 2013 at 12:54hrs | Views
Having all struggled and left their beloved families at risk to free their nations from colonial bondage, there are questions still to be answered, who is the big African Hero, Former South African President Nelson 'Madiba' Mandela or Zimbabwean President Robert 'Bob' Mugabe?
Did Madiba achieve more than Mugabe? Why is Mandela more respected than Mugabe?, Is Mandela a puppet of the West and why the West against Mugabe? As a high school student who is in love with socio political issues, I had to read any material I stumbled upon looking for answers.
In brief, below is my final findings about the two world celebrities and African statesman, Nelson Mandela and Robert Mugabe.
President Robert Mugabe
Has been the President of Zimbabwe since 1980. He won the hearts of many after he worked tirelessly to see a peaceful atmosphere and good relations between black and white Zimbabweans. All hell broke loose in the early 80s when the so called Gukurahundi Massacre swept over the Matebeleland and Midlands Provinces claiming nearly 20 000 lives. The Massacre was reportedly carried out by the North Korean 5th Brigade and President Mugabe discribed the Massacre as a moment of Madness. However the so called democratic powerhouses went silent on the matter. The massacre was described by analyst as a sign continued rift between the Ndebele and Shona tribes.
A darling of Britain and the world, President Mugabe was envied by many, receiving doctorate after doctorates from learning institutions around the world. A peace loving man, pan-Africanist and revolutionary, President appeased the people from the Matebeleland region by signing the Unity accord with Joshua Nkomo of PF Zapu, who then became Vice President. Schools were built, roads improved and over 200 000 people were resettled on formerly white owned farms by 1990.
President Mugabe's continued political dominance remained with little competition from opposition parties up until 1996. Relations with whites started to sour with most of the democratic champions fuming over the emergence of human rights abuses with Mugabe saying gays were worse than pigs. President Mugabe remained a hero, mainly in rural Zimbabwe as the urban populace were smelling democracy from neighbouring South Africa. Trouble erupted when Britain refused to hounor its pledge of funding the Land Reform Programme. Black Zimbabweans who lived in dire poverty and farmed on unfertile land were protesting against over 4000 white minority farmers who occupied vast pieces of lands.
With an economic meltdown, President Mugabe was loosing popularity after he send troops to DRC to support freind President Kabila. With the emergence of the Democrats, in the likes of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirayi, who won the hearts of the urban populace, President Mugabe was left with no choice, he declared the fast track Land Reform Programe in 2000. This strained relations between Zimbabwe and the West. violence and human rights abuses was now the norm of the day with Zimbabwean cricketers wearing black arm bands in protest during the World Cup.
Although the Land Reform programe has benefited poor black Zimbabweans, it has reduced Zimbabwe from being the bread basket of Africa to a constant beggar riddled with poverty and corruption. President Mugabe is now the pioneer of racism, labelling colonialist at an chance given. His Zanu-PF party is being held responsible for the death of over 300 MDC supporters in the 2008 general elections. President is gradually loosing respected from global citizens, most of whom refering him as a dictator. But Zanu-PF functionaries and Non-Aligned Movement leaders still believe President Mugabe is an examplary leader who has not bowed to Western sponsored anti-African democratic practises.
@89 he owns vast businesses and several farms, a presidential scholarship programe and so many other programmes which can match him to a philanthropist. He will square off with PM Morgan Tsvangirai in the next harmonised elections.
On the contrary, his former South African counterpart Nelson Mandela has a different rating on the global arena. He is reffered to as the father of democracy in Africa.
Mandela took over the South African after fighting the Aparthaid regime in 1994. He championed democracy, reconciliation and peace till he stepped down just after serving a single term. He worked on democratic but people oriented programmes. From economic to political matters, Mandela made sure that every South African was a benefactor. He was a catalyst in world affairs, from Mummur Gadafi to Canan Banana.
Having received over 250 awards, charity organisations set after his name, a world icon, Mandela was critised for letting down mostly poverty stricken black South Africans to appease white South Africans and West Emprealists.
With most black Zimbabweans farming on fertile land, some owning businesses and holding major boardroom post as a result of the much hated Mugabe's polices.
Lastly, I want to wish Papa Nelson Mandela a quick recovery.
Did Madiba achieve more than Mugabe? Why is Mandela more respected than Mugabe?, Is Mandela a puppet of the West and why the West against Mugabe? As a high school student who is in love with socio political issues, I had to read any material I stumbled upon looking for answers.
In brief, below is my final findings about the two world celebrities and African statesman, Nelson Mandela and Robert Mugabe.
President Robert Mugabe
Has been the President of Zimbabwe since 1980. He won the hearts of many after he worked tirelessly to see a peaceful atmosphere and good relations between black and white Zimbabweans. All hell broke loose in the early 80s when the so called Gukurahundi Massacre swept over the Matebeleland and Midlands Provinces claiming nearly 20 000 lives. The Massacre was reportedly carried out by the North Korean 5th Brigade and President Mugabe discribed the Massacre as a moment of Madness. However the so called democratic powerhouses went silent on the matter. The massacre was described by analyst as a sign continued rift between the Ndebele and Shona tribes.
A darling of Britain and the world, President Mugabe was envied by many, receiving doctorate after doctorates from learning institutions around the world. A peace loving man, pan-Africanist and revolutionary, President appeased the people from the Matebeleland region by signing the Unity accord with Joshua Nkomo of PF Zapu, who then became Vice President. Schools were built, roads improved and over 200 000 people were resettled on formerly white owned farms by 1990.
President Mugabe's continued political dominance remained with little competition from opposition parties up until 1996. Relations with whites started to sour with most of the democratic champions fuming over the emergence of human rights abuses with Mugabe saying gays were worse than pigs. President Mugabe remained a hero, mainly in rural Zimbabwe as the urban populace were smelling democracy from neighbouring South Africa. Trouble erupted when Britain refused to hounor its pledge of funding the Land Reform Programme. Black Zimbabweans who lived in dire poverty and farmed on unfertile land were protesting against over 4000 white minority farmers who occupied vast pieces of lands.
With an economic meltdown, President Mugabe was loosing popularity after he send troops to DRC to support freind President Kabila. With the emergence of the Democrats, in the likes of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirayi, who won the hearts of the urban populace, President Mugabe was left with no choice, he declared the fast track Land Reform Programe in 2000. This strained relations between Zimbabwe and the West. violence and human rights abuses was now the norm of the day with Zimbabwean cricketers wearing black arm bands in protest during the World Cup.
@89 he owns vast businesses and several farms, a presidential scholarship programe and so many other programmes which can match him to a philanthropist. He will square off with PM Morgan Tsvangirai in the next harmonised elections.
On the contrary, his former South African counterpart Nelson Mandela has a different rating on the global arena. He is reffered to as the father of democracy in Africa.
Mandela took over the South African after fighting the Aparthaid regime in 1994. He championed democracy, reconciliation and peace till he stepped down just after serving a single term. He worked on democratic but people oriented programmes. From economic to political matters, Mandela made sure that every South African was a benefactor. He was a catalyst in world affairs, from Mummur Gadafi to Canan Banana.
Having received over 250 awards, charity organisations set after his name, a world icon, Mandela was critised for letting down mostly poverty stricken black South Africans to appease white South Africans and West Emprealists.
With most black Zimbabweans farming on fertile land, some owning businesses and holding major boardroom post as a result of the much hated Mugabe's polices.
Lastly, I want to wish Papa Nelson Mandela a quick recovery.
Source - Conilious Toga
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