| Editorial Saturday, July 19, 2003 Lesson from Mandela feteThere are soft reasons for that. He has been described as the closest thing there is today to a "living saint". That comes from his personal charm and the remarkable generosity of spirit that enabled him to extend a hand of reconciliation to, and share power with, key figures of the white racist regime that jailed him for nearly 30 years in inhuman conditions in order to enslave the black majority. However, Mr Mandela's crowning moment came from his decision to retire from the presidency after only one term, when South Africa was still clamouring for his leadership. The moral authority he earned from it has enabled him to be an important mediator in several situations of conflict in Africa and an international advocate for causes like children's rights and Aids. We mark Mr Mandela's birthday, therefore, because he is a living example of a force that we wish to see more of in Africa. What that force is has been captured by a story told about a recent meeting he had with an African president whose term of office is about to expire. That president wants to amend the constitution to remove term limits and stand for a third, a fourth and possibly a fifth term. In a meeting with Mr Mandela, this other president spoke at length about why he wants to stay on. The sum of it was that the people still "loved" him. A patient Mr Mandela listened, and when the president was done, he told him: "You say the people still love, you? That, my friend, is why you must leave. Always leave power when the people still love you," Mr Mandela said. The day this becomes a dominant philosophy in Africa, the problems of the continent will be over. Congratulations, Madiba, on your 85th. You have lived a rich and useful life. |
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