NB: Jon wrote this before Mr Mandela made his comments last night..
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So Nelson Mandela turns 90 this week. But as he celebrates his birthday he’s facing growing criticism for failing to take a stand over Robert Mugabe’s regime in Zimbawe. Some people are even calling it Mandela’s shame . Should he be ashamed? Or it is fair enough, given that he’s long retired from political life?
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The man has long retire from politics and is too old to engage in all this stuff. Please him out of this so if can live the last years of his life peacefully.
It is not Nelson Mandela’s fault for the problems in Zimbabwe.
@ Mohammed Ali–6/25/2008 (@) 1.42pm–wrote…he should be left alone and enjoy his time out of politics and his previous life experiences.
Dennis
Onondaga Community College
Syracuse, New York
United States of America
I agree with you Mohammed Ali.
Moreover, Mandela has nothing to do with Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is for the Zimbabwean and Africans to sort out.
I actually think the theme “Zimbabwe: Mandela’s shame?” sounds very neo-colonialist; since it simply means Zimbabweans and Africans can’t take care of themselves. What a pity.
BigPapa form California
By The way. I do not mean to say Mandela is not an African. I meant he is an elderly retired person whom by African standards, should be left alone. That’s a piece of the African culture folks around the world should recognize.
I think this is rather Mbeki’s shame given that Mbeki is the one wielding the reins of command right now. Let the old man have his rest but on one level I think if he can join Archbishop Tutu in declaring the immorality of Mugabe, then it would be an act most welcome.
I agree with Israel Ambe Ayongwa that it is a shame for Mbeki and other African leaders who have fail to condemn Mugabe. Nobody expected Mbeki to sit tight lipped and see Mugabe comitting crimes against Zimbabweans.
Israel is right. It is Mbeki’s shame. Mandela has done many great things in his life and nobody should put the mark of shame on him. The true shame lies with Mugabe though.
Mandela has just made a comment on Zimbabwe:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4214924.ece
But what more could he really do? He’s 90 and already retired. The general anger is already there which makes Mandela’s comment more or less insignificant.
Mr. Mandela is one of the finest human being to ever walk the planet. He is old and not the man he once was, especially considering the life of abuse he suffered. What may be left is his extreme patience. What he endured was superhuman.
The people of Zimbabwe are about to suffer an extreme genocide and the world is just watching. Is it that 3rd world people must suffer calamity on massive scale or is it we all must? Europe has had it’s share of massacres as have all the peoples of this planet.
Humans are the most empathetic and ruthless beasts to have ever visited this planet, ever! Sometimes our criminals become our leaders. They just seduce on a larger scale.
We will sit by like little talking heads as Mugabe wackes them off. The roll count will be greater than the abacus can count.
Are we proud of ourselves as we watch these people go to the proverbial gas chambers? They are lining up as we speak.
Leave Mandela alone. We know how he found things when he came to power & how things were during his reign & how things are now (when he`s out)
i believe it`s unjust to talk of Mandela in such a manner.
Limbani, Malawi
Was he on the ticket? I think I would have noticed that. I doubt he was “campaigning” for either side. Send him a card, an I pod, a gift certificate, its his birthday!
Happy Birthday Big M
I dont see the point of talking about Zimbabwai the world won’t do anything to help the African people. They will send food and money to corrupt officials who will hord it till the war moves back to the capital and then exile to a big house some where. It is shamefull that the Internation community stands idly by while genocide and mass rape of women and children happen all over the continent. Never again……. except in Africa aparently its ok there.
it`s very unfortunate that the Zimbabwean Information Minister is saying Mandela bowed to the west. I mean he should look at how Mandela left the state of affairs in politics.
He & his granny Mugabe should learn from Madiba how he worked it out rather than clinging to power for selfish ambitions & gains.
He should see how Zimbabweans are suffering under their poor decision making, leadership skills.You leaders who never learn,you should wake up, you are inflicting innocent poor people, you will pay for this coz GOD`S WRATH is on you. You will pay dearly!!!
Limbani, Malawi.
Mohammed Ali and Big Papa’s posts (BP’s 2nd post) really impacted me. We shouldn’t have made to pester Nelson Mandela.
Having said that, nothing more could have made my day than to see him speak out against Mugabe et al. I still need to find a transcription of what he said. My ability to understand him has decreased incredibly as he has aged. Bad on me.
pig papa @
actually think the theme “Zimbabwe: Mandela’s shame?” sounds very neo-colonialist; since it simply means Zimbabweans and Africans can’t take care of themselves. What a pity. yes you are right.
ENGLAND: SARKOZI’S SHAME?
again what a pity,sounds jon donnison ,a neo-colonialists mouth piece. neither mandela nor mbeki has nothing to do whatz going on in zimbabwe.
sarkozi of france has nothing to do what the british are doing in BASRA (iraq). and sarkozi is the neighbour of england. waaaw what a double talk.
HOPEFULLY sarkozi will make a comment on BASRA- iraq
Pl mugabe should be arested at the next A U summit if he dares attend.
He is a disgrace to modern day Africa.
ADEPETU OLAYINKA.
LAGOS NIGERIA