Comments on: Malema’s praise for Mbeki offers a vital bridge

By: tlangi

tlangi — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:53:49 +0000

i think for us to be able to conetruct beter nd productive debates would be if we try nd nt be subjective on the maters raised..for as long we some of you stil have personal wounds and discontent at the new or old Anc/coutry leadership it would realy be almost impossible to give ginuine,sober and unbiased comments..i will reserver my own comments but want to appeal to all of us to try and assist the situation one way or the other,calling people fools,dictators,uneducated,small boys etc will not bring about change into the lives off our downthroden poverished and helpless people in and around our country..cults of personality will not assist..lets deal with issues at hand and not the persons…i respect my current and former leaders and believe that no one can be perfect but to say how do we then as a nation try and assist our leaders where we see they lacking intead of labeling….We can do it!!

By: S

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:53:34 +0000

You have to be joking! The problem is that your focus is so off base – the real concern is whether the institutions of our democracy function in such a manner to promote and sustain democracy and to alleviate poverty. These institutions are formal political institutions where our representatives are held accountable and through which the business of the country takes place. To focus on who gets on with who and whether this is good or bad for the ANC is a sham for political democracy!

By: Una

Una — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:32:38 +0000

Chris you have an uncanny way of looking at issues however it is your right to convince yourself that it was Mbeki’s fault for Mugabe to be a dictaor. Now Mbeki is gone what have leaders of SADC done if according to you Mbeki was the architect of Mugabe’s dictatorship. On the question of AIDS South Africa please note, during Mbeki’s era was credited for having the most comprehensive AIDS plan and its implementation. What did he do to cause the deaths? by participating in the intellectual debate despite putting measures in place to reign in the spread of the desease? I find this pronouncement by Canada et al to be the most stupid and illinformed. Why are Americans and their exploitative cartels not giving ARVs to their people yet they are selling them to us? Wake up you seem to be snoozing

By: Rose Morrow

Rose Morrow — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:02:41 +0000

Chris – it is not Mbeki’s “quiet diplomacy” – I prefer “diplomacy” since there is no other type – that caused the problems of which you speak. The primary reason right now is of course Mugabe himself – but it is far more complex than him alone! Mbeki was a mediator assisting in bringing two “warring” factions together to work together to resolve major issues in Zim without it going to civil war. Taking your logic further, it is like saying that if the newspapers report on corruption or genocide, they are the cause of it because they never stopped it. Or that a mediator in a potential divorce is the cause of the divorce because he wasn’t able to bring about reconciliation via his mediation. The cause of the divorce is a complex set of issues that finally led to the complete breakdown of the relationship – the mediator is not the cause. – I just don’t see the logic in blaming Mbeki because the people of Zim have left there and come to RSA – Probably no one left SA for Zim giving as their reason that Mbeki was our president. Of course people have left to go elsewhere but I doubt very that any, would give as their reason for leaving President Mbeki.

By: chris

chris — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:16:23 +0000

@Clay, Una & Rose.

Yes I am African. And I will stick to my guns on my criticisms of Mbeki. Yes, social welfare was extended under his rule, and yes his financial policies were good, he had his good side no question.

However as far as I am concerned his quiet diplomacy was a disgrace and has as stated above led to a huge immigrant problem, xenophobic violence, adversely affecting crime and employment.

As for his stance on AIDS, embarassing would be an understatement, not to mention the personal tragedies involved for the thousands of people who died under a Minister of Health he appointed, Dr Beetroot. Nuff said.

I have a high level of expectation for people who purport to lead, and as far as I am concerned Thabo Mbeki failed on the three primary problems he faced – Crime, AIDS, and Zim. I really do think we only look back with fondness and respect because the current crop are so woeful.

As far as I am concerned, and this is no small thing in tyrant dominated africa, Mbekis greatest moment was the dignity he retained in stepping down, demonstrating his belief in the values of democracy. I respect him a lot for that.

By: Rose Morrow

Rose Morrow — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:44:17 +0000

I hope Mbeki reads this blogg – nice for him to read some constructive, positive comments for a change.
And Michael – thanks for removing the captcha! So much less stress without it!!

By: Rose Morrow

Rose Morrow — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:36 +0000

Love what you said Elzorro Dorado! Love it!

By: Rose Morrow

Rose Morrow — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:25:37 +0000

100% Clay – Mbeki came in for so much criticism over the so called “quiet diplomacy” (what other kind is there?) – but what progress did all the “loud diplomacy!!!” bring about in Zimbabwe – Mugabe doesn’t give a hoot about what anyone thinks or says about him. The only one able to move Mugabe to bring about any changes or make any concessions was Mbeki. As the quote goes “one and one always makes two – same criteria – same result” Since “loud diplomacy??” was having no positive effect whatsoever, why would Mbeki adopt the same approach and expect a different result. I often wonder what good it would serve if a mediator working with a couple having problems in their marriage were to go public with negative rhetoric about one half of the couple. Would the publically castigated half rush back to the same mediator. I don’t think so! It’s easy to judge but Mbeki was walking tight rope and working to avoid civil war at all costs and none of us really knows what was going on behind closed doors – and it certainly wasn’t Mbeki’s place to rush to the media and let us know – had he done so Mugabe would have stopped him at the airport and shipped him straight back to RSA – no problem!

By: MI 'ELZORRO DORADO

MI 'ELZORRO DORADO — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:23:46 +0000

It is quite amazing how Mr Mbeki has been deemed a fallen hero, when in actual fact this world has never had leaders who have been pure saints except’ Jesus Christ.All great men have flaws,some conceal them better than others.Indeed one cannot compare Thabo Mbeki to Tata N R Mandela because they different and that difference is what makes one more ‘unique’.One thing is crystalline clear The Prince achieved far more than many leaders to date.He managed to be adored and despised by many,made friends and gained enemies.Like a “Caesar” HE was ambitious and ascended to the highest and most powerful office in the land,and managed South Africa’s transcendence to an “African Power house”.Thabo Mbeki “The Prince Of Africa” is the man he was destined to Be!, like many before him he fulfilled a part of his destiny and purpose.Whoever We Are,None of us can derail or erase that part of history.Even if years pass He will forever remain a part of Our Countries memory, who we are,and what we came to Be.Personally He Became what many wish to Be and very few can ever Be! HE WAS&IS MY HERO,and A LEGEND FLAWED BUT NOT TRAGIC!.HE IS AND FOREVER WILL BE THABO MBEKI “THE RENAISSANCE MAN”.Te fact is that Some of us appreciate his existence and understand that none of us are perfect.

By: Clay

Clay — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:24:29 +0000

Chris how did Mbeki preside over the demise of Zimbabwe last time i checked it was Mugaber abd Zanu Pf. Lets be pratical a lot of pople said what they wanted to say about Mugabe and it did not change anything just made newspapers sell more copies thats all.