Mandela is dead, long live Madiba’s legacy!

Life had it that Graca Machel would again become a widow to Nelson Mandela, the best of humanity in 21st century. Last Thursday 5th of December, 2013 the world received with r with heavy heart the eventual departure of Nelson Mandela the founding father of modern democratic South Africa and a towering political figure out […]

Life had it that Graca Machel would again become a widow to Nelson Mandela, the best of humanity in 21st century.
Last Thursday 5th of December, 2013 the world received with r with heavy heart the eventual departure of Nelson Mandela the founding father of modern democratic South Africa and a towering political figure out of Africa in the 21st century.
His death was a shock coming just few months after the good people of the world with remarkable gratitude marked his 95th birthday despite his old age/health related challenge. Fighters certainly never say good bye. In recent months, following his last health challenge, many admirers had thought he would depart earlier. But Madiba left at a time most camera men had departed his home following his recovery.  Although for those that cared, Mandela as far back as 2011 had said he “not sick but  I am old”. We join the progressive humankind to mourn his death.
The departure of a freedom fighter, global icon for forgiveness and unprecedented transition from tyranny to non-racial democracy is capable of ushering a global despair, disillusionment and agony. As a unionist, I bear witness that Madiba was a close ally of the global trade union movement both in the struggle against apartheid and decent work agenda as demanded by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).  According to Mandela, “Job, jobs and jobs are the dividing line in many families between a decent life and a wretched existence” – By this statement Nelson Mandela rightly pointed out that life is miserable without work.  Madiba was fully at home with trade unions and trade unionists alike. Indeed the Republic of South Africa runs on the tripod of the ruling political party, ANC, Council of South African Trade Unions, COSATU and the South African Communist party.
Today, there is undoubtedly a Nelson Mandela vacuum in the world turned asunder by widening gap between the poor and the rich, avoidable violence and wars of attrition, injustices of varying types, vengeance and non-forgiveness. However, the world must take consolation on the fact that immortality was certainly not the way of Nelson Mandela. Immortality belongs to Almighty God!  What should hunt humanity like spectre are Mandela’s deeds. Let’s celebrate and emulate his life of amazing sacrifices with dignity, brief and remarkable tenure in office, forgiveness and reconciliation and value addition in retirement.
We are right to legitimately agonize over the inevitable death of the beloved Madiba. But after agonizing we must rise up like Mandela  to organize  for a better world, freedom and liberty. Like Mandela, let us dedicate ourselves to the struggle of the humanity; cherish “the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities”.
Annual UN Mandela Day on July 18th which is also Mandela’s birthday offers us opportunity to further inspire individuals and nations to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for public good.
Mandela was the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was however less remembered for the presidency where he commendably exercised power to protect the weak and the minority without necessarily demonizing the strong and privileged. His enduring legacy was his unique ability to exercise power to forgive those who jailed him for 27 years. He was a true symbol of reconciliation in the world polarized along ethnic, racial and class cleavages and in a world bleeding underscores of false leaders.
Thanks to Mandela brand, Africa for once hosted the 2010 FIFA soccer world cup. That year Mandela brand linked all the polarities in South Africa and indeed in the world together and reminded each of the contending elements of the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness and reconciliation. The critical question is; who leads again like Madiba? May God make his grave more spacious and comfortable more than the vast world he positively impacted upon.