Meeting of inspiration, my tribute to Mandela – Davis Katsonga
The Apartheid system made Tata Nelson Mandela a very angry young man and that was the image of Mandela most people had of this anti-apartheid icon.
When he came out of jail after serving twenty seven years; we all got a man who had mellowed immensely and showed an imaginable forgiveness towards the white race which had incarcerated him for all those years and; it is his sense of humanity and love for his country and fellow man (woman), he chose reconciliation over retribution.
Without his vision for a peaceful rainbow nation where people of different colour and beliefs could co-exist, we would have had a blood bath in South Africa.
Here is a man who was prepared to die for his country and never, even for once did he allow his country to die for him – even as President he never allowed the riches of South Africa corrupt him and to prove his selfless-ness; having served only one term of his presidency, he announced he would not be running for a second-term – what a mountain of a man!
Mandela sacrificed towards the freedom of others, he was the most influential man in the world. We need leaders of this type of calibre who has a heart of servant leadership, transformative spirits, those with a heart to inspire people all over the world.
Although his fight towards poverty alleviation, equality for all races and to improve unemployment rates for the better, there is still work left to be done. This is left for you and me to continue where he started. May he rest in peace.
I will forever feel honoured to have met and spent some time with him in Maputo a few years ago – before him, I felt very small and insignificant but, he made me feel comfortable and relaxed – Nelson Mandela was unbelievably humble too!
The world has lost its; until yesterday, 5th December 2013, at 9pm; its greatest living Son.
Rest in peace Madiba!
