INSIDE ISSUES
REMEMBERING A LEGEND
The Acting Editor’s note
The fifth December 2013 will forever be marked as the day the world lost one of its greatest leaders. In spite of his age and ailing health, the world prayed and waited in hope that South Africa’s first black President would recover.
I happened to be scrolling through my Twitter feed when the news broke of his passing. While I joined the many thousands conveying condolences, several hashtags including #RIPNelsonMandela and #NelsonMandela quickly became the top trending searches. By the following morning, the global response had matched the sentiments expressed via all platforms of social media.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, ‘Madiba’ or ‘Tata’ as he was fondly called by many South Africans was not only a father of his country, but a figure of incredible courage, humility and strength for countless other people around the world. His lengthy and arduous struggle for equality for all South Africans changed the path for all his countrymen; his capacity for compassion and understanding was
a quality admired by many. As people flocked to respective South African consulates to pay their respects to the great man, I too joined the crowds at South Africa House in Trafalgar Square in London, U.K. The long line of people waiting to sign the book of condolences was indeed a rainbow of every colour and creed imaginable – a fitting example to seal Mandela’s legacy.
The struggle of Nelson Mandela’s journey is now well documented, but several facts I hadn’t been aware of until recently only reinforced his “legend” status.
• Nelson Mandela was a strong advocate of women’s rights, drawing up a constitution in order to protect them from discrimination, domestic violence and rape; • During the time spent in Robben Island, the number of hours spent on physical backbreaking work left him with permanent eye damage; • He refused the offer of being re- leased six times during imprisonment on the island, asking “What freedom am I being offered while the organiza-
236 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Four
tion of the people (African National Congress) remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.”
While he was far from perfect – which he never claimed to be – his passion and belief in equality and a peaceful South Africa never once faltered. His story is testament that each and every one of us can make a good change in our lifetime if our will and belief is strong enough. It is fitting then that this issue
of The Parliamentarian contains the reports and speeches from the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Johannesburg. Despite three months having passed since I attended the conference, my memories of the country and the many wonderfully warm and charismatic South Africans I encountered lives on. The scope of Nelson Mandela’s influence on the people could be heard every time someone would quote the great man. It was an experience I’m truly grateful to have witnessed first hand. Over 400 participants from
approximately 175 Parliaments and Legislatures around the Commonwealth, came together to discuss issues on the theme of “Effective Solutions to Commonwealth Developmental Challenges”. The President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Jacob Zuma, delivered a poignant and pertinent address at the opening of the conference, speaking about 20 years of freedom and the values outlined in the Commonwealth Charter.
The Summary Reports of the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, the 33rd Small Branches Conference and the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference are published in this issue.
We also publish the Opening Ceremony speeches of the CPA President , Hon. Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, MP, Chairperson of the South African National Council of Provinces, and 2014 CPA Vice-President, Hon. Cavayé Yéguié Djibril, MP, of Cameroon. It also includes speeches
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