Posted on 12/12/2013 7:30:51 PM PST by nickcarraway
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has denied media reports suggesting relations with the late South Africa president Nelson Mandela were strained, describing the late global icon as a “great friend”.
Commentators have long claimed Mugabe was not happy to lose his standing as Africa’s leading liberation hero following Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 and subsequent rise to a revered global icon.
The Zimbabwean leader was also peeved by Mandela’s criticism of his rule as Zimbabwe’s economy collapsed amid allegations of widespread corruption, human rights abuses and electoral fraud.
Mugabe remarkably took his time to issue a condolence message after Mandela’s death aged 95 at his Johannesburg home last Thursday.
He later (on Saturday) paid tribute to "a champion of the oppressed" before joining world leaders at a memorial on Tuesday and also attended the body viewing on Wednesday.
Returning home Wednesday, the Zimbabwean leader denied relations with Mandela were frosty as he addressed reporters at Harare International Airport.
“I don’t know about any feud. If anything, there was an alliance. We worked very well with him when he came out of prison. We gave him support,” he said.
In his later years, Mandela was publicly critical of Mugabe and appeared to suggest, during a meeting with former French president Nicholas Sarkozy that the Zimbabwean leader was not happy with his release from prison.
This clown is still alive? What is he, like 345 years old?
Quote of the Day
“Nelson Mandela is a leader who Barack Obama should try to emulate. He could start by spending 27 years in prison.”
— Don Imus
I always thought that Robert should go by, Bobby Mugabe. It sounds so much warmer and caring.
Thanks nickcarraway.
NBC Quietly Deletes Mugabe from Obama-Castro Handshake Story
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3100777/posts
Ping to the Barak Obama examplary pol, Robert Mugagbe.
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