. Mandela

By STEVEN ZANDE and CHILA NAMAIKO –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has described the death of the iconic anti-apartheid legend Mandela as a loss to South Africa and the entire African continent.
Ms Madikizela-Mandela, a former wife of late apartheid steward Nelson Mandela, who became South Africa’s first black president, died on Monday afternoon after a long illness. She was aged 81.
Mr Lungu said, in his message of condolences to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa  yesterday, that Zambia joined his country in mourning the death of Ms Madikizela-Mandela.
“Mama Winnie Mandela will be remembered for her exemplary leadership and gallant activism against the repressive apartheid regime. She was one of the most recognisable faces of the struggle and a true champion of democracy, equality and human rights.
“Your Excellency, please accept deepest condolences and assurances of my highest consideration,” President Lungu said.
He said Ms Madikizela-Mandela’s relentless and selfless struggle contributed to her country’s aspirations of a just and equal society that many people took for granted today.
Women for Change (WfC) described the late struggle veteran as a courageous and fearless woman who stood by her vision in difficult circumstances, saying her life should be emulated by the present generation.
WfC executive director Lumba Siyanga said Ms Medikizela-Mandela did not stray from her vision to see South Africa liberated from apartheid and her story would be told for many generations to come hence her death should be celebrated.
“She ran her race. She demonstrated that we should never give up on our vision, even when negative things happen to us and today we celebrate her death,” Ms Siyanga said.
She said, in an interview yesterday, how Ms Madikizela-Mandela suffered persecution at the hands of the apartheid government, went through a divorce and later faced accusations but still continued to speak out against injustice in South Africa and elsewhere.
The Non-Governmental Gender Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) said in a statement yesterday that through her courageous selflessness, Ms Madikizela-Mandela kept alive the 27 years of the unjust political imprisonment of her then husband Nelson Mandela at Robin lsland, which simultaneously also kept alive, the South African political freedom struggle.
“Without doubt the death of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has robbed not only South Africa, but also the African continent of a heroine who stood against socio-economic and political injustices,” NGOCC chairperson Sara Longwe said.