South African President Jacob Zuma is on a state visit to the United Kingdom where he has had talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The two discussed issues relating to the global economy, trade links, climate change, and the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.
But what received the most press were talks regarding South Africa’s neighbor, Zimbabwe. Gordon Brown stated that sanctions already in place against Zimbabwe should remain. Brown said Zimbabwe must show progress in key areas including democratic reforms.
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South Africa is buzzing about newly elected President Jacob Zuma. Many country men claim that Zuma is the first real South African leader the country has had. Many are quick to add that past presidents – Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki – either came from royalty or were educated abroad unlike Zuma who in his words is a self-educated “farm boy”. We have yet to find out the kind of leader Zuma will be and we got a glimpse of Mbeki with controversial support of Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe. With political turmoil brewing between Mbeki and Zuma, Mbeki was forced to resign as President. My mind wanders to what kind of President Nelson Mandela would have made if he were President longer than his 5 years. I suppose I ask because I wonder how dictators arise in African countries. Please understand I am not assuming or insinuating that Mandela would turn into a power hungry dictator, however, most dictators still in power today on the African continent did not set out to be ruthless.
