Too cool, Thabo Mbeki
A cool move from Thabo Mbeki.
On Sunday evening I listened to Thabo Mbeki give his exit address. I was stunned that with just six months to go, the ANC had seen it fit to “recall him”.
Ok, in the last ten or so years that he has held office I have had my serious beef with Mr Mbeki.
His stance on HIV/AIDS. His stance on Zimbabwe. His apparent aloofness toward the common man. All these things made me think he was not the right man to be leading South Africa.
However, to his credit, Thabo Mbeki presided over South Africa’s longest period of economic growth. He was also, as far as I can tell, a man of integrity. As a friend of mine said, “Thabo Mbeki is many things, but corrupt is not one of them.”
I was also impressed with his recent handling of the MDC/ZanuPF discussions. Even Robert Mubage, said of him: “He is a persistent man. He doesn’t give up.”
Then on Sunday, there he was, saying good bye as if it was something a President does every day. He could have sounded bitter and offended, but there was no such thing. He was statesmanly and positive, encouraging South Africans to look to the future, to build a better nation.
I was impressed.
He could have refused, like many other leaders- but he didn’t
He could have used the speech as an opportunity to attack Zuma and co- but he didn’t.
For that, I give him my cool-dude-in-a-president’s-suit award. Too cool Thabo, too cool.
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Jacob Zuma is power hungry. Now all the ministers are resigning. He should have just waited his turn. One day he will regret his brashness.