http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=002581905607950&rtmo=pIM3espe&atmo=tttttttd&pg=/et/00/5/7/wzim07.html
Topple Mugabe, Mandela urges
By Christina Lamb
NELSON MANDELA last night called on the people of Zimbabwe to take up arms against President Robert Mugabe.
Nelson Mandela: sentiments seem at odds with those of President Thabo Mbeki
The Nobel peace prize-winning former South African president condemned leaders who used power to enrich themselves while their people went hungry. Speaking in Johannesburg at a United Nations conference on children, he said: "The public must bring these tyrants down themselves." To do this, people should "pick up rifles".
Asked whether he was referring to Mr Mugabe, he replied: "Everybody here knows who I am talking about. The situation exists in many parts of the world, especially Africa." The leaders he was referring to may have liberated their countries, he said, but "after rubbing shoulders" with the rich and powerful wanted to become like that themselves.
His sentiments seem at odds with those of President Thabo Mbeki, his successor as South African leader, who has refused to condemn the violence and invasions of white-owned farms in Zimbabwe. Mr Mandela's remarks were clearly targeted at Mr Mugabe whose country is facing its worst crisis in 20 years of independence.
Mr Mandela, who has been involved in peacemaking efforts everywhere from the Middle East to Burundi, might have been the natural person to try to resolve the situation. But the two veterans of African freedom struggles are bitter enemies. Mr Mugabe, 76, resents 80-year-old Mr Mandela for usurping his role as Africa's foremost elder statesman since his release from jail in 1990.
Meanwhile, new evidence obtained by The Telegraph shows that Zimbabwe's military has been organising the farm occupations. On Friday, the country's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was arrested and briefly detained in a clear attempt at intimidation.
Topple Mugabe, Mandela urges
By Christina Lamb
NELSON MANDELA last night called on the people of Zimbabwe to take up arms against President Robert Mugabe.
Nelson Mandela: sentiments seem at odds with those of President Thabo Mbeki
The Nobel peace prize-winning former South African president condemned leaders who used power to enrich themselves while their people went hungry. Speaking in Johannesburg at a United Nations conference on children, he said: "The public must bring these tyrants down themselves." To do this, people should "pick up rifles".
Asked whether he was referring to Mr Mugabe, he replied: "Everybody here knows who I am talking about. The situation exists in many parts of the world, especially Africa." The leaders he was referring to may have liberated their countries, he said, but "after rubbing shoulders" with the rich and powerful wanted to become like that themselves.
His sentiments seem at odds with those of President Thabo Mbeki, his successor as South African leader, who has refused to condemn the violence and invasions of white-owned farms in Zimbabwe. Mr Mandela's remarks were clearly targeted at Mr Mugabe whose country is facing its worst crisis in 20 years of independence.
Mr Mandela, who has been involved in peacemaking efforts everywhere from the Middle East to Burundi, might have been the natural person to try to resolve the situation. But the two veterans of African freedom struggles are bitter enemies. Mr Mugabe, 76, resents 80-year-old Mr Mandela for usurping his role as Africa's foremost elder statesman since his release from jail in 1990.
Meanwhile, new evidence obtained by The Telegraph shows that Zimbabwe's military has been organising the farm occupations. On Friday, the country's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, was arrested and briefly detained in a clear attempt at intimidation.