South African History Online

Speech by President Nelson Mandela on the occasion of the presentation of the Africa Peace Award to the nation of Mozambique

Durban, 1 November 1997

Master of Ceremony,
Your Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini;
Your
Excellency President Chissano;
Your Excellency Salim Ahmed
Salim,
Secretary General of the OAU;
Honourable Ministers;
Premier Ben
Ngubane and Members of the Provincial Cabinet;
Ladies and gentlemen,

We are here tonight, in our own humble way, to celebrate the African
Renaissance. The time for Africa's renewal, for our continent to occupy the
pedestal of the successful, has come to pass. Africa yearns and deserves to
redeem her glory; to reassert her centuries-old contribution to economics,
politics, culture and th arts; and once more to b a poneer in the many fields of
human endeavour.

The possibility for us to achieve this lies in the African heart and mind. It
resides in the determination to let our humanity flourish in the searh fo
justice, peace and social development.

Tonight we meet to celebrate an African achievement. The pulsating drums of
our joy express our appreciation for a people who have risen like a phoenix from
the ashes of war to become a symbol of peace, tranquility and rapid economic
development.

Such are the people of Mozambique. And if we shout our voices hoarse in their
praise, it is because we see in them a mirror image of ourselves as a continent:
a microcosm of the endeavours that contain within them the possibility to make
Africa great once more.

As we find ourselves on the threshold of a new millennium, and as we traverse
our way to a new and desired world order, challenges and opportunities facing
nations and indeed the international community, are destined to be many and
varied.

Primary among these obstacles which punctuate our march towards placing
Africa at the centre of developments, is the prevalence of conflicts in parts of
our continent. We do acknowledged that great progress has been made towards
justice, peace and democracy on the African continent. Indeed, it is this trend
that characterises African political dynamics today.

But one destabilising conflict anywhere on the continent is one too many. And
our task, as African peoples and leaders, is not to decry the negative; but to
seize opportunities that beckon. This is the essence of our celebration
tonight.

On the continent, numerous positive initiatives promise not only to bring an
end to conflict; but also, where possible, to prevent it. The continuing work of
the Conflict Management Unit of our continental organisation the OAU, is a
remarkable achievement that we can all be proud of. The resolve of sub-regional
organisations like SADC, ECOWAS and IGAD to deal with conflict in their
respective sub-regions is a sign of hope.

The relative success that we have attained in Southern Africa vindicates our
belief that conflicts can and must be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

It also underlines the need to root our search for peace and stability on
democratic forms of governments. For as long as the majority of people anywhere
on the continent feel oppressed, are not allowed democratic participation in
decision-making processes, and cannot elect their own leaders in free and fair
elections, there will always be tension and conflict. For as long as legitimate
bodies of opinion feel stifled, vile minds will take advantage of justifiable
grievances to destroy, to kill and to maim.

Lack of good governance and democracy is in itself a destabilising factor.
The initiatives of the OAU, supported by bodies such as ACCORD, to establish an
early-warning mechanism and the shift from conflict-management to
conflict-prevention should be enhanced by the democratisation of our political
systems. Above all, they should be underpinned by joint efforts to create a just
and equitable world economic order; an environment which affords African peoples
the opportunity and wherewithal to better their lives without the often
suffocating dictates of those who command international economic power.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is a matter of proud record that more and more leaders on our continent
are taking up the challenge of the new age. Personally, I have been particularly
pleased by the eagerness of many of our Presidents to make their good offices
available for the brokering of peace in conflict situations.

Indeed, Africa has what it takes to make her dream of revival come true. We
are rising from the ashes of war.

Tonight's occasion is proof of this. The people of Mozambique assisted by
regional and international partners, are rebuilding a country once ravaged
beyond recognition by prolonged conflict.

It is the irony of history that the 1992 Rome Accord which ushered in a new
era for Mozambique and our sub-region, has faded in the public mind and seems
decades away. Such is the harvest of success; that the fruit we reap is soon
taken for granted.

Today we dare to remind ourselves of the devastation wrought by what was
essentially apartheid's war of attrition. We dare to acknowledged the
magnanimity and co-operation of the leaders of the Mozambican government and the
opposition, all of whom played a vital role in bringing about a triumph that is
as Mozambican as it is African.

At the pinnacle of the success are the Mozambican people. For, as leaders, we
are only the facilitators of peace. It is the people of our nations who, through
their courage, commitment and efforts translate our political initiatives into
practical deeds.

President Chissano:

Your initiatives and the co-operation of Mr. Alfonso Dhlakama, and indeed the
backing of the Mozambican people, deserve praise and acknowledgement. Only
history can record the greatness of your gestures. Let future generations in
Mozambique and all Africa recognise your nation as one of true African patriots.
It is hard to find words to commend your courage and determination.

But what we do know is that your children and their children will sing your
praises far into the future.

And what we can commit ourselves to, as your neighbours, is that we will not
waver in our determination to battle along with you against poverty in our
region; we shall spare neither strength nor effort in the great task of
reconstruction; we shall forever extend our hand of friendship and co-operation,
across the miles, to promote the peace and prosperity that our peoples
deserve.

From the bottom of my heart, it is my esteemed honour to confer on the nation
of Mozambique the 1997 African Peace Award.

Issued by: Office of the President