Showing posts with label nelson mandela. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nelson mandela. Show all posts

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

95th birthday of Nelson Mandela marked

Nelson Mandela has celebrated his 95th birthday. The former South African Leader, still gravely sick following a chronic lung illness, is said to be making improvement towards a steady condition.

Present South African President Jacob Zuma is claimed to be “encouraged” by Mr. Mandela’s progress. “I was able to say ‘happy birthday’ and he was able to smile,” said Mr. Zuma in a statement.

Mandela’s birthday can be Worldwide Mandela Day, one day declared by U.N in honour of the Man’s contributions to racial equality, too as to South Africa and the world.

South African artiste Paul Blomkamp will reveal a large painting of Mandela in New York’s Times Square and numerous commemorative concerts might be happening in Melbourne, Australia.

In Africa, school children will be singing a synchronised rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ for our President, while Leader Zuma will supervise the donation of houses to poor families in the Pretoria area. In Johannesburg, residents and well wishers shall be forming a Human chain that is likely to stretch from the Fashion District much of the way to that heart of that city.

Meanwhile, volunteers around the planet (including British Entrepreneur Richard Branson) will donate 67 minutes to charitable action or community service, so as to mark Mr. Mandela’s sixty seven years of public service (a time which has his prison sentence, as well as his time as a lawyer, an activist and South Africa’s first black President).

Mr. Mandela’s daughter Zindzi was quoted as saying that her father was making “remarkable improvement” reporting that he is viewing hospital television with headsets on. “We expect having him back in the home soon” she said.

Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel has said that she is “less anxious” about his wellbeing than before. Nowadays also marks the couple’s 15th wedding celebration.

Mr. Mandela is generally communicating together with his eyes and hands, but guests often say again that he is smiling a lot also.

Following a gift-giving ceremony in the Mamelodi Township, Mandela’s relatives will share a unique birthday lunch with him. The family have prepared ninety five cupcakes in his honour.


Thursday, 25 July 2013

After days in hospital, Nelson Mandela is gradually getting better

Former South African President and civil rights icon Nelson Mandela, who is in hospital since the 8th Of june, has in the last few days showed some small signs of improvement, reported by South African Leader Jacob Zuma.

According to Mr. Zuma, who cancelled a visit to Mozambique in order to go to the 94 year old in hospital, “He is significantly better today than he was when I visited him last night.”

Mr. Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe has also reported that her father is “still there”, which has given faith to tens of millions worldwide who wish the former Leader a immediate recuperation. Though, she has also confirmed “he doesn’t look good”. Mandela’s circumstance remains to be believed to be critical.

Large crowds have gathered outside the hospital, with a group of kids who released ninety four balloons, one for each year of Mandela’s life. US President Barack Obama described Mr. Mandela as “a hero for the world” and commented that his legacy will survive throughout the ages.

Online, an enormous outburst of support for Mr. Mandela, too as his family and legacy, has dwarfed the moderately limited, racially motivated attempts to sully the former President’s name for shock value and/or internet hits.

Nelson Mandela was the driving energy behind the replacement of the racist Apartheid regime and a multi-racial South African democracy.

For his proceedings as a member of that political underground, Mr. Mandela was locked up for 27 years. Before he was sentenced, Mandela notably made his argument for freedom and equality in the Rivona courtroom.

“We all have respected the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all people live together in harmony and with equal chances (…) It is an ideal that I hope to live for also to accomplish. But if needs be, it is an ideal that I am prepared to die.” He said. Upon his liberate, Madela eventually grew to become South Africa’s first black President and was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, with former President F.W de Klerk, in 1993.

Since voluntarily stepping down as Leader in 1999, Mr. Mandela has worked as an envoy, campaigned against HIV/AIDS (an affliction which resulted in the death of his son in 2005) and negotiated peace treaties in Africa and somewhere else in the world. On his 89th birthday, he formed ‘The Elders’ a bunch of leading statesmen and well-known figures, with the intent of tackling some of the world’s toughest troubles.

In 2004, he retired from public life altogether, seeking to engage in “quiet reflection”.

I wish Mr. Mandela a powerful and quick recuperation and remain hopeful that, in spite of his advanced years, the man known the world over as ‘Madiba’ can continue to work as the source for good on this earth.

SOURCES:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12305154

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23085736