We need another revolution to free our people
from the clutches of poverty: Winnie Mandela
D Jose in Thiruvananthapuram
South African President Nelson Mandela's ex-wife and African National Congress Women's League president, Winnie Mandela, today defended the violent means adopted during the anti-Apartheid struggle in her country.
Addressing a meet-the-Press programme organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club here, Mandela, who is in town to take part in the Gandhi Jayanti functions, said she would have loved to adopt peaceful resistance against the Apartheid regime if only the rulers understood the language of non-violence.
"We had to fight violence with violence. We would have loved a transition through peaceful resistance. But it was not simply possible under the circumstances prevailing at that point of time,''
she said.
Mandela said that she would not, under any circumstances, apologise for the blood-shed.
"Those who are demanding an apology for my activities during the revolution can go to hell. I had fought my enemies both physically and politically. I am not going to apologise for my
fight against my enemies," she said.
Regarding the charges of criminal activities levelled against her, she said that they were fabricated by the Whites. "The more allegations they make against me the more they add to my credibility. If they think they can destroy the African National Congress by tarnishing my image, they are wrong," she added.
Mandela said the charge that she was involved in the murder of a child has been found to be false by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. ''The crime was committed by a cop to tarnish my image,'' she said, and added that there were no other serious allegations against her.
When asked whether these charges had prompted President Mandela to divorce
her, she said the charges were made after he decided to desert the family. ''Mr Mandela is the best person to pronounce the reason for his decision,'' she added.
Asked whether she was prepared to drop her surname, she said that she would love to do it, but the people at home would not allow it
.
The ANC leader, who plunged into South Africa's liberation struggle in early 50s, said
that she was not a product of Nelson Mandela. "I am not made by him. My politics was not shaped by him. I chartered my own course based on my convictions. I have struggled hard for the nation's liberation," she added.
Mandela, whose is currently a guest of the Communist-led Kerala government, defended
the South African government's attempt to woo multinationals. She said her country needed massive investments to rebuild the economy shattered by the discriminatory policies of the previous regime. ''The multinational investments could help in levelling the ground,'' she said.
She said the ANC, which came to power in 1994, had made several promises to the people. "Unfortunately we could not fulfil many of them. We need to create jobs to reduce the economic
disparity between the Whites and the Blacks. "We need another revolution to free our people from the clutches of poverty, '' she said.
Replying to a question, Mandela said that though there were no discriminatory laws prevailing in the country now, racial tensions would continue for a long time to come.
She said women, who constitute nearly 40 per cent of the
population, were the most oppressed due to the patriarchal
system followed in the society. ''There is a lot to be done to liberate the
women and enable them to enjoy the fruits of revolution,'' she added
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