Mutumwa Mawere

Today, Thursday, 31 December 2009, is the last day of this remarkable and defining year that began with the inauguration of President Obama as the first African American President of the USA only to be followed by the election of President Zuma as the fourth President of democratic South Africa.

The election of these two men captured eloquently what President Obama called the "audacity of hope".

President Obama represents the most powerful nation on earth at this troubling time in the history of human civilization and President Zuma represents the most powerful African nation.

It is safe to say that God has used these two men as instruments to demonstrate his glory and power that anything is possible and more importantly that nothing is inevitable.

President Obama is not just another American President; he represents a departure from the norm to the extent that the founding fathers of the USA must surely be cursing in their graves about the fact that he is a legitimate resident at the Whitehouse.

Equally, the founding fathers of corporate South Africa and the framers of the apartheid state must also be cursing in their graves about the fact that a man born on 12 April 1942 in a remote place called Inkandla in KwaZulu-Natal Province whose father was a policeman and who only attended school up to standard 3 (the fifth grade at school) and did not receive any formal schooling after primary is the President of the Republic of South Africa and not just of the Zulus, his ethnic tribe.

To some extent the architects of the dualistic South African political economy were inspired by the American experience to transform Africa into a consolidated political and economic formation with South African playing a critical and pivotal role.

Like the American founding fathers, people like Rhodes believed in the superiority of English civilization and had no respect of native values, beliefs and principles.

To the extent that South Africa and America can boast of the progress made in terms of physical and human development, the founding fathers would be proud of their achievements.

A Eurocentric civilization was deemed to be the most appropriate and relevant for human development and everything that was Native American and African was naturally looked down upon.

Although the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", it was clear to the framers of these words that the equality doctrine could not have been intended for a person like Obama.

The road to statehouse for both Zuma and Obama was filled with potholes of pain, injustices, life loss, unhappiness and inequity.

Restoration of civil rights that has permitted us to celebrate these strange occurrences was a consequence of struggles.

Without shedding blood, the Presidencies of Obama and Zuma would be just a mirage.

Obama understood that he had to be the change that he wanted to see.

In the African heritage community, he stands out as a pioneer in converting an idea that ordinary people when they stand together can produce extraordinary outcomes.

Whether President Obama will be a good or bad leader is not as relevant as the fact that just for him to be the Commander-in-Chief of the USA represents change from which we can build on.

The mere fact that he is the President of the USA as a consequence of an electoral process in a country where African Americans are not in the majority is historic and path finding.

In selecting both Obama and Zuma as the AHS-Men of 2009, we were mindful that the journeys to statehouses were different.

One did what he had to do in following the American dream. He went to the top schools and not only excelled in school but acquired an understanding of what it took to rally people behind a cause.

He understood that a people driven change agenda could succeed only when it is properly communicated and grounded. His choice of words and slogans will remain legendary.

His writings will also remain as a useful guide to all who surrender to hopelessness that the future is theirs only when they seize the moment.

Like faith, hope can make the impossible possible.

Some said it was not his time while others said that American would never be ready for a person of African heritage to be its leader.

Obama has demonstrated that nothing is inevitable.

For the first time in American history, we can say that America through Obama has lived up to its promise.

For 232 years, it was not self evident that all men are created equal but now we can partially say that it must have been the intention of the framers of the Declaration that a person like Obama would one day rise up the ladder to prove that anything is possible.

Now it is possible for not only people of African heritage but also other heritages to dream the impossible in America.

With respect to President Zuma, his journey has been infested with roadblocks and pain. If he thought that it would be only the framers of corporate South Africa who would be cursing at his Presidency he was wrong.

Some of his colleagues who worked with him in the struggle to eradicate prejudice became his most potent enemies.

It is self-evident that he represents what was not meant to happen in South Africa. In him, the extremes of African heritage are embodied. For those who believe that Africa must shun its pre-colonial values, beliefs and principles to advance its cause, President Zuma is not their man.

He was inaugurated on 9 May 2009, and after 7 months in office; we can safely say that he has managed to demonstrate that one does not have to compromise who he is in the quest for power, fame or glory.

He has successfully straddled between our past and present. Who could ever imagine that a man of Zuma's profile would be at home at a G-8 Summit and also at a traditional ceremony in Inkandla?

There are many who were afraid of what Obama and Zuma's leadership would mean. As we move to 2010 tomorrow, we can say that both men have made Africans proud.
They have raised the Africa Heritage flag high and we all have a cause to celebrate. Their experiences have added value to the heritage of Africa.

History will record this phase of human development and progress correctly and will be kind to both men.

No doubt cynics would not wish them well. However, we have no choice but to pause and reflect on the message that we all can draw from the ascendancy of these two unusual custodians of the best that African heritage can offer.

They have both taught us that organized, disciplined, mature, and purposeful people can overcome any odds and obstacles that history or men places upon us.

They have also taught us that an idea whose time has come cannot be stopped. We never thought that in our lifetime, the world would look up to a person of African heritage for leadership on complex and path finding issues like climate change, just peace, and development.

There are many of us who believe that a college degree should be the minimum that a leader should possess before they assume political office.

What Zuma has taught us is that knowledge can be acquired even more efficiently and effectively through the many experiences that make life what it is. Formal education can help but it is not sufficient to make one a good leader.

Although our constitutions are as clear as the American declaration of independence that all men are equal there are many of us who believe that education and economic power makes one more human than another.

As we rapidly count down to the 2010 games, we should be inspired that the African heritage flag will be flying high with two of the most powerful people who share our heritage on the world stage to proclaim that Africa does not have to compromise anything in its past but can enrich the world's understanding of humanity from its diverse heritage.

Through Zuma and Obama's experiences my knowledge of what is possible in life has greatly expanded and I do hope that we all can take time to reflect on what we all need to secure and protect our heritage.

Obama is an American President and not an African President of America. He represents even those who despise him and equally Zuma represents all the people of South Africa.

They both have not been elected to represent the global African family but there is no doubt that all the people who call themselves African will be judged by the actions of these two men.

If this is the case, it makes all of us who believe in Africa and its rainbow heritage to redouble our efforts in organizing ourselves for real and sustainable change.

Obama and Zuma have done their part what is left is for us to unite around new inclusive values that best show case who we are as members of the African heritage family.

f Obama can be President of America so can a white person be a President of an independent African state. The question is are we prepared for this outcome?