Mutumwa Mawere

The world was taken by surprise 20 years ago today when the then last President of apartheid South Africa, former President FW de Klerk, made a historic announcement of the beginning of the end of apartheid.

It was a day that will remain etched in African history as one of the most significant and defining one and its historic significance cannot be lost to many who for generations lived under an undemocratic and unjust constitutional order.

I was living in Washington DC at the time oblivious of the true significance of the announcement in Parliament by President de Klerk.

Given the protracted nature of the struggle and the entrenched nature of the apartheid state, it was unthinkable that real change could flow in an evolutionary and peaceful manner and that practitioners of an evil system could self-correct.

On this day, the unthinkable and unpredictable happened. In life it is always difficult to negotiate one out of privilege and to preside over one's own demise.

The decision to unban political organisations and to free Mandela and other political prisoners had its own consequences that must have occupied the mind of President de Klerk when he was making this historic address to Parliament.

It is difficult to imagine that some twenty years ago today; Mandela was a prisoner for a crime that may be difficult to explain to a 20 year old born on the same day this speech was delivered.

After 20 years, South Africa is so different and better for it. The idea of freedom is difficult to explain to any 20 year old who never know what it was like.

The introduction of Mandela to the rest of the world as a free man that was to happen a few days later ushered a new era and sense of optimism that can never be adequately captured in words.

Mandela had made a choice that no matter how painful the past had been there was no benefit in dwelling on it.

For white South Africans, it was a new dawn that opened a window to discover the other part of South Africa that was institutionally and legally hidden from them. The transformation of Mandela from a so-called "terrorist" to a messiah had begun.

Even President de Klerk had no idea how powerful the idea called freedom was. Here was a seemingly powerless man in his old age that had been managed in prison for 27 years and who the outside world barely remembered.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that in making this historic statement, President de Klerk underestimated the idea of freedom and how potent it can be.

Mandela's life like that of many of his comrades in the struggle was a life of political activity dedicated to liberate mankind. Freedom is a priceless gift but when it is underpinned by struggles it can become bitter sweat.

President de Klerk unlocked the gates of South African paradise to all including some of us who would hitherto never contemplate adopting the country as a home. The passion for the emancipation of mankind was unstoppable.
If anyone had doubt about the power of the human spirit to overcome this day was proof. To say it was unexpected is not to exaggerate the significance of this moment in history.

To the African people, this was a day to remember. For Southern Africans, this day brought with it promise and hope.

To South Africans, this day brought with it the hope of a political, legal and economic dispensation underpinned by voluntary interaction and a rejection of a constitutional order based on race and inequality.

Unless we pause, reflect and think about the journey travelled, we may never know what it took to get us where we are.

There are many of us who see the world as it is and others as it should be. Both Presidents de Klerk and Mandela could not have had an idea of what was about to unravel.
It would be difficult to place ourselves in the shoes of the actors of the time but what we know for certain is that change is a consequence of the actions and choices of mankind.

It is easy to take for granted ideas that bring peace and prosperity where they are implemented.

The last 20 years has brought unimaginable prosperity underpinned by a democratic constitutional order even to those who stood opposed to the kind of reforms that President de Klerk announced on this historic day.

The lessons learned from South Africa's unjust and unequal past are that without the rule of law and economic and civil liberties informed by personal choice, responsibility, free and voluntary exchange, and more significantly protection of persons and their property; the prospect of a secure and better future is just an illusion.

As we reflect on the past 20 years, it is difficult to imagine that South Africa was home to many famous political prisoners on the African soil but more importantly it was the address of media restriction and death sentences.

We know that this is all in the past but if the gains of freedom are not jealously guided the past has a tendency of coming back.

On this historic day, what thoughts could have informed de Klerk's mind? There is no doubt that there must have been apprehension from his constituency.

They after all stood to share the economic space and more significantly lose the artificial political dominance based on an unsustainable political dispensation.

We all have a story to tell about the last 20 years. As we look back we can say proudly that we are privileged to celebrate the 20 years of change.

The real question will always be what role each and every one of us has played to make South Africa what it is.

Even Mandela will not be satisfied at some aspects of the South African condition but he can look back with pride at what is possible when people decide to reason together.
The power of reason in human progress cannot be understated.

We have the mind to inform our choices and yet rarely do we rise to the challenges of the day.

There is a lot more that needs to be done and the next 20 years will expose our capacity to put meaning to the irreversible project of change that de Klerk put in motion on this heritage day.

Wherever you may be, please do take a few minutes to reflect on the meaning of today and what we all can do to make Africa the continent we want to be part of.