Mandela’s shameful attitude to Mugabe

I ATTENDED Nelson Mandela’s honorary doctorate acceptance speech five years ago at NUI Galway.

He spoke of not shirking from our responsibility to criticise our friends when they are making mistakes or involved in wrongdoing.

In keeping with this principle, he condemned the war in Iraq despite the assistance George Bush had given African leaders in setting up truth and reconciliation commissions.

Mr Mandela expanded vociferously on these sentiments in the international media while maintaining complete silence about the disintegration of democracy and human rights under Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe.

His brief reference recently to the violence in Zimbabwe and Mugabe’s “tragic failure of leadership” is shamefully tame and belated.

Liam Quaide,

Spencer House

Mayor Street

Dublin 1