By Masimba Mukichi
(News Of The South) – By making the will of the late great Nelson Mandela public – they were also exposing it to public scrutiny. While I adore the late great Nelson Mandela with all my heart – having read the contents of the will from a variety of news outlets, I must confess that I have a lot to admire in the will.
By giving generous amounts to various educational institutions, by giving a portion of his spoils to his personal aids, by giving generously to Samora Machel’s six children from an earlier marriage and other kith and kin – Mandela was simply the best generous human being .
Whilst I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the will – I am also left with a burning question. Whilst his will was so generous to some it didn’t really convince me fully when it comes to his three elder daughters and his estranged wife Winnie.
According to the will his three elder daughters were only rewarded by the cancellation of debts rather than getting a share. In reality these three daughters are Madiba’s immediate survivors who by all means are entitled to a portion of their father’s wealth not to say what they were duly given by their father in his life time amounts to a share they were already given. Every sensible father has a duty to prop up his children when they need money.
If they can’t get a portion -who is going to get it? Blood is thicker than water. Unless there’re deep rooted grudges and misunderstandings, we don’t know which existed between Mandela and his daughters.
Whilst the will appears so generous to many – I am contented that there was bad blood between Mandela and Winnie. Mandela did not extend an olive branch to Winnie. He vented his bitterness to Winnie by not giving her even a small token from his will.
Considering that Winnie was the pillar of strength for Nelson Mandela – in highs and lows for more than 27-years.It would have been the noblest idea, if the will had just given her a slice of Mandela’s fortune. Even though they had divorced the history of South Africa won’t be complete without mentioning Winnie Mandela. Whatever fissures which might have led to their divorce – Winnie stood by Mandela whilst he was in prison and it is fair to surmise that the long imprisonment of Nelson Mandela is to blame for this sad divorce.
Winnie Mandela is the mother of the nation who deserved a slice of the cake from his gallant estranged late husband. The two, Nelson and Winnie Mandela walked that long walk to freedom together. What also made their bond tighter is that they will forever remain the grand parents of their children’s descendants and let’s make no mistake, Winnie will always be part of the Mandela family – She walked that long walk to freedom arm in arm with Nelson Mandela so it is anyone’s guess that she deserves a place in the Mandela clan.
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