The Nelson Mandela Foundation has threatened legal action against the president of Congo-Brazzaville Denis Sassou-Nguesso, after discovering that he claimed the foreword of his new book had been penned by the widely revered former South African leader, Nelson Mandela.
The cover of Straight Speaking for Africa by President Sassou-Nguesso proudly proclaims “Foreword by Nelson Mandela”.
Officials at the Foundation expressed concern that Mr. Mandela. 91, is purported to hail a man who came to power in a coup in 1979 and after losing elections regained power by winning a civil war as “one of our great African leaders”.
But the anti-apartheid leader’s foundation, which guards his legacy, issued a statement, declaring : “This is a false claim.
Mr. Mandela has neither read the book nor written a foreword for it. We condemn this brazen abuse of Mr. Mandela’s name.”
Verne Harris, its acting chief executive, said the foundation “is consulting its lawyers on the issue”.
“It’s outrageous,” he said. “Absolutely no request has ever been received and nothing has been signed off by Madiba [Mandela’s clan name, by which he is widely referred to in South Africa].”
The Mandela name is frequently abused for commercial gain, but his supposedly endorsing a figure such as Mr. Sassou-Nguesso – a dictator whose elections are regularly boycotted by the opposition – is even more damaging.
“This is one of the grosser examples with a direct impact for Madiba’s legacy,” said Mr. Harris.
The alleged foreword reads : “In President Denis Sassou Nguesso, I recognize a man who is not only one of our great African leaders, “but also one of those who gave their unconditional support to our fighters’ demand for freedom, and who worked tirelessly to free oppressed peoples from their chains and help restore their dignity and hope.”
A spokesman for Michel Lafon, the publisher, said : “The preface was provided to us by the author of the book, who is a head of state.”
He however declined to comment when asked if the book would be withdrawn.
President Sassou-Nguesso’s office is ye to comment on the issue.
Source African Press Agency
