Graça Machel Discusses Nelson Mandela’s Legacy

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: When you think about him at this time, as you say, it’s the 100th birthday, anniversary and it’s also a time when we are all talking about the vacuum of global leadership, the crisis of global leadership. And Nelson Mandela was the epitome of what a great leader can and should be. Is there something particular apart from your very personal feelings that you feel the world is lacking without him in it?

GRACA MACHEL, WIDOW OF NELSON MANDELA: Courage. I see — Nelson Mandela, for me, is Madiba. I see Madiba’s leadership as the highest reference of courageous leadership in face of extremely challenging situations, to go beyond himself and put the lives and the interests of his people at the highest level and prepare to sacrifice personally and even to take risks which his leadership could be questioned by his colleagues but take the courage to do the right thing at the right time. I think we lack this today. The world is confronted with — let’s use the example of conflict and peace, which exactly is where his contribution is more significant. We do not have anyone who can take the courage to say, “The was in Syria has to stop.” To say, “It’s unacceptable was is happening in Yemen and why in South Sudan — I mean, agreement after agreement nothing holds and people continue to be killed, displaced, refugees. I could go on and on. That lack of courageous leadership, to do the right thing at the right time, I feel is what is missing.