It is a tricky thing, diplomacy

The art of diplomacy is really tricky in a world full of loved leaders like Nelson Mandela and elements such as Abacha. Others may add George Bush, Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, Jonas Savimbi, Mobutu Sese Seko, Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, Robert Mugabe, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, Kgalema Mothlante, Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Mikheil Saakashvili and many others to either side of the line.

All manner of decisions were taken that these leaders consider to be in the best interests of the nations they lead. Saddam was hanged. Putin was seemingly associated in the press with words such a “hang him by the balls”. The terrain is not very level. Chief diplomatic advisers are correct to initiate alternatives such as silent diplomacy in an arena where many leaders were brutally condemned for preferring careful engagement instead of verbal assault of erring leaders.

It is for this reason that I agreed with Cosatu when, in the mid 1990s, said that it is a wrong assumption to think that if President Mandela had said strong words to the Abacha regime that would have stopped the culprits from hanging Saro-Wiwa and other fellow fighters for democracy in Nigeria.

From his involvement against Abacha, Mandela was a recipient of harsh attacks when descriptions such as sex-starved were reported. From this, I really never had a problem with Thabo Mbeki’s policy of silent diplomacy when handling Robert Mugabe. This policy saved us a lot of time that could have been lost in the resolution of the Zimbabwean question if we had to ensure accommodation of such trivia as name calling instead of focusing on hard questions that needed to be answered to restore the pride of Zimbabwe, Southern Africa and the continent.

As we continue to deal with our world as it is, I wish it on Kgalema Mothlante and whoever becomes the future President of South Africa to tread very carefully in this, the world of diplomacy. If however popularity is the preferred outcome or being shot down advances the agenda, one should definitely not delay to put their foot in it and tackle rough.