AfricaBlog

President Mbeki Celebrates Democracy and Progress

In South Africa, President Mbeki celebrated a decade of democracy and progress. While I've been critical of Mbeki, I admit to celebrating with him. While there is much left to do to make good on the promise of South Africa's potential, none of it happens overnight.

Mr Mbeki then went on to list his government's achievements in attaining those goals.

He said that the economy has grown steadily from an inauspicious start and added that the government had provided housing, water and electricity for millions of people, but he acknowledged that more needed to be done to bring them out of poverty.

"We have not as yet eradicated the cruel legacy we inherited," he said.

Leaving behind shortcomings, leaving behind partisan bickering, South Africa truly has grown into an example for those African nations still laboring under tyranny, poverty, and war. South Africa proves the idea that democracy can grow, freedom can be nourished, and power can be shared without bloodshed--ideas that haven't taken root in much of post-imperial, sub-Saharan Africa.

Today is a good day to celebrate what South Africa has achieved, and to look forward to even greater accomplishments.

Read the story.

Posted by zombyboy at February 6, 2004 09:41 AM