Dare not linger
Subtitle: the presidential years
By: Nelson Mandela and Mandla Langa ; with a prologue by Graça Machel
Contributors: Langa, Mandla, 1950- author
Edition: First American edition.
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 358
ISBN-13: 9780374134716
Copyright date: 2017
Subjects: Politics and government; Presidents; Biography
Description: "'I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.'--Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom. In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first president of a democratic South Africa. From the outset, he was committed to serving only a single five-year term. During his presidency, he and his government ensured that all of South Africa's citizens became equal before the law, and he laid the foundation for turning a country riven by centuries of colonialism and apartheid into a fully functioning democracy. Dare Not Linger is the story of Mandela's presidential years, drawing heavily on the memoir he began to write as he prepared to leave office, but was unable to finish. Now the acclaimed South African writer Mandla Langa has completed the task, using Mandela's unfinished draft, detailed notes that Mandela made as events were unfolding, and a wealth of unseen archival material. With a prologue by Mandela's widow, Graça Machel, the result is a vivid and often inspirational account of Mandela's presidency and the creation of a new democracy. It tells the story of a country in transition and the challenges Mandela faced as he strove to make his vision for a liberated South Africa a reality."--Dust jacket flap.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 326-340) and index.
Table of contents: title: The challenge of freedom; title: Negotiating democracy; title: A free and fair election; title: Getting into the union buildings; title: National unity; title: The presidency and the Constitution; title: Parliament; title: Traditional leadership and democracy; title: Transformation of the state; title: Reconciliation; title: Social and economic transformation; title: Negotiating the media; title: On the African and world stages.