WINNIE VS NELSON

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a prominent figure in South Africa's liberation movement, who died at the age of 81 in 2018.

Often referred to simply as 'Nelson Mandela's wife,' her legacy extends far beyond that title. She was a powerful freedom fighter and organiser, known for her uncompromising stance, which at times surpassed that of her husband.

Winnie was also a political prisoner during the anti-apartheid movement, enduring imprisonment even while pregnant. She firmly believed that African people must liberate themselves by any means necessary, advocating for the right to use revolutionary violence in response to violent colonial oppression. This conviction created a rift between her and the African National Congress (ANC) in the 1990s. Additionally, she argued for the redistribution of land in Azania - referring to regions in southern Africa, including South Africa and Zimbabwe - to the African populace. Her views on land reform clashed with Nelson Mandela's more conciliatory approach, which many believe has contributed to ongoing inequality and the persistence of settler colonialism.

Winnie once stated, "I have a good relationship with Mandela. But I am not Mandela’s product. I am the product of the masses of my country and the product of my enemy."

In a lecture delivered on 29 November 1993 at Kean College in New Jersey, pan-Africanist and former Nation of Islam leader Khalid Muhammad criticised Nelson Mandela while expressing his support for Winnie.

What are your thoughts on Muhammad's comments?