PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Mandela's new book to be published shortly
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – The highly anticipated sequel to Nelson Mandela’s international best seller Long Walk To Freedom will be released on Thursday.
"Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years" tells the extraordinary story of Mandela’s presidency from 1994-1999. Mandela began writing the book towards the end of his presidency, but was unable to finish it. 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 previously unseen archival material.
The book tells the story of the transition from decades of apartheid rule and the challenges Mandela overcame to make a reality of his cherished vision for a liberated South Africa.
It recalls his speech at the final sitting of the first democratically elected parliament in Cape Town on 26 March, 1999 when he reflected on his presidency:
"I am the product of Africa and her long-cherished dream of a rebirth that can now be realised so that all her children may play in the sun. If I have been able to help take our country a few steps towards democracy, non-racialism and non-sexism, it is because I am a product of the African National Congress, of the movement for justice, dignity and freedom that produced countless giants in whose shadow we find our glory.
"When, as will be the case in a few months, I once again become an ordinary citizen of our land, it shall be as one whose concerns and capacities are shaped by the people of our land. I will count myself as amongst the aged of our society; as one of the rural population; as one concerned for the children and youth of our country; and as a citizen of the world committed, as long as I have the strength, to work for a better life for all the people everywhere.
"And as I have always done, I will do what I can within the discipline of the broad movement for peace and democracy to which I belong.”
The book is being published in South Africa and the United States. Translation rights have been sold in Denmark, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 18Oct2017
"Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years" tells the extraordinary story of Mandela’s presidency from 1994-1999. Mandela began writing the book towards the end of his presidency, but was unable to finish it. 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 previously unseen archival material.
The book tells the story of the transition from decades of apartheid rule and the challenges Mandela overcame to make a reality of his cherished vision for a liberated South Africa.
It recalls his speech at the final sitting of the first democratically elected parliament in Cape Town on 26 March, 1999 when he reflected on his presidency:
"I am the product of Africa and her long-cherished dream of a rebirth that can now be realised so that all her children may play in the sun. If I have been able to help take our country a few steps towards democracy, non-racialism and non-sexism, it is because I am a product of the African National Congress, of the movement for justice, dignity and freedom that produced countless giants in whose shadow we find our glory.
"When, as will be the case in a few months, I once again become an ordinary citizen of our land, it shall be as one whose concerns and capacities are shaped by the people of our land. I will count myself as amongst the aged of our society; as one of the rural population; as one concerned for the children and youth of our country; and as a citizen of the world committed, as long as I have the strength, to work for a better life for all the people everywhere.
"And as I have always done, I will do what I can within the discipline of the broad movement for peace and democracy to which I belong.”
The book is being published in South Africa and the United States. Translation rights have been sold in Denmark, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 18Oct2017
