Clear the obstacles and confront the enemy (Nelson Mandela, 1976)

[struggle4progress]

The essay was smuggled out of Robben Island prison, where Mandela was serving a life sentence, after his 1964 conviction for sabotage activities against the South African Nationalists' apartheid policies: he was released in 1990 and in 1994 was elected President of South Africa. Much of the essay analyzes the challenging South African political conditions in 1976, the year of the Soweto uprising

... The decision to resort to violence has brought its own problems .., We were elated by our initial successes ... However, we were not strong enough to maintain the offensive ... Acts of sabotage were snuffed out because, in our enthusiasm for violence as a weapon to strike at the enemy, we neglected the important work of strengthening the political organizations ... The net result was a weakened movement ... Of course, tactics must flow out of principle if opportunism is to be avoided ... Some may prefer not to say a word in regard to the mistakes we have made ... We should concentrate more on constructive self criticism and on frankly and publicly acknowledging our own mistakes to our own people. Far from being a sign of weakness it is a measure of one's strength and confidence ... In matters of this nature rigidity is as dangerous as wishful thinking and opportunism ... We will be able to consolidate past gains and to face the future with confidence only if we link up without delay ... This is a crucial minute for big decisions and time is not on our side ...

link to essay: https://omalley.nelsonmandela.org/omalley/index.php/site/q/03lv01538/04lv02009/05lv02010/06lv02013/07lv02014.htm