Address by President Nelson Mandela

On the occasion of the eighth annual award ceremony of The Hunger Project's Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger

Washington, D.C., 5 October 1994

The warm sentiments that are frequently expressed about me compel me very often to put such sentiments in context. I well remember an incident in Robben Island, where I and many others were imprisoned. We were separated from one another. Those who were regarded as most dangerous had their own section, and the rest of the prison population was in another section. And there was very tight security. We hardly ever met. But one day the wardens slipped up and I met a prisoner from the other section. By then I had spent six years in prison, and this prisoner asked now, Who are you? I told him. Where do you come from? I told him. To which organization do you belong? I told him. I then asked, Now who are you. He told me. Where do you come from? He told me from another town in our country. How long have you been here? Five years. To which organization do you belong? To the African National Congress. I had been in Robben Island for six years. He had been in Robben Island for five years. He had never heard of me.

And I think therefore, we must understand that the very encouraging remarks that have been made here both by President Clinton, by Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, and then by the former Secretary-General of the United Nations must be understood in this context. May I, ladies and gentlemen, express my profound and heartfelt appreciation that the jury for the International Prize of The Hunger Project has honored me with this Eighth Annual Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger. I am deeply honored to join the group of past Africa Prize laureates.

Since it began in 1977, The Hunger Project has achieved many successes, particularly through its human development programs. These programs bring together and empower leaders from all sectors of the community, to work together to end hunger. In receiving this Eighth Annual Africa Prize, I would like to commend you for your efforts, and trust that your unselfish dedication and commitment will, in years to come, assume more practical forms to help bring an end to world hunger.

It is especially gratifying that two of the six main initiatives of the global program of The Hunger Project are devoted to Africa. The first initiative, the Africa Prize for the Sustainable End of Hunger, with which you honor me tonight, has helped significantly to encourage the leadership in Africa to strive towards ending hunger on the continent. The second initiative, the African Farmer magazine has made some strides in shaping agricultural policies, in order for Africa to grow more of its own food.

The desperate food situation in Africa is reflected in the latest report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The report concludes that famine and severe food shortages threaten more than 34 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. It identifies civil strife, rather than merely bad weather or natural disasters, as the principal cause of the continent's hunger. It blames the protracted conflict in various countries for damaging fragile agricultural economies, which results also in neighboring agricultural industries buckling under the pressure of millions of refugees.

The tragic civil war in Rwanda is the most recent example of hundreds of thousands of displaced people being forced to seek a refuge in neighboring countries. Their mere presence in those countries led to agricultural and other reserves being taxed to the extreme. The result was the worst human catastrophe in modern times.

Africa as a continent faces a terrible food crisis. Where Africa 25 years ago required less than five per cent of the world food aid, today 47 per cent of global famine relief is channelled to sub-Saharan Africa. This, at time when global surpluses earmarked for food aid are diminishing. Latest estimates indicate that some 25 per cent of food aid is not yet covered by pledges, and deliveries fall seriously short of pledged assistance.

However, international assistance, including food aid, does not provide long-term answers and will not solve our problems. The only sustainable solution lies in an end to conflict, commitment to democracy, sustainable economic growth and effective agricultural policies. Ordinary Africans are committed to working tirelessly towards the goal of durable peace, so that our economies, including our agricultural sectors, can prosper to the benefit of all our people. The leadership in our countries cannot afford to fail them.

We in South Africa know too well that our newly-won freedom would amount to naught if it did not entail fundamental socio-economic changes to address and remove the legacy of poverty and deprivation bequeathed by apartheid. The broad goals of reconstruction and development are at the center of a national consensus which informs our Government of National Unity. We will be pursuing those goals with the same commitment which inspired us during the years of struggle against apartheid.

There is conflict in many parts of the world, and many people have asked us, How is it that in your country which was divided from top to bottom by racial tensions, conflict has managed to bring the masses of the people together, former enemies? One of the principles which leaders in such a situation should observe in assessing whether we should work with our former enemies is the sacred principle, that the greatest glory of living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall. It has been said that a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying. And that opens the possibility for all of us to strive to be saints. This is particularly pertinent to those countries, which are at present torn asunder by conflict. In your region we have a similar situation in Haiti. Tomorrow, I will be meeting my friend, the President Aristide. I have said earlier today that President Aristide has a very, very serious weakness, which I intend to exploit to the full. He is a man with a vision, flexible, broad-minded, and I will exploit that to the full when I meet him.

But to return to my theme. The reconstruction and development program involves a total transformation of our society. For that reason it needs a partnership of all sectors of the community and joint strategies for dynamic and sustained economic growth. We are committed to fiscal stability and careful use of our national resources. We are convinced that, like elsewhere in Africa, it is well within our means and capabilities to eliminate scourges such as poverty, lack of housing and hunger, to name but a few. We are determined to do so.

Conservative estimates indicate that some 18 million South Africans are presently living below the bread line. This cannot be allowed to continue. Our Reconstruction and Development Program sets a time-frame of three years within which to meet the challenge of providing every South African with basic daily nutritional requirements. Great as this challenge is, we are confident that we will succeed. I am pleased to report that we have already begun a program catering for the basic food needs of millions of children undergoing primary education. The contribution of this scheme to children's development and to the culture of learning, cannot be over-emphasized.

I would like to conclude by referring to the challenge facing Africa in relieving hunger. We in Africa know that we have it in our power to better our own lives. I am positive and confident about the new spirit abroad on our continent to face these issues squarely and to tackle them honestly. Then Africans will be able to walk tall, not as beggars with begging bowl in hand, but as free and prosperous nations.

Having travelled very widely since February 1990 and met leaders of thought in practically every part of the world, I can say without any danger of contradiction that the continent of Africa has produced sons and daughters of caliber, men and women who measure up to the challenges facing them. It must be understood that most of the problems facing our continent are the legacy of colonialism. They are the legacy of teething troubles, of a continent which has never been given opportunities to lead, to assert themselves. And now the sons and daughters of our continent are rising to the challenge, and I have no doubt in my mind that at the end of their efforts to meet those challenges, we will be able to say that they have done their duty to their country, to their people, and to humanity as a whole.

I wish The Hunger Project every success in the challenges you face and sincerely hope that you continue to make an even greater practical impact in your efforts.

I love each and every one of you. You are my brothers and sisters. You are my children, my grandchildren. I sincerely wish I was carrying big pockets with me that I could put all of you in my pocket and take you back to South Africa. You are citizens of the most powerful state in the world. You have a dynamic and highly competent President. You are poised to play a decisive role in world affairs, and in helping the developing countries. I have no doubt that you will live up to expectations. May God bless you and your future endeavors.

I thank you.