Sorry for using Mandela for marketing

Verne Harris, the foundation's acting chief executive, said Michel Lafon and Africa World Press, which published Sassou-Nguesso's book Straight Speaking for Africa, sent Madiba a letter of apology on Wednesday, 21 October 2009.

They apologised for "suggesting" that Mandela endorsed the book after a quotation from a dated speech was used as the book's foreword.

Mandela's name was used on the front cover of the book.

"The question is not about whether Mandela said that in a speech; the issue is that his quotation is being used as a marketing tool, implying that Mandela endorsed their book," said Harris.

"That is what 'foreword' means - [it is] an endorsement, which we are saying is not true."

He said the Mandela Foundation had demanded that the publishers remove "all the publicity materials and future materials" making reference to Mandela having endorsed the book.

Mandela is quoted in a foreword to the 260-page book as saying: "In President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, I recognise a man who is not only one of our great leaders, but also one of those who gave their unconditional support to our fighters' demand for freedom, and who worked tirelessly to free oppressed peoples from their chains and help restore their dignity and hope."

Harris said the foundation stands by its statement this week that the name of Mandela has been "abused".

This despite the South African ambassador to the Republic of Congo, Welsh Makanda, recently saying the foundation's denial of the validity of Mandela's quote has "embarrassed the country" because the former president had, he said, made the comments attributed to him in the foreward in a speech.

It is yet to be established when and where the speech was made.

Harris said, however, that it was a matter of Mandela's name being used as a marketing tool for the book, and not the comment itself.

"We are still seeking legal advice. The embarrassment caused to Mandela's name should be of paramount importance when we are dealing with this matter."

He said the foundation's lawyers were in contact with Sassou-Nguesso's office.

The Congolese embassy in Pretoria said on Thursday, 22 Octber 2009 it was not ready to comment because it was waiting for a directive from the Congolese leader.

Source: The Times

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