Mosisili: the ‘miracle’ worker

ON April 22, 2009, a group of about 15 mercenaries that was led the late Makotoko Lerotholi aka Mashai attacked the State House, the Makoanyane barracks and attempted to kill former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. Last week, newspaper headlines read, “Mosisili forgives mercenaries”. That was a commendable act of mercy from a man who has been through a lot, that act makes Mosisili a man of all seasons. Even when he has retired from active politics, he is still making an impact for the right reasons. The word that caught the attention of the media last week is “forgive”. What does forgive mean? What did it mean for Mosisili to go to the Maseru Maximum Prison and say he forgives them in that unbelievably traumatic incident? This visit came after the mercenaries wrote a letter to Mosisili pleading with him to forgive them. But how could Mosisili forgive people who attempted to kill him and oust him from power? Does this make any sense? How can we have justice and forgiveness at the same time? How can we have accountability for the violation of Lesotho’s laws along with application of Mosisili’s mercy? In this case forgiveness comes at the end of justice, when the Lesotho Correctional Services is considering releasing these mercenaries on parole. Every one of us needs to understand and come to terms with the issue of forgiveness. Before we go any further, we need to define forgiveness. But let’s start with what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is not a compromise of morality. Our justice system ensures that the murderer will not get away with murder, and the sex offender will not get away with molestation. I am convinced that forgiveness is not a violation of justice. Forgiveness is not merely the avoidance of conflict. There are a lot of us who do not like conflict. We don’t want to share hard feelings or harsh words with someone else, so we skirt around issues of conflict. Sometimes forbearance is the right thing to do, but simple avoidance of conflict is not the same as forgiveness. Mosisili did not forgive simply because he was avoiding conflict with these mercenaries. When one forgives, you do not gloss over or deny the seriousness of an offence against you. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, nor does it mean condoning or excusing offences. Though forgiveness can help repair a damaged relationship, it doesn’t obligate you to reconcile with the person who harmed you, or release them from legal accountability. So, what really is the meaning of forgiveness? For a moment, try to forget everything you have heard or assumed about forgiveness. Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. The key word here is release, which is also acceptable in Biblical terms. Now for a moment, don’t make it any more complicated than that — release. To forgive means to choose to take someone whom you have been holding in your debt, holding in resentment and bitterness, and release him or her. Forgiveness does not mean Mosisili is fine with the destructive acts of the mercenaries. It is not turning a blind eye toward injustice. Forgiveness simply means Mosisili chose to release the mercenaries from personal obligation to him even though these mercenaries had already faced the justice system. Forgiveness is a radical and counter-cultural perspective on life. Mosisili believed in forgiveness, he forgives even though he is not obligated to and for doing that he will have the best kind of life if he holds other people in his life with a loose grip. You have no idea how powerful this act of forgiveness is. Mosisili looked at people who had wronged him and decided he was going to set things right but ultimately he was not going to play a judge in their lives. You have to understand that forgiveness is a decision and a process. Mosisili can release the mercenaries from obligation to himself, although the smouldering fires of resentment may keep burning in him for some time to come. I would be terribly mistaken if I thought forgiveness was a kind of soft feeling certain soft-hearted people like Mosisili are capable of experiencing. What happened last week was the boldest act of forgiveness Lesotho has ever seen. To forgive is the gutsiest thing you can do in life. Forgiveness is not for the fainthearted. According to Mosisili the mercenaries made several attempts to meet him in order to confess their wrongdoings. It was only last week that he was able to sit down face to face and listen to them. I listened to his radio interview on Tšenolo FM, he wanted to know a lot of things. Who sent them? What was their motive? Why did they want to kill him? Often the letting go of resentment happens only after the truth of a problem has been confronted and put squarely on the table. Though not all his questions were answered but at least he sat down with men who had wronged him. I can assume that confronting them may not have come easily for him, but it may be the most merciful act he could do to these mercenaries. Forgiveness is not just what this country needs; forgiveness is what can change this country. Mosisili has changed this country again by ushering it to a new world. He has started the process of the transitional justice. Sometimes forgiveness is amazingly easy and sometimes there are huge roadblocks. Forgiveness means release, but there may be roadblocks. Bitterness could have held Mosisili back from forgiveness. Vindictiveness could have been another roadblock. He could have insisted to forgive, but only after getting revenge, but then unfortunately there wouldn’t be much chance of forgiveness. In his book Freedom of Forgiveness, David Augsburger, says: “Revenge is the most worthless weapon in the world. It ruins the avenger while more firmly confirming the enemy in his wrong. It initiates an endless flight down a bottomless stairway of rancor, reprisals and ruthless retaliation.” Medical science has linked a failure to forgive with all kinds of ailments, including stress, anxiety, depression, headaches, backaches, stomach distress, diabetes, hypertension and heart problems. Mosisili chose to have a healthy life. I am so glad Mosisili made a conscious decision to forgive. Real forgiveness is always a miracle. Mosisili gave us a miracle last week. Ramahooana Matlosa