YEARS AGO

Nelson Mandela is one of the dark horses in the running for the Nobel peace prize. Speculation is that he is fourth in line to walk off with the world’s most prestigious prize. The two hot favourites are Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Czechoslovakian poet, playwright and president Vaclav Havel. Also in line to succeed the Dalai Lama as Nobel laureate is leading Chinese astrophysicistcum-dissident leader Fang Lizhi.

Yesterday, the Nobel literature prize was awarded to Mexican poet and essayist Octavio Paz. The Swedish Academy of Letters said he won the prize for his “impassioned writing with wide horizons, characterised by sensuous intelligence and humanistic integrity”. His bestknown book is probably The Labyrinth of Solitude.

Aside from Mandela’s immense international stature, his candidature is strengthened by his role in the ANC’s decision to suspend its armed struggle. — The Weekly Mail, October 12 1990

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