AUSC Presidency's Special Adviser For African Union Focal Point, Honorable Professor Mammo Muchie has contributed a lot in offering Condolence to the Cuban people and all oppressed people of the world on the passing away of President Fidel Castro ~ AFRICAN UNION STUDENTS' COUNCIL (AUSC) For the Better Africa we deserve

The Office of the President of African Union Students' Council (AUSC)"For The Better Africa We Deserve" has recognized All AUSC Leaders with all AUSC Presidency's Special Advisory Team , AUSC President and Observers have mentioned deepest sympathy to the family of the President of Cuba and to the rest of the World ,especially the whole continent of Africa, for loosing the great Achiever Mr President Fidel Castro , managing to give respect to him for what he deserves from the whole world .
AUSC has involved the voice of the whole youth of Africa, and the Pan-Africanists at all ages to offer condolences to the CUBA People.
In this line, the AUSC Presidency's Special Adviser For African Union Focal Point, Honorable Professor Mammo Muchie has contributed a lot in offering Condolence in a special way to the Cuban people and all oppressed people of the world on the passing away of President Fidel Castro.
Bellow is the whole condolence message:

Photo of the African Union Students' Council (AUSC)"For The Better Africa We Deserve" Presidency's Special Advisor for African Union Focal Point ,Honorable Professor Mammo Muchie,with President Fidele Catro remind himbest moments and excellent Love President Fidele Castro Showed him,and the whole African Continent,this making the African Union Commission also delivering the condolences to this friend of Africa President Fidele Castro.Rest In Peace.

Condolence to the Cuban people and all oppressed people of the world on the passing away of President Fidel Castro,

By Mammo Muchie

Photo of Archive of the President of African Union Students' Council (AUSC)"For The Better Africa We Deserve" Mr IRAGUHA BANDORA Yves (Right) with the AUSC Presidency's Special Advisor For African Union Focal Point Honorable Professor Mammo Muchie,(Left).

I believe it is a learning experience to all of us for me to share how deeply touching it was to have the opportunity to spend 5 days in an academic conference with president Fidel Castro in Havana , Cuba in 2001. I share this to all of you so you know the humane, humorous and humble side of Fidel Castro that I witnessed directly spending time being face to face with him in the same conference room. How I wish we have a few leaders in the world like Fidel Castro and Che Guvera who are totally committed to uplift those who are suffering from all forms of oppression, starvation, diseases, unemployment, inequality , poverty and all forms of social and economic injustices. We need leaders who validate their success by the public service they provide, the decent work they generate and the quality of life they create being game changers and change-makers. All we have are elites who value their pockets more than the lives of the people. Whatever mistake Fidel Castro may have made, there is evidence he lived his life constantly under threat for the wellbeing of not only the Cuban people but also for all the oppressed people particularly the most affected region- Africa to this day.

I share my deep sadness to hear that the leader who stands above all else for the people, the dedicated and consistent Fidel Castro has passed away on Friday 26 of November, 2016.

My Recollections

I had the opportunity to spend 5 days with president Fidel Castro at a conference held in Havana in 2001. I also as you see the pictures below chaired a panel at a Globelics Conference held in Havana two years back where one of the speakers was Fidel Castros's son who is a nuclear engineer. It was good for me to have met both the father and the son. What I will always remember about the father Fidel Castro is his humility in the intellectual debates where he participated without fail throughout the 5 days . There were 4 nobel laureates , Joseph Stiglitz and others that also attended this special conference. Fidel Castro agreed with my contribution giving explanation related to trends that we need to focus upon the challenges facing our world and time.

The other was the way he closed the 5 days gathering. He was sitting the whole time in the audience as one of us; when the gathering had to be closed; he went to the podium and the organisers brought him expresso coffee to drink.

Then he said the following:

Do you really want me to speak?

The Latin Americans said, yes, yes, companero or commandate(not sure now which word they used!), they all said please speak, speak!

Then he said, do you know I do not know how to stop when I start speaking?

But everyone repeated and said, please speak, speak, speak..

He insisted, is it not better you should go for your gala dinner than staying here for hours, since everything is ready and it is time for you to eat and enjoy? Everyone said please speak, speak.

Then he said, when I speak I have razor-sharp eyes. If some of you sleep, I will see you.

He started speaking. He spoke for three and half hours non-stop with extraordinary spirit, energy and intellect. I took notes to avoid being detected also by his razor- sharp eyes.. Trust me I was truly moved about how amazing and rich were his thoughts from his great speech full of information, knowledge and wisdom. He spoke in Spanish, but the translation was excellent and the way he spoke was truly inspiring. I still remember vividly the way he did it and his entire self totally absorbed--just so amazing!

After he finished, he identified one of the persons in the audience and asked his hi to please come up to the podium. The person went up and joined him and Fidel Castro put his hand on the shoulder of the person and asked him.. how was my speech? I do not remember now the name of the person but he came from Ecuador and he replied by saying that he found Fidel's speech excellent. Then Castro made the joke about the person from Ecuador by saying he was not only sleeping, but also he said he saw him actually snoring.. and Fidel Castro made us all laugh and wished us a great gala dinner that the organizers prepared and said goodbye to all of us after spending 5 days fully engaged with the debates as an ordinary participant accepting criticism and critiquing himself and also some of the presentations with ease and as one of the participants normally and naturally, and also remarkably accepting humbly in the debates saying I am learning and I will find out about your criticisms related to issues on Cuba.

That is my recollection of Fidel Castro. .

Both father and son though I met them at different times with over 10 years gap were also very happy to meet me as an Ethiopian. I told the son in our panel the above story. I even teased the son when I chaired the panel, will the son know when to stop when he starts speaking or will he follow his dad and speak for three and half hours? He said he will not take a long time and will present his ideas briefly, which he did. Later he had a book signing event and he did that too. Not only Castro and his son, but just to meet so many Cubans with deep affection for Ethiopia and Africa has been moving and very uplifting to me. Some even try to speak Amharic. I was even taken to their home and they tried to make'' doro wot''! I have been very touched!

What still remains in my memory also is how Cuba is even ahead of USA in supporting research in science, engineering and medicine. I had the opportunity to visit their biotechnology laboratories and was sincerely moved by their achievement. Cuba sends so many doctors to Africa. Cuba with Fidel Castro's leadership has joined the struggles in much of Africa specially in the Congo, South Africa, Angola and Ethiopia.There is a lot we can learn from the Cuban experience.

May his soul rest in peace.

. Mammo

www.sarchi-steid.org.za

Castro from Cuba and the real 'Intellectual Che' from Africa

Kind Regards