On this date in 1987 Prime Minister Brian Mulroney arrived in Africa, becoming the first Western leader to visit the front-line states opposing South African apartheid. History records the importance of Mulroney’s trip there as the battle against apartheid continued.
In his Memoirs, however, Mulroney noted that despite the gravity and importance of his visit, there still were humourous moments. One came when he made a courtesy call on the ceremonial President of Zimbabwe, Canaan Banana.
“Prime Minister,” journalist Bob Fife asked the PM afterwards, “how would you describe your meeting with President Banana?”
Without hesitation, the Prime Minister of Canada responded.
“Fruitful,” Mulroney said.
caption id="attachment_536296" align="alignnone" width="500"
Prime Minister Mulroney Arrives in Africa on Anti-Apartheid Tour/caption
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Prime Minister Mulroney Arrives in Africa on Anti-Apartheid Tour/caption
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel. Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.