QUNU, South Africa: Ayanda Mbatyothi, who bears a striking resemblance to a young Nelson Mandela, vowed Sunday to carry on the legacy of the icon who had unwittingly launched his career.
The 37-year-old, who hails from an impoverished township in eastern South Africa, is the spitting image of Mandela in the days before his arrest by the apartheid state in 1962.
Mbatyothi even sounds like Mandela, and makes a living impersonating South Africa’s first black president on screen.
“Madiba never forgot about the people. I will try and carry forward the very same idea,” he told AFP, referring to South Africa’s first black president by his clan name.
“It’s a big responsibility,” Mbatyothi said ahead of Mandela’s burial in his boyhood village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape — the same province from which the impersonator hails.
He said he often caught passers-by staring at him, stopping and then turning to take a second look, before walking off perplexed.
Mandela himself was taken aback by the similarity, he recounted.
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Madiba lookalike vows to carry on the legacy
Madiba lookalike vows to carry on the legacy
Thai PM moves to dissolve parliament, setting stage for elections
- PM Anutin Charnvirakul moves to dissolve parliament, setting stage for elections
- Move comes after dispute with opposition party, government spokesperson says
BANGKOK: Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Thursday that he is “returning power to the people,” moving to dissolve parliament and clear the way for elections earlier than previously anticipated.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat told Reuters the move followed a disagreement with the largest grouping in parliament, the opposition People’s Party.
“This happened because we can’t go forward in parliament,” he told Reuters.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn later endorsed the decree, the official Royal Gazette announced on Friday, making way for early elections, which by law must be held within 45 to 60 days. The political turmoil coincides with a fourth day of a fierce border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in which at least 20 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded.
Anutin told reporters on Wednesday that dissolving parliament would not impact Thailand’s military operations along the frontier, where clashes have broken out at more than a dozen locations, some involving exchanges of heavy artillery.
“I am returning power to the people,” Anutin said on social media late on Thursday.
He is Thailand’s third prime minister since August 2023, and political instability is taking a toll on Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which is grappling with US tariffs, high household debt and weak consumption.
ACCELERATED TIMELINE FOR ELECTIONS
In September, Anutin had said that he planned to dissolve parliament by the end of January, with a general election to be held in March or early April, but this move would accelerate that timeline.
Anutin took power after pulling his Bhumjaithai Party out of a ruling coalition and securing the backing of the People’s Party, which put forward a number of demands — including a referendum on constitutional amendments — as part of a deal to support him.
“When the People’s Party couldn’t get what they want, they said they will submit a no-confidence motion and asked the PM to dissolve parliament immediately,” Siripong said.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, told reporters late on Thursday that the Bhumjaithai Party did not follow the terms of their agreement.
“We have tried to use the voice of the opposition to push forward amending the constitution,” he said.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat told Reuters the move followed a disagreement with the largest grouping in parliament, the opposition People’s Party.
“This happened because we can’t go forward in parliament,” he told Reuters.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn later endorsed the decree, the official Royal Gazette announced on Friday, making way for early elections, which by law must be held within 45 to 60 days. The political turmoil coincides with a fourth day of a fierce border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in which at least 20 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded.
Anutin told reporters on Wednesday that dissolving parliament would not impact Thailand’s military operations along the frontier, where clashes have broken out at more than a dozen locations, some involving exchanges of heavy artillery.
“I am returning power to the people,” Anutin said on social media late on Thursday.
He is Thailand’s third prime minister since August 2023, and political instability is taking a toll on Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which is grappling with US tariffs, high household debt and weak consumption.
ACCELERATED TIMELINE FOR ELECTIONS
In September, Anutin had said that he planned to dissolve parliament by the end of January, with a general election to be held in March or early April, but this move would accelerate that timeline.
Anutin took power after pulling his Bhumjaithai Party out of a ruling coalition and securing the backing of the People’s Party, which put forward a number of demands — including a referendum on constitutional amendments — as part of a deal to support him.
“When the People’s Party couldn’t get what they want, they said they will submit a no-confidence motion and asked the PM to dissolve parliament immediately,” Siripong said.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, told reporters late on Thursday that the Bhumjaithai Party did not follow the terms of their agreement.
“We have tried to use the voice of the opposition to push forward amending the constitution,” he said.
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