????今天，理查德?布蘭森爵士的腦海里一定不斷地閃現納爾遜?曼德拉的身影。曼德拉這位世界領袖無論到哪兒都會主動和當地人民打成一片。他還以放聲高歌聞名，不過據布蘭森說，他的唱功不算太好。

????布蘭森這位身家億萬的實業家今天也和無數哀悼者一樣，思緒大部分被曼德拉占據。上周四，這位曾經身陷囹圄、而后卻當選總統的南非杰出政治人物抱憾離世，享年95歲。

????維珍集團（Virgin Group）創始人布蘭森在接受《財富》雜志（Fortune）專訪時回憶了曼德拉盡管歷經無數艱難困苦，但卻始終積極樂觀的堅強個性。布蘭森還暢談了曼德拉通過外國投資推動南非經濟發展的經歷。以下是編輯后的采訪摘錄：

????請說說您對曼德拉的印象。

????他和我父親同歲，都生于1918年。他們本來就是好友，而通過長者會組織（The Elders，一個由布蘭森和曼德拉創立的獨立機構，致力于和平和全球權利）他們的關系變得更緊密了。在共同度過的時光里，他們總能一起開懷大笑，曼德拉非常幽默。

????他總是很愿意參加跳舞活動，而且還喜歡領舞。他唱歌不怎么樣，但總會亮亮嗓子。

????是什么讓曼德拉成為一個出色的商人，他又是怎么幫助南非經濟脫困的？

????他曾經差點成為一個共產主義者，但后來認識到這不解決問題。他后來信奉的是慈善資本主義，相信商業領袖必須是一股追求善的力量，同時也認為南非需要資本主義，需要人民廣泛創業。

????有一天我接到他的一個電話，他讓我馬上飛往南非幫他，因為有一家大型連鎖健身俱樂部需要救助，否則就會有成千上萬的人失業。他雖然是總統，卻會操心這種事。他會拿起電話打給國外的投資人，讓他們到南非來投資。他努力確保像我這樣的人和其他人能夠放心到南非投資，借此讓南非的經濟獲得了穩定的發展。

????您在網上寫道，跟曼德拉打交道可“沒有免費的午餐”。這句話什么意思？

????他深信富人都是些很幸運的人，所以（應該回報社會），對此我深表贊同。富人們喜歡和他打交道，而他總能把他們的家底摸透，把他們的錢袋掏空，然后還要再翻出他們的信用卡。他在非洲有太多事業需要經營，有太多需求需要滿足了。不過跟其他非洲領導人不一樣的是，人們很愿意對他慷慨解囊。

????現在曼德拉逝世了，南非的經濟如何才能繼續保持增長并繼續改善呢？

????（曼德拉）是第一個有資格說（南非）百廢待興，但已今非昔比、大有改觀的人。

????人們需要向非洲投資。目前非洲經濟的年增長率大概是6%，因此存在大量的商機。有了投資，非洲的經濟就能發展起來，人們也能擺脫貧困的桎梏。這是解決各種問題最好的辦法，我認為這種投資的回報也會很可觀。我們目前在非洲的公司可能會是我們集團最賺錢的企業。（財富中文網）

????譯者：清遠

????Sir Richard Branson's head today is filled with images of Nelson Mandela dancing. The world leader was always spontaneously swirling with people wherever he went. He was also known to break out in song, but according to Branson his singing wasn't the best.

????The billionaire industrialist is among countless mourners around the world today that can't think about much else other than Mandela. The South African political prisoner-turned-president died Thursday at the age of 95.

????In an interview with Fortune, the founder of Virgin Group recounted Mandela's lighthearted nature in spite of living through immeasurable tragedy. Branson also shared his thoughts on how Mandela was able to bolster the South African economy through foreign investment. Edited excerpts:

????Tell me what you remember about Mandela.

????He was the same age as my father, both born in 1918, and they were good friends and became good friends through The Elders [An independent organization working toward peace and global rights that Branson and Mandela established]. Spending time together they would often have a big laugh together, and he had a wonderful sense of humor.

????He was always willing to do his best to join in the dancing and start at the dancing. His singing wasn't the best, but he would give it a go.

????What was it about Mandela that made him a good businessman, and how did he help South Africa's economy?

????He went from being something close to a communist to realizing that that wasn't the answer. What he believed in was benevolent capitalism and believed that business leaders must be a force for good and thought that the country needed capitalism and needed people setting up businesses everywhere.

????I received a call one day, and he was on the phone telling me to come to take the next plane down to Africa because his principal health club chain needed rescuing and thousands of jobs would be lost. That is the kind of thing he would do as president. He would just pick up the phone and get foreign people to invest in his economy in South Africa. Through trying to make sure that people like myself and others feeling comfortable dealing with South Africa ... that stabilized it.

????You wrote on your website that with Mandela there was "no such thing as a free lunch." What did you mean by that?

????He was a great believer that wealthy people are fortunate people and [should do their part], and I would agree with him on that. Wealthy people loved to meet him, and he made sure that he turned them upside down and stripped them of any money in their pockets and then figure out where their credit card was. He had so many causes with so much need in Africa. Unlike some other African leaders, people were willing to give generously to him.

????Now that Mandela is gone what does South Africa need to continue to grow and improve?

????[Mandela] would be the first one to say that there is a lot to be done but it [South Africa] is a lot better now than it was before.

????People need to invest in Africa. Africa is growing at something like 6% a year. The opportunities are enormous. With investment, Africa can become a great economy, and that will pull people out of the poverty trap. That is the best way of addressing the problems, and I think that the returns can be very good. We have companies in Africa that can be some of our most profitable.