2008 World Mayor Prize goes to Helen Zille

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 13, 2008 -- Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town
wins the 2008 World Mayor Prize
Helen Zille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town and leader of South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance, has been awarded the 2008 World Mayor Prize by City Mayors, the international urban affairs think tank. Commentators supporting her nomination said that in a country devoid of present day role models, this “amazing lady” was making a difference and giving people hope. “Her only equals are Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela in Southern Africa.”

Tann vom Hove, Editor of City Mayors said Helen Zille was the judging panel’s unanimous choice for the 2008 World Mayor Prize. “The Mayor of Cape Town has dedicated all her professional life to further the well-being of all sections of South African society. She has done so with courage, tenacity and, above all, a deep-felt love for Cape Town, her country and its people,” Tann vom Hove added.

Prior to entering politics, Helen Zille made a name for herself during the apartheid era as a political journalist, working for the Rand Daily Mail, South Africa’s leading liberal newspaper. Working there, she emerged as a leading anti-apartheid critic, famously exposing the circumstances behind Steve Biko’s death in police custody in 1977. Since becoming Mayor of Cape Town in March 2006, Helen Zille has survived an aborted attempt by the provincial government to downgrade her office and an attempted coalition coup. To the people of Cape Town, she is an inspiration and shining example of what good local government should be.

Runner-up of the 2008 World Mayor Project is Elmar Ledergerber, Mayor of Zurich. He will receive the 2008 World Mayor Commendation. Tann vom Hove, Editor of City Mayors says: “The mayor deserves this honour because of his success in building bridges between the privileged and less privileged communities of his city.” The Mayor is also praised for his efforts to make both Swiss and non-Swiss citizens feel at home in Zurich.

Third place has been awarded to Leopoldo López, Mayor of Chacao, and prominent Venezuelan opposition politician. He is admired both as a hands-on mayor and a national politician fighting for democratic openness and fairness in Venezuela.

The top 11 mayors of World Mayor 2008
1) Helen Zille, Mayor Cape Town, South Africa
2) Elmar Ledergerber, Mayor of Zurich, Switzerland
3) Leopoldo Eduardo López, Mayor of Chacao, Venezuela
4) Phil Gordon, Mayor of Phoenix, USA
5) Ulrich Maly, Mayor of Nuremberg, Germany
6) Jaime Nebot, Mayor of Guayaquil, Ecuador
7) Marides Fernando, Mayor of Marikina City, Philippines
8) Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Mayor of Tehran, Iran
9) Göran Johansson, Mayor of Gothenburg, Sweden
10) Salvador Gandara, Mayor of Villa Nueva, Guatemala

11) José Fogaça, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Full details: http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2008/world-mayor-2008-results.html