Mugabe snubs at EU summit over wife ‘s visa :Worst or good move

President Robert Mugabe and wife Grace Mugabe

The pulling out of Zimbabwean President,Robert Mugabe  in the European Union meeting in Brussels, because his wife Grace Mugabe was denied a visa has left many tongues wagging around the world.Some people have criticized the move while some have applauded it. Arguable a leaders is elected to govern the country and put the public matters upfront in everything they do, Mugabe ‘s move thus shows some level of taking public interests for granted. Progress occurs when skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for better. The EU a two day summit was an opportunity for the president to forge networks with over 90 countries attending the meeting, noting that Zimbabwe is in dire need of foreign investment to drive the debilitating economy. However this opportunity has flew through the window as the president could just not go for two days without wifey. What makes the situation worse is that the EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldefore Dell’Ariccia made it clear that the summit did not have a program for president wives, as such there was no need for Grace to attend the meeting. Even if Grace was to be given a visa the lingering question is what will she be going to do in Brussels. Before we wonder far off, that leaves us with one obvious answer shopping!!! The first lady has been known in the European continent for extravagant shopping, a habit she constantly did before she was subjected to a European travel ban. So the summit could have been a better chance to catch up with the old habit. While some may breathe a sigh that it helped save public funds the debate goes on. If it was a genuine invite EU was not suppose to dictate conditions for Mugabe but let him freely choose who his delegates would be.

Could Abdel Fattah El Sisi stop the turmoil dogging Egypt

“These recent years of our nation’s history have conclusively shown that no one can become president of Egypt against the will of the people or short of their support. Never can anyone force Egyptians to vote for a president they do not want.

“Therefore, I am here before you humbly stating my intention to run for the presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.Only your support will grant me this great honor,” said Abdel Fattah El Sisi

It is not every day that army chiefs resign their posts and go contest in elections in Africa, the trend has always been of coups, where army generals illegally takeover power. The recent Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah El Sisi ‘s resignation announcement and declaration for presidential elections expected later this year is a sign of respect of  the rights of  the people.

Abdel Fattah El Sisi

Egypt has in the past years seen people revolting against the rule of  their leaders in quest of democracy. In 2011 the citizens demonstrated against the dictatorship rule of Hosni Mubarak prompting him to step down as the country’s president.

El-Sisi deposed President Mohamed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s first freely elected leader, last year following mass protests against the latter’s rule.

This has made him popular among Egyptians who supported the army’s decision to remove Morsy from power a year into his term — seeing him as the kind of strong man needed to end the turmoil dogging Egypt since a popular uprising ended Hosni Mubarak’s three decades of one-man rule in 2011.

But El-Sisi is reviled by the Islamist opposition, which sees him as the mastermind of a coup against an elected leader and the author of a fierce crackdown on dissent.

Egypt has suffered bloody internal strife since Morsy was overthrown. The country  at the moment  facing demonstrations against the courts decision to sentence 529 supporters of the Muslim brotherhood to death, an incident that has been deemed in violation of human rights. Maybe El Sisi could just be the man to serve Egypt from its turmoil???

MIXED FEELINGS OVER TSVANGIRAI STEPPING DOWN AS MDC PRESIDENT

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai

With MDC-T ‘s leader Morgan Tsvangirai having lost the 2002,2008 and 2013 elections in Zimbabwe to Zanu-Pf ‘s leader Robert Mugabe some people including senior officials have demanded that he steps down as the president for the party, and pave way for a new candidate. However, some people have said that Tsvangirai has become a brand for the party in the country and around the world and as such must not step down. Vox pops with residents in Bulawayo yesterday showed that people had mixed feelings over the issue.
“I think Tsvangirai should step down as the party ‘s President and pave way for young blood because he has failed to deliver. We cannot afford to have the party further divided as this will be the last straw for the party,” said Thembinkosi Dube.

MDC-T supporters

Marideth Sibindi said: “Tsvangirai is fast becoming unpopular with people because of his actions. Mangoma and Tendai Biti ‘s beatings showed us what kind of a leader Tsvangirai is, one who is power hungry and who will do whatever it takes to hold onto power. Leaders should lead by example and Tsvangirai has failed to do that and must step down.”

Another resident Trust Gotora had this to say:

“ Tsvangirai was the only person who stood to challenge Zanu-Pf where other people could not stand up and do so. He is a brand name for MDC in the country and around the world, that is why the other MDC faction has failed to gain popularity as people recognise Tsvangirai as being the MDC leader.”He added, “ If Tsvangirai steps down that will be the end of the party, infighting should stop and officials help stregthen the party for the 2018 elections.”

Holyman Mguni said: “Tendai Biti and Mangoma must grow up and stop whatever nuisance they doing because it is destroying the party. They should respect Tsvangirai and let the party members decide if they want Tsvangirai step down as the party leader.”

Reports in the press say Botswana’s president Ian Khama is also on the record that Tsvangirai should step down as the MDC ‘s party president.People seem to express different sentiments on the issue of the stepping down of the MDC party leader. While some may also argue that Tsvangirai never lost the elections but the party was rigged, a debate that will never settle. I think the time is now that MDC should strike while the iron is still hot and put their house in order. It is the same disorder that made them lose in the previous elections, it is time they learnt to control their inhouse fighting and strengthen the party for the 2018 elections. This is because infighting will not help the party but will further create cracks that Zanu-PF could use to their advantage. Arguably a split will cause more commotion and confuse the electorate something the party wouldn’t want!!!

 

Will Political Violence ever end in Africa???

political violence in Kenya ‘s 2008 elections

Liberation from white minority rule never meant the end to violence as an instrument in the struggle of political power in Africa. Politics has been a battlefield with political parties seeing violence as a legitimate means in the struggle for political influence. An approach signifying failure by parties to respect each other’s opposing views. Last week in Malawi shortly after President Joyce Banda ‘s rally at  Goliyati village violence erupted  resulting in the axing to death of a police officer  and a protester shot dead in clashes with stone throwing opposition activists after police fired tear gas to disperse hostile crowd.  According to President Banda such actions were politically motivated and were meant to destabilise the peaceful management of elections and threaten the security of Malawian citizens. Violence is detrimental to the electoral processes and instils fear among the electorate resulting in them withdrawing from participating in elections. Subsequently destroying any  possibility of free and fair elections. According to Wadahl,free and fair elections  presuppose open political debate  in which politicians and parties are free to promote their policies. What happened in Malawi is a clear violation of democratic requirements and there is a need to stop such behaviour and parties engage each other politically. Malwai has not been the first country to witness political violence to the run up to elections, Kenya and Zimbabwe are among the African countries that have seen violence taking centre stage in their 2007 and 2008 elections respectively. A close look also at Central Africa a country where violence  pits Muslims against Christians-  civilians have suffered terribly since armed rebels overthrew the president in March 2013.  Muslim fighters  have been  blamed for scores of atrocities after taking power and intercommunal violence exploded last month leaving more than 1 000 dead in a matter of days. According to the  U.N. children’s agency UNICEF says that two children have been beheaded, and that “unprecedented levels of violence” are being carried out on children. Political violence has adverse implications on civilians and there is need for political parties to engage in  discussions  and come up with consensus means of ruling the pwople instead of  what

ITS TIME GOVERNMENT STEPPED UP ON AFTERMATH CORRUPTION EXPOSURES

CORRUPTION MUST STOP

Some people have argued that the recent corruption exposures of state parastatals are a sign of the true nature of the neo-patrimonial empire that Zanu-PF has built over the last thirty four years, while this might be true,I believe that the exposures both bring negative and positive connotations about the government.Positive in that the exposures should also be taken as a sign of a government that is eager to correct its past mistakes and build the economy based on in corrupt tendencies.It is no secret that corruption has over the years permeated the every facet of  the people’ lives under the Zanu-PF government. However,the effort that the party has so far made in trying to stop the malpractices in state parastatals deserve a pat in the back. This is because it shows a new stance of approach in tackling the public’ outcry that the government had for may years failed to solve.If  corruption was the government’true nature I believe such an approach wouldnt have beentaken.The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa)s Alouis Munyaradzi Chaumba told SW Radio Africa that corruption is “totally endemic and it needs political will to sort it out.”As such,the corruption exposures should also be taken as the  government ‘s new path in trying to restore the country ‘s lost reputation.

As much as l have argued that the corruption exposures have had a positive connotation on the approach that the government has adopted to restore the country ‘s economy, the aftermath stance has not been to the public ‘s satisfaction.

officials feeding on ordinary people ‘s hard earned money

 

Zimbabweans have been shocked about the manner that public servants have been squandering state coffers, but to their disappointment corrupt officials have been left to walk scott free.While some believe every bad deed deserves punishment , the government’s move of letting people who squandered millions of dollars leaves many wondering if  the government is protecting them.Interviews with the public show that many are not very happy with the move:

“what is the reason of  exxposing corrupt tendencies and at the end of the day not holding accountable the thieves. We have suffered a lot in the hands of these people and the government needs to ensure that these corrupt people are jailed and the key is thrown away,” said Lovermore Ncube from Lobengula.

Another interviwee, Linet Sibanda said : “We are talking of millions  that were squandered and not mere money the government needs to hold the bull by its horn and ensure these people are punished.”

The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa)s Alouis Munyaradzi Chaumba is quoted in the press on the record that ,“The problem is that the authorities are very good at lip service and want to hoodwink people when they say they are dealing with corruption. The best strategy is to name and shame people involved until the government is forced into actual action.”

With respect to the above people ‘s sentiments the salary gate as it is known has been nothing but a whistle blow by the government.An Afrobarometer report released late last year says Zimbabwe is the third most corrupt African country. It says corruption in Zimbabwe stands at 81% with Nigeria and Egypt at 82%. For this reason the government needs to hold accountable these people and there is no better time than now, leaving them is allowing perpetuation of corrupt tendencies!!!!

2013 Zimbabwean Harmonised elections Tsvangirai’s last?

From top left Tendai Biti, Roy Benett,Elliot Mangoma and Morgan Tsvangirai, the power for struggle

MDC-T has been rocked by in-house fighting with party officials suggesting that the party‘s president Morgan Tsvangirai step down from his position. This comes after the party lost to ZANU-PF in last year‘s harmonised elections with a large margin. Roy Bennett the treasurer general was the first to make a direct call that Tsvangirai step down, shortly after him, Elias Mudzuri made the same call and was also brushed aside. Both these party officials ‘remarks were dismissed as being irresponsive and driven by vengeance irrespectively. Recently another party official Elliot Mangoma resuscitated the calls to have Tsvangirai step down as the party‘s president. Arguably, Tsvangirai should step down he has failed the party. Instead of implementing strategies to strengthen the party from the previous election  he has been busy slumbering. They might have been arguaments that ZANU-PF rigged elections but the truth of the matter is that, in the four years Tsvangirai was sharing power with Zanu-PF he failed to plan for the harmonised elections and assumed he was still as popular as in the 2008 elections. ZANU-PF has over the years shown its strategic prowess and Tsvangirai ‘s private life indiscretions further worked the party and weakened MDC-T.  Tsvangirai’s intolerance of diverse views from other senior party officials shows that he is also not liberal despite preaching that others are dictators. Who preaches about the gospel of democracy when themselves they cannot execute the same actions? The beatings of Mangoma and his suspension is just the worst mistake that has precipitated further infighting and led to the creation of two camps; of the party’s secretary general and youth leader Tendai Biti that supports Mangoma and the Tsvangirai camp.  If what Mangoma alleges is true, that the violence was at the instigation of the MDC‘s party leader then Tsvangirai might have just tarnished his democrat image. I guess this is just the beginning, these are not the first calls and surely would not be the last. Could the 2013 harmonised elections have been the last for Tsvangirai????
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ANC ‘S BLUNDER : ZUMA MUST GO

South African President Jacob Zuma

The  fielding of South African ‘s president Jacob Zuma as ANC’s  presidential candidate for the upcoming elections leaves many wondering if he is the right men to continue leading the country for another term. One wonders if ANC is facing a shortage of candidates or it is too deaf to have heard the booing of South Africans against Zuma.  Last year in December, Zuma was booed at FNB stadium during Nelson Mandela’ s memorial service and, once again, the crowd booed against him at the end of  Bafana Bafana and Brazil match last week. Against the booing, some surveys have indicated that only 51 percent of South Africans who voted for Zuma will vote again for him this year. Arguably its a sign that Zuma is fast becoming unpopular with South Africans or rather the booing is only generalisable to Johannersburg crowd since it always happen at the FNB stadium.  Quoted recently in City Press, Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula said:

“We are going to defeat them politically for all the ideas they stand for. They must know they are going to fail, for they are hooligans, cowards of non description. You don’t boo a person if you don’t agree with them: you engage in political engagement and defeat them with ideas.”

Mbalula ‘s sentiments brings in the issue of the opposition working towards downplaying the president, which can be relatively true. A further analysis on Mbalula ‘s opinion also shows a liberal ANC which is confident on its candidate,is not seeking revenge on its opposition but believes in political engagement. Well views will always differ, as much as the booing should serve as a point of interest for both ANC and Zuma who must find out where they fall short with voters and address their concerns, we all have to wait for the outcome on the 8^th of May after elections!!!!!

Garnering Electoral Support with Homosexuality: The Rise of African Morality Politics

Electorate makes demands for their vote (by(Stephen Wandera/AP)

Having posted on the issue debating on Ugandan President Museveni‘s fate after approving the anti homosexuality Act and read around homosexuality in Africa, it has come to my attention that homosexuality has led to the rise of morality politics in the continent.  So what is morality politics? Morality politics is the adoption of a stance that is conceived to be of decency and in line with the cultural norms of the people so as to get their support. Like food buying, introducing anti homosexuality legislation has proved to be the new African trend of getting the majority to rally around political candidates. As Izama (Washington Post,24.02.2014) notes,

Electoral pressures, combined with politicians’ poor record of service delivery, make legislating morality an increasingly attractive option. In addition to winning votes, however, laws such as the criminalization of homosexuality can also be used opportunistically against both the public and political opposition.

A vast majority of African’s have expressed resentment on the homosexuality issue, with some going to the extent of totally avoiding the issue. In Africa’s very religious – Christian or Muslim – societies, it is a matter of morality. Subsequently,this has had an effect of making political leaders losing their grip on power, adopt the anti homosexuality stance to win the majority’s attention. In the case of Zimbabwe ,President Mugabe undoubtedly used the anti homosexuality stance as a tool for garnering electoral support during his campaigns. Making it easy for him to get the anticipated support was the political opposition party, MDC leader  Morgan Tsvangirai who was rallying behind the homosexuality issue. Controversial Tsvangirai had earlier been against the homosexuality issue and surprisly was heard in a BBC interview in London suddenly rallying around homosexuality. With many Africans convinced that homosexuality is an European culture, Tsvangirai ‘s move  had an effect of litting a fuse in the parliament and making him unpopular with some people. Fully aware that the people of Zimbabwe in the constitution disapproved of homosexuality Zanu-PF exploited MDC-T ‘s stance to discredit the party in the eyes of the people. Politicians must be held accountable for their actions, but what better way could have Zanu PF got the people ‘s attention except diverting attention  to making clear their position on homosexuality, an issue that the majority had a negative attitude towards. Rovering around the media shows that it is not in Zimbabwe that the homosexuality issue has been used to get the support of people, but also in Uganda. President Yoweri Museveni ‘s approval of the anti homosexuality act has been seen in the context of an already started campaign for the 2016 elections for his party. As much as homosexuality is garnering votes for African leaders the bigger question is what of Human Rights? Are the legislators aware that gays and lesbians are being killed? While homosexuality may be ” foreign” in the continent the truth on the ground is that there are people who dont identify as female or male and they have every right to be heard and express themselves. Leaders must stop using the homosexuality issue for their political gimmicks but genuinely table the issue, engage with communities for they cannot toy with people’s lives or change people’s sexuality.

Overcoming boundaries:Women on the rise in African politics

OVERCOMING BOUNDARIES: WOMEN ON THE RISE IN AFRICAN POLITICS

Catherine Samba-Panza Central Africa’s Interim President

Gone are the days when women‘s participation in politics was an exception in Africa. Today Africa celebrates a high representation of women in parliament outdoing some of its western counterparts, who introduced the gospel of women emancipation to them. Africa boasts of three heads of state and a high representation of women in parliament, a sign that things are really looking up for women in the continent. Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first female president in 2005, followed by Joyce Banda of Malawi in 2012 and now there is President Catherine Samba-Panza in the Central African Republic. The three women have made history for taking up posts amid crises in their countries, helping to tackle economic, social and political issues in scenarios where in the last decade no one thought they would have been able to hold the fort. A recent publication in Washington Post highlights parliaments in Africa have greater representation of women than in the US Congress. While baffling ,as it seems African countries have outdone the  preacher of women empowerment. Statics as Alitip wrote show:

 … today Rwandan women hold 64% of the country’s legislative seats. In Senegal, Seychelles and South Africa, more than 40% of parliamentary seats are held by women, while in Mozambique, Angola, Tanzania and Uganda over 35% of seats are occupied by women. By contrast, women in the US hold 18% of the seats in the House and 20% in the Senate.

These statics are a sign that women empowerment in Africa is fast taking a grip in the continent and the number of women holding powerful portfolios is continuing to rise. Arguably one can attribute the rise also to the introduction of parity laws by African countries. The parity laws have had an effect of emancipating women by reserving a quota seats for women in Parliament. A total of 16 African countries among them Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Senegal  have introduced the laws, a sign that Africa is on the drive of empowering women. Although, Africa still has a long way in securing female rights the rise in women representation is a step forward towards attaining girl child rights, in a continent that has been battling to  guarantee the rights. As history continues to revels itself through women leadership in Africa lets have the courage and hope that the time for  female emancipation is here to stay.

ANTI HOMOSEXUALITY ACT: MUSEVENI ‘S WORST MISTAKE??

Uganda ‘s President Yoweri Museveni

Its barely a month when Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into act the anti homosexuality bill and is already facing a firm hand against his actions. While Africa feels that homosexuality is alien to their culture the western countries have argued that homosexuality exists and it is democratic to allow gays and lesbians to live freely without anything or anyone impeding on that. For this reason Museveni has began receiving a firm hand from the western countries for going against “human rights.” Maybe the real question is, is it also not democratic that  Ugandians expressed their views on Homosexuality and Museveni took up the majority ‘s views over the issue? Well it seems the West never thought about that too. A glimpse at the ramifications that Uganda has so far faced following its approaval of the homosexuality act shows:

• The World Bank, which has a strong presence in Uganda with a portfolio of projects worth about $1.5 billion, immediately with held a US$90 million loan for the health sector that was due to be approved on 27 February.
• Representatives of 18 European donor countries on 28February issued a stern intent to withhold aid.They represented Sweden,Canada,Britain,Ireland and Italy.Others were France,Iceland,Denmark,Finland,Norway,Belgium and Netherlands.The U.S which annually injects about $400 million in Uganda says it is reviewing ties.
Well what is clear from the above is Museveni has definitely sacrificed the good donor relationship Uganda had with Western donors and all the assistance the country was getting will go under the drain. Like Zimbabwe which went against the western countries and was hit hard with sanctions, Museveni might have just signed for a big blow to Uganda ‘s economy. According to Joseph Were(Independent Newspaper,16/03/2014) western donors fund 20 % of Uganda’s budget and, in 2012 Museveni ‘s government was forced to review its budget after they with held about $180 million in direct budget support over corruption in the office of the Prime Minister. Hundreds of civil servants went without pay for months .The aid cut also slashed 0.7% off Uganda ‘s GDP growth projections. From the highlights the questions is will Uganda be able to survive another aid cut blow? Citizens are always content when the economy is stable and if Uganda ‘s economy melts down, one wonders if the citizens in their multitudes will be able to give Museveni the support they gave him when he passed the anti homosexuality Act. I guess time will tell. With 38 out of 58 African countries having signed the anti homosexuality Act maybe Uganda might just survive. However, as much as the homosexuality issue is not just an a simple issue in Africa maybe its high time African societies talk about ,because it is there to stay. Killing, humiliating and scorning homosexuals will not change anything but talking about will certainly be a step forward in solving the issue and accepting it. While it is right that Africa desist from the dependency syndrome, homosexuality is just not worth straining relations that have helped improve the lives of multitudes in the continent. The issue remains debatable, democracy vs cultural values and who determines whats human rights? Food for thought!!!