The first chapter begins by exploring Africa in a context of the transforming South Africa, and how different the continent is potrayed in both local and foreign media.

Charlayne correlate the black Americans struggle against racism and bigotry to Africa's struggle against colonialism, or apartheid. Though she recommends the United States (US) steps against racism, she slaps it for its hypocrisy – backing despots in Africa such as Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku of Zaire, who almost emptied the country's coffers; and Jonas Savimbi of UNITA – Angolan rebel group, but, still called Nelson Mandela a terrorist for fighting a justified war against the apartheid regime.

Through her experience as black American, she is in a dilemma trying to reconcile spiritually, culturally and historically to Africa.

Though Africa's young democracies have walked past colonialism and apartheid, there are convoluted walls to tear down: diseases (HIV/Aids and Malaria), economic inequalities, crime, corruption, war and crimes against humanity, and so on.

So far, Africans are becoming masters of their own fate and charting ways out. For instance, many conflicts in the continent have ended out of "the African solution, for the African problems." But, she asks how many democrats are in the continent?

Just like any organisation or government, African initiatives like peace-keeping or enforcement mission are halted by limited logistical support and failure of countries to contribute soldiers, and New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) crippled by limited grassroot participation, which is not different from the South Africa's Black Economic Empowerment Act (BEE) that benefited mostly the top echelon.

To fill the loopholes, I agree tis imperative for Africa to revisit its concepts on problem solving, in the African Union (AU) and NEPAD.

On the last chapter, she analyses the role of the media in Africa's renaissance which is only possible, when the media is free and independent to report with intention of truth, and influence sustainable development, democracy and good governance, and economic prowess in all fronts.

She negates "parachute journalism" by foreign journalists that never seeks genesis and depth of African issues. However, she calls for accurate coverage of the continent and portrayal of its people. For the African journalists, a better story is when they report from the prism of their experiences with fairness, balance, and truth telling to develop the continent on behalf of the [African] people.

Charlayne goes ahead to emphasis the significance of a good working relation between local and foreign journalists/media. She points out also, the challenges African journalists face: government gagging the media, inadequate skills and training of journalists.

She ends by encouraging African journalists to live their dreams.

This book is easy to read and to comprehend. This is a-must-read for Journalists, government officials and the general public.

Labels: Africa, Book review, US

Today, the politicians that once opposed its implementation and called it
all sorts of names –"neo-colonial, useless, shoddy or divisive" are
now bothered of whether their names are inked in the sealed Waki envelope
handed to chief mediator, Kofi Annan.

Politicians that support the implementation are standing firm and
sarcastically describing how visas and air tickets can be acquired to The
Hague, or how easy it is to carry porridge and pieces of bread to Kamiti
Maximum Prison in Nairobi compared to the Netherlands.

The Standard newspaper reported that President Kibaki, Head of Civil Service
Francis Muthaura and senior security officers met last week to discuss the
modalities of establishing the special court/tribunal.

It goes ahead to say that, local key leaders want a special tribunal
modelled on the International Criminal Court, but manned by local judges -
just to reduce foreign participation as proposed by Justice Phillip Waki.

Are politicians now confident of the Kenya's judiciary? Or, have they
forgotten that ICC will be handy in the local tribunal?

Last week, opinion polls indicated that majority of Kenyans want the the
Waki report implemented, whether The Hague, or a local tribunal.

December 17, 2008 is near and calling for quicker measures. Failure to do
so, Luis Moreno-Ocampo will be handed the envelope.

Slowly justice will reign and impunity will be history.

///////

"I deeply hope that the horrors humanity has suffered during the 20th
century will serve us as a painful lesson, and that the creation of the
International Criminal Court will help us to prevent those atrocities from
being repeated in the future." - Luis Moreno-Ocampo on the occasion of his
election as first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court by the
Assembly of States Parties in New York on 22 April 2003.

Labels: Africa, ICC, Justice, Kenya, Politics, Waki report

Labels: Africa, CP, DP, FDC, JEEMA, Politics, Uganda

Labels: Africa, Politics, South Africa, Zimbabwe

First I begin by thumbing Robert Mugabe for being among the true African liberators. Many of the sons of the soils have called him an ardent Pan-African. He stood by his people against a colonial government led by the late Ian Smith.

Mugabe is also praised for his eloquence in the continent. He churns English for the “good” of the continent, but for himself too.

A while ago, Mugabe flushed out the white-citizens from Zimbabwe, and gave the land pieces to his cronies, veterans, and “native.” Another school of thought says, Mugabe did not think of how best to run farms formerly owned by the white farmers. This would have been the source of food and fruits cutting down the imports. A knee-jerk reaction to this, were sanctions, from the Western countries that lead to an inflation of above 150,000%.

Inflation to date does not affect Mugabe in terms of purchase or acquisition of anything he needs. As many Zimbabweans wonder where to get necessities, Mugabe thinks of where to spend the next coin, after all government budget covers. Sanctions are increasingly making Mugabe unpopular amongst Zimbabweans as a strategy of the West to brew an up rise. As things look, the veterans and security organs will not allow any skirmishes.

The previous election results are not yet out but the clock ticks 3 weeks.

Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party believes he won, while Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party is doing better calculation to use electoral commission to “straighten” whatever the results to Mugabe’s favour. How does ZANU-PF command recount of some ballots without a court order?

It is clear that Mugabe is a good listener and a follower of “brother” Muammar Qathafi of Libya, who front liberators/revolutionalists for life presidency. If Africa needs liberators, how many does it lack for ballot boxes to function?

Before the elections, Mugabe was heard saying these words “ZANU-PF will not lose as long as he is alive”, and “If he lost the elections he would leave”. But at the moment, where does he fall?

It began with Kenya this year, then Pakistan, and now it is Zimbabwe. For sure, election axiom is becoming bogus, after all government of national unity seems to be a better bargain for the incumbents and opponents. The desire is only power no matter the course.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai are fooling the public that they are different and hard-liners. They are now cooking a government of national unity that is not inclusive of the citizens.

If elections are useless, which other way is to represent the mwananchi (citizen)?

Labels: Africa, Politics

Labels: Africa, Economics, Uganda

Labels: Africa, Economics, Kenya, Politics

Labels: Africa, Elections, Kapsabet, Kenya, Politics

Labels: Africa, Elections, Kapsabet, Kenya, Politics

Labels: Africa, Elections, Kapsabet, Kenya, Politics

Labels: Africa, Elections, Kapsabet, Kenya, Politics

Time proves unredeemable as Kenya deteriorates. Kenyans are now different: colour, language, thoughts and even the oxygen they inhale and carbon dioxide the exhale.

Post election violence in Kenya deformed the country including Kapsabet, a small town in the Rift Valley province that sings the requiem but did not feature in the media reports.

In this town, more than 15,000 Kenyans became homeless and properties were destroyed. These properties do not include the $30 dollars that Kenya does not capture as taxes since late December 2007.

It will take decades for love to grow in this small town.

Here are the pictures.

Labels: Africa, Elections, Kapsabet, Kenya, Politics

Labels: Africa, Elections, Kenya, Politics

Labels: Africa, Elections, Kenya, Politics

Kenya is becoming more unpredictable not only by her citizens but also the international community.

The announcement of Mwai Kibaki as the new president of Kenya resulted to eruption of violence country wide. According to Red Cross- Kenya, 135 people are dead and their bodies have bullet wounds.

In Kisumu city and other towns in the country, the military has been sent to calm the situation.

This morning, the media reports say that Gordon Brown has spoke with Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga to calm their supporters from being rowdy but some supporters say they have to fight to the end.

Raila Odinga too wants Mwai Kibaki to accept that he lost the elections for any dialogue to commence waiting to be sworn in at Uhuru Park on Thursday. He has pleaded with Kenyans to come in huge numbers.

What does ODINGA swearing in mean?

Does it mean two presidents in a country? Does it mean Kibaki will step down before Thursday? If Kibaki steps down, will he be interested of being an MP of Othaya? Does it mean that Raila supporters will be allowed to move to Uhuru Park yet there is heavily armed security persons? After the Swearing in Raila where will he go to: Statehouse, his house or jail? Will it mean that calm will prevail instantly?

Labels: Africa, Economics, Elections, Kenya, Politics

The sore grapes of unrest in Kenya are felt far beyond her borders.

The prices of petroleum products have inflated simultaneously in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Uganda in particular, a litre of petrol or diesel costs Ushs. 5,000. Before the closure of Uganda-Kenya border from 27^th December, 2007, a litre of petrol was less than Ushs. 2,500.

It is also reported that other petrol stations in the country have no fuel.

Uganda depends solely on Kenya roads for majority of her imports.

Labels: Africa, Economics, Elections, Kenya, Politics, Uganda

Labels: Africa, Economics, Elections, Kapsabet, Kenya, Politics

It all started by the Electoral Commission of Kenya crying to have the results from the delaying constituencies mainly from Central Kenya. The European observers raised their eyebrows over the delays.

Kenyans were calm waiting for results. Three days down the line, idleness griped the hard working Kenyans. Shops looted, residences burnt and a number of citizens lost lives across the nation.

On 30^th December, When the ECK chairman announced the results that Mwai Kibaki had won, it took a few minutes and he was sworn in as a president of Kenya.

Raila Odinga on the other hand did not miss the microphone and he announced that he will be sworn in on 31^st December as a president.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
- European Union

- Commonwealth
- African Union

"We believe that, at this time, the ECK (Electoral Commission of Kenya), despite the best efforts of its chairman, has not succeeded in establishing the credibility of the tallying process to the satisfaction of all parties and candidates," chief EU observer Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said in a statement.

"We regret that it has not been possible to address irregularities about which both the EU EOM (EU Electoral Observation Mission) and the ECK have evidence," he added.

Graf said his mission had evidence of presidential tallies announced in polling stations on the election being inflated by the time they were released by the electoral commission in Nairobi.

WHY IS US AND BRITAIN ASKING FOR ACCPETANCE OF ECK RESULTS?

“We ask all candidates to accept the Commission’s final results and to urge their supporters to reject violence and respect the rule of law. Regardless of the eventual winners of this election, we call on Kenyans across the political spectrum to work together to advance democracy and national development,’’- a statement from US Embassy.

“We are disturbed at the violence surrounding the elections. The British government calls for an end to the violence, respect for the democratic process and for all Kenya’s political leaders to act responsibly,” – a statement by British Foreign Secretary.

This election had an international interest than the local interest.

Watch this space…

Bogs down kenya

Labels: Africa, Economics, Elections, Kenya, Politics

Since it became possible for me to read, history has never repeated itself. Things have been changing not only near me, but even where I can’t scratch. I can say, situations are different but tend to draw similar results.

Reports from within Africa and out of Africa have estimated this continent to be vanishing and soon it might be forgotten. The dirges are War, Poverty, Corruption, Nepotism, Tribalism, Poor media, Torture, Rape, Dictatorship, and so on, please, please sing on.

Yesterday it was General Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, and then Mobutu Seseseko Kuku Mbendu wa Zambanga of Zaire well known today, as, Democratic Republic of Congo, Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, Charles Taylor of Liberia and now, Said Al Bashir of Sudan and Robert Mugabe of Zimbambwe are bracketed to be dictators.

Few weeks ago, Joachim Chisano of Mozambique, got an award of transforming his nation. That is leadership. He is among the best African leaders championing the African agenda. Nelson Mandela the African gold of sincerity and justice.

Africa has produced great athletes who have scooped huge medals internationally. Kenyans, Ethiopians, Nigerians, Algerians, Ugandans, Tanzanians, South Africans, Namibians… are not only experts in climbing the beautiful hills raised above the sea level but race like cheetahs in the short races. No doping.

Let me not talk about the African queens…oh my…they are the best because nature says so. Be it character, the beauty and the complexion that matches the continent’s soils. Have you heard of Alek Wek of Sudan?

Remember, the African minerals have beautified almost all palaces and houses of respect. They still serve important role in the industries in the developed world as raw materials and energy source. If the continent was dark, the minerals would have stayed here. The game is opportunistic.

The wars in the continent too, have perforated African human resource, infrastructures, agriculture, mining, education systems and health facilities. Killer diseases like HIV/Aids and Ebola have proliferated. Somalia no longer produces Bananas and goats for export; Democratic Republic of Congo does not earn much from natural resource because of rebels claiming ownership of the mine fields; Southern Sudan cannot drill oil further because of the tension with Sudan government; and Niger Delta rebels say they will put their arms when the oil contracts become fair for the locals.

Most of these wars in Africa have international dimensions mainly on the supply of the weapons. In some instances, the foreign governments have ventured in having double standards in the sense of supporting coups and some instances fighting the enemies of peace.

If pointing fingers would avail solutions instantly, the continent would be far. Urgent solutions are needed to blunt the sharpness of poverty, war, maladies and levels of illiteracy.

Whether Africa is Nazareth or Jerusalem, we have to concentrate on issues that affect humanity. Let us overlook the borders or water boundaries that separate continents and think of how best we can contribute to the development of Africa and the world in general.

Photos/style.com, associatedcontent.com, smh.com.au

Labels: Africa, Economics, Kenya, Peace, Politics, Tanzania, Uganda

Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) is here. The face of Kampala City has changed tremendously. At least some roads have been reconstructed and some re-carpeted. Hotels too, have mushroomed, and security officers are visible to ensure safety.

Last week, I decided to leave the "City Square" that is ready for CHOGM to tour Kiboga District, less than 100 kilometres from Kampala. The newly tarmacked road from Kampala to Hoima made my journey so smooth. The road was sandwiched with hills covered with vegetation and less activities beside the road.

Away from the city noise, congestion and an atmosphere less of oxygen, we drove off Hoima road through paths and I ended up in Lulongo Village in particular.

A village with a tiny trading centre of two shops with no electricity and one calling centre.

The inhabitants are a mixture of Buganda and Basongora Communities. I was informed that they all know each other because it is a small group.

A few metres, stands a protestant church made mud and thatched with grass. It serves as a school for the children on the weekdays. The school only accommodate pupils from primary one to four; above that level they walk three kilometres to get education.

I talked to the women and they poured out all their problems ranging from inaccessibility of health services to poverty. The children were smiling but their eyes did not hide pain and dissatisfaction.

Curisioty pressured me to ask if they new anything about CHOGM? The answers were summarised to “NO.”

Really, were there campaigns to make ordinary Ugandans know about CHOGM?



* A young girl who does not go to school because she has no money to buy school uniform.

Labels: Africa, Commonwealth, Kiboga, Uganda