I must say, I am really disappointed by the complete lack of enthusiasm and passion by the ordinary Africans. It is as if the only African with a voice and with anything to say are our leaders.
What do the ordinary South Africans think of what their President Thambo Mbeki, is doing. As a Zimbabwean I have always looked at SA’s free press and freedom of expression with envy. But what good is a free press and freedom of expression if when it matters all is heard is a few disgruntled murmurs. Many South Africans may well be saying “There is no crisis in Zimbabwe!” as President Mbeki said. After all Zimbabwe is many miles away and off their radar; even with an estimated 3 million Zimbabweans now living in SA. Still, when President Mbeki blundered along on the aids issue a few years ago, this was a serious problem in their own houses; the was but a public murmur.
My advice to my South African brothers and sisters is; freedom of expression is like talent; use it or you will lose it!
The AU Summit was held in Egypt and I thought Egyptians across the board would have dismissed the whole thing initially as just another Africa talk shop at the Egyptian tax payers’ expense. But when they heard the Zimbabwe election fraudster was in town they sat up and paid attention. After all when was the last time Egypt held free and fair elections!
So the Egyptians, like so many other Africans who have been denied an meaningful say in the governance of their country, would be interested in how Mugabe was treated. They would have cheered and applauded the strong condemnation of Mugabe by PM Raila Odinga and the Vice President Mompati S Merafhe of Botswana. As such condemnation would be sending a very clear message to the Egyptian President, the dictators and despots at the Summit that failure to hold free and fair elections will no longer be tolerated.
There is dying need for a vibrant and heated debate in which we, Africans, take an active part. Our leaders (the only ones really enjoying freedom of expression), hold animated discussions; of one fearful of saying the wrong thing and of, one day, being caught out. So some of them, like Mugabe have taken the added precaution of banning all foreign press they could not control. Among themselves their have taken great comfort in singing each other’s praise “great achievements” even in the face of overwhelming evidence of incompetence, corruption and failure.
By openly criticising Mugabe’s failure to hold free elections what the few African leaders was more than just speaking the truth. They were demonstrating that Africa had come of age for the courage to self-criticise is the true mark of maturity. Mature enough to know and understand that there is nothing to be gained by pretending not to see one’s weakness and that by dealing with one’s shortcomings openly one will emerge an even stronger person.
The internet was definitely opened great opportunities for ordinary people throughout Africa to interact and exchanges views. In a country like Zimbabwe where most of the print and electronic media are government controlled- there is only animated debate allowed- the internet should provide an invaluable outlet. Yet there is hardly anything happening on this Blog or any other web site. Having been denied a say for all our lives now we find we have lost our voice and can think of hardly anything to say. Even on such matters as free and fair elections on which the destiny of a whole nation is determined!
I pray and hold that more and more Africans will find their voices, reclaim freedom of expression as their own and use it so that they are well informed. And well informed, hold our leaders to account.
No comments:
Post a Comment