HIS EXCELLENCE: Mandikwaza

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

U.S.A.

 

 

 

 

Speech By The Diplomatic Mission Of The United States Of America (U.S.A.) To The 64th Session Of The General Assembly Of The United Nations On “Protracted Conflicts In Africa And The Middle East, And Their Implications For Peace, Security And Development”

 

Presented by:

His Excellency Hon.     Edknowledge Mandikwaza

^{Model United Nations}

^{University of Zimbabwe}

Your Excellency the President of the 64th United Nations General Assembly

Your Excellency the Secretary General of the United Nations

Your Excellency Special Rapporteur

Your Excellencies Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Distinguished guests and

Ladies and Gentleman

The United States is a mature free nation that values human dignity and sustainable democracy. The country’s quest for global peace, security and development is shared by all the people of America. I believe that all Americans deeply share with me that if danger exist in the world it is danger shared by all. Equally, if hope exists in the mind of one nation that hope should be shared by all. Finally, failure to advance any proposal by any nation designed to triumph, even by the smallest measure, the row of today’s world, what more appropriate audience could they be than the members of the General Assembly.

After about two decades of independence, Africa (in some parts) is characterised by authoritarian rule, corruption, ethnicity and socio-economic decay which are of great concern to us. The Middle East has threats of breeding terrorism and religious fundamentalism. Power hungry, heartless men and women persist undermining the rights of innocent citizens. They defy democratic principles, human rights and good governance in favour of self enrichment and despotism.

While the Middle East is faced by religious fundamentalism, Africa is faced with a type of armed conflicts that can be constructed under the following seven issues:

Some African Leaders Are Self Destructive [destroying their states]

Some African leaders are self destructive. They do not respond to crises quickly, be it at home or to neighbours. Some of them support violence for the perpetuation of their leadership. We have clear examples of state leaders whom we are convinced that they support rebel groups and ethnic separatist movements ( President Bashir, Jean Pierre Bemba and former Liberian President Mr Taylor, Kenya-ethnic clashes).

Some institutions serving as vanguards of peace, security and development in the region are presided over by leaders with brotherhood despotic tendencies. A case in point, the AU Peace and Security Council include Sudan which at home people are dying in cold blood. The AU is chaired by President Gaddaffi who today recognize coup leaders in Mauritania. The longest serving and experienced statesmen called for the AU to recognise Mauritania despite coup de` tat. No! Thanks for SADC for not recognising coup leadership in Madagascar. Lybia’s remarks promote pervasive frequency of coups in Africa yet records indicate that over 83 successful coups, 108 attempted coups and about 139 reported similar cases.

 

“In the end it is an internal affair that is the concern of the Mauritanian people,” said Gadhafi. “It is a fait accompli, a reality. We have to accept it. We cannot change it. That change, that is the business of the Mauritanians if they want to change a fait accompli.”

“Sanctions cannot be implemented unless they are agreed and approved by the assembly, by the summit,” he said. “The Peace and Security Council, even if they decide to have sanctions, cannot be implemented unless it is endorsed by the summit.”

While some regional blocks and the African Union are not as efficient and effective as statesmen yearn for, some leaders are calling for the United States of Africa. Back home it is doubtful whether the same leaders are effectively democratic. Despite symptoms raised by the early warning systems available, the African Union saw potential conflict in Madagascar, Guinea and Zimbabwe but never effectively responded. Its cognitive dissonance, nothing more about it. Above all, Somalia and DRC remain special cases. At this juncture, United States of Africa might be a coalition of problems that will manifest a United States of Problems and not Africa. It is worrying whether the United States of Africa will end African problems when leaders are not united for a common purpose. Personally, I see it as a bag of penguings, doves and hawks.

Corrupt Governments

Decades of corrupt governments and élite factionalism has weakened state institutions conventionally established to protect human liberties and freedoms. The history of Central Africa Republic, Somalia, Sudan and D.R. Congo lay clear evidence. Zimbabwe and Madagascar are not an exception in this case. As such, substantial political institutions bound by good corporate governance ethics are urgetly required to salvage many states from multiple insecurities.

National Rivalries/ regionalism

Conflicts are also escalated by national rivalries within regions, especially over the acquisition of regional hegemonic status. Some contries express ambitions for regional political ascendancy. This prompt proliferation and perpetuation of armed struggles, small and cluster arms smuggling into oil rich areas. Regional conflict proliferation has led to displacement of people into exile particularly, in the Great Lakes region.

Demographic Shift, Poverty and HIV and AIDS

Demographic shift, struggle over resources (especially land), and warfare itself have seriously eroded young people’s rights in Africa. For the example, the enlistment of very young people as combatants in wars like in Sudan, Somalia and DRC. This is disheartening.

America understands that chronic diseases including cholera, malaria, HIV and AIDS are immensely affecting African populations. That is why we have mutually provided humanitarian aid tirelessly to Africa. What also deserves attention and what we have given special priority is poverty alleviation and environmental management.

OUR APPROACH TO HELP OUT AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

 

Mr President

While guided by our optimistic foreign policy, to assist in promoting peace, security and development in the Middle East and Africa, America provides humanitarian and developmental programmes. For example in Zimbabwe we provided about USD300million/yr. Directly and indirectly, we have contributed immensely in health, infrastructural development, community economic development and social constructs including peace building projects and education

Your Excellence

America as the great arsenal of democracy, has a moral obligation to champion the promotion of democracy and human rights in the global reach. We would not ask anyone to defend democracy that serves individuals but we support democracy that liberate the majority. We do not support a united government that seek to lead without the consent of the ruled and the governed. But we support nations and governments that seek legitimate authority to rule from the people. We support such nations to have victory over their access powers.

However, such countries fighting their access powers do not ask us to fight their wars but they ask us to provide instruments of war, planes, guns and other inputs. Sending military support is done to help liberate the truth of free nations

Democracratization is an inescapable duty of America (moral obligation). Since time immemorial we have stood not to oppose democracy but to denounce dictatorship and inhuman fashion of leadership. That is why today we recognise the colonial history of Africa. We mission ourselves to de-rogue the access of evil and out post of tyranny which provoke peace security and development everywhere, anywhere in the world through United Nations prescribed means.

For Africa and the Middle East we are readily available;

Mr President

While the world is awash with political grudges, clash of civilisation and otherwise, protracted conflicts only begin under particular circumstances that favor rebel insurgencies and civilian uprisings. The most common situation involves a weak, corrupt or brutal government confronted by small bands of revolutioneries protected by mountaineous terrain and sheltered by a sympathetic rural population, and possibly bolstered with foreign support or revenues from diamonds or coca. These insurgents may be genuine people fighting for their freedoms or ethnic chauvinists. However, they could equally well be anti-democrats, Islamists, drug lords, greedy opportunists or anarchist of various stripes

 

With these words Mr President

The single purpose of America is to continue supporting democracy and human rights in the Middle East and Africa for the realisation of peace security and development. Therefore, we commend exceptional African leaders making strides to build democracy and human rights foundations anywhere in the continent. Senegal, Botswana, Mauritius, Ghana, South Africa and other states are clear examples transforming and implementing democratic principles and values. We therefore express our appreciation and high regard to them and request their efforts to enlighten their counterparts. Likewise, as we speak well for those who do good to their peole, we request undemocratic fellow leaders to learn from them. As such, we call for the Middle East and African leaders and its populations to cooperate with the international community to promote peace, security and development.

Under the new administration of President Obama, the U.S. will exhaust its efforts until the world is terrorism free, democratic and safe for human socio-economic and political development.

The servants of GOD in change

GOD BLESS AMERICA

 

 

 

 

Dr Madhuku, the constitutional lawyer and Chairman of the NCA really intends to run a parallel constitutional reform process. He believes that the GNU is not accommodating Zimbabwean people’s views much better than what he can do with the NCA and a few paid disciples including ZCTU and the fractured ZINASU clan. As a student of Political Science, I believe that this is a suicidal attempt to destroy the concerted efforts by other Civic organizations and the three principals to foster a transitional constitution that is more representative and democratic. It is a miscalculated analytical poll to assume that Doctor Madhuku and the NCA members will be in a position to produce a people driven constitution than the Parliament of Zimbabwe and the multiple Civic organizations in the country. 

 

I give credit to his analysis that the GPA Article SIX is inadequately placed to say Civil Societies are only there to assist “if necessary”. However, the inclusion of Civic organizations should be surely included “if necessary.”  It is unexpected to have them anytime even where the consensus should come from the GNU principals. Civic Organizations should only stand as VANGUARDS to ensure that adequate consultations are made. Dr. Madhuku represents the NCA members and not members of the public. The public, including NCA members, voted for their MPs such that they represent them. Simple logic about democracy is what the constitutional expert miss. The Doctor should only be relevant much in Technical assistance in drafting the constitution than other consultation issues. The people driven element should be taken by political practitioners.

 –
EDKNOWLEDGE

Obama in Zimbabwe

youthcareerzim@gmail.com  

ENDURANCE PAYS: DICTATORSHIP WILL NEVER LAST More than fifteen weeks ago a veteran politician and the two young MDC leaders in whose emblematic shadow we stand today signed the power sharing deal. This earth shattering decree came as a great beacon, light of hope to millions of Zimbabweans both in the country and in the Diaspora. The innocent souls who had been scorched in the flames of withering injustice and condescending governance gave a firm breath believing that it came as a blissful dawn and end to the long existent political impasse and democratic arrest in the country. However, years down the road we must face the catastrophic fact that Zimbabweans are still swimming in a pool of poverty, injustice and dictatorship to mention but a few. Almost three months walking down the long stream, the life of Zimbabweans is still sadly crippled by the manacles of injustice and the chains of dictatorship. Since 1980 until now the Zimbabweans live in a strange pool of destitution and poverty in the midst of a vast land of material prosperity. In the words of Martin Luther King Junior “100 years later, the Negro still languish in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” Zimbabweans! If we are finding ourselves in exile in our own land then we don’t have any reason to clamor the humor of Independence and self governance. Think about your brethrens who are truly in exile? What a double tragedy? When the liberation struggle was waged, of cause the first and second Chimurenga, it was the pursuit of political emancipation. The desire for independence, self rule, self governing was the driving force. Patriotism was the binding spirit for social mobilization guaranteeing that the existing generation and the following generations will enjoy inalienable rights of liberty, life, equality, justice and the right to protection of the law without discrimination and segregation. The Lancaster House and the Unity Accord were all efforts to restore peace and order engendered to facilitate the establishment of a democratic society. However it is evident that the current leadership has defaulted and evaded the promise of justice and the respect equal rights as far as democracy is concerned. Instead of improving the inherited Jewel, the leadership has destroyed the geminating seeds of political emancipation by cultivating the seed of violence, poverty, injustice, corruption, murder, let alone individualism “Ladies and Gentlemen” said Martin Luther King, “we refuse to believe that the bank of Justice is Bankrupt.” So, we must! Together let’s refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the VAULTS OF OPPORTUNITY IN ZIMBABWE. We are told that together in solidarity, we shall enjoy the fruits of the liberation struggle which our fathers and grand fathers suffered for, but the truth is it never rains until democracy showers. How then can we prepare for the good harvest we desire? Comrades and friends, this is neither time to take the soporific drug of gradualism nor fit into place of “LET THEM DO” and “WE WILL FOLLOW” OR US AND THEM. “Good wives are those who are courteous” As Social Patriots and Political Activists rise and stand for your rights and your Country, sprint from the cell of Oppression to the temple of WISDOM, PEACE AND TRANGUILITY. This is the only way leading to the Palace full of BREAD and BUTTER, the Palace of Justice and Equality, the avenue of Democracy. Let us pull the trigger of democracy and shoot to death the Spirit of dictatorship. All we need is a just society. It is astonishing that the enemies of justice and supporters of transgression also want a peaceful society to enjoy the stolen wealth. The whirlwinds of a new political order are inevitable, they will continue to shake the foundation of Jericho until the bright day of a new political dispensation emerges or come into view. “WARNING, in the process of gaining our rightful position we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. However, let us not seek to quench our thirsty for freedom by drinking from the cup of hatred and bitterness. In the words of Jackie Gleason “Our dreams are firsthand creations, rather than residues of waking life. We have the capacity for infinite creativity; at least while dreaming, we partake of the power of the Spirit, the infinite Godhead that creates the cosmos.” His Excellence EDKNOWLEDGE MANDIKWAZA BSc. (Hons) Political Science

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY INAUGURAL AFRICA-WIDE ESSAY COMPLETION T 

Name: Mandikwaza Edknowledge 

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE 

Africa’s healthy is determined by the extent to which her people are secure. Human security refers to the safeguarding of the vital core of all human lives from critical and pervasive threats. It entails the creation of economic, political, environmental, and social systems that build blocks for survival, livelihood and human dignity. Essentials of human security include economic security, political security, community security; personal security, food security, environmental and health security. In contemporary Africa, human security is tied to the complex and multiple challenges of development, democracy and good governance and the respect of human rights. African states often value traditional imperatives of state security disregarding people centred security. People centred focus ought to address challenges of ethnic and tribal subjugation, civil wars, religious clashes, poverty, ecological deterioration, food shortages, health, natural disasters, rapid population growth and inequitable distribution of wealth which threaten human security. Meeting basic needs and aspirations of people is the major challenge of human security in Africa. However, like democracy, the pursuit of human security is a process. Africa is making strides towards the promotion of peoples’ security through various democratic reforms. Integrated approaches to the human development, recovery from conflict and the role of reconciliation, advocacy, governance and majority participation are emerging aspects that foster sustainable development to human security. The formation of the Organisation of African Unity and various regional organisations shows remarkable evolution of human security. The absence of basic human security fundamentals in Africa like economic security, political, community, personal, food, environmental and health security reflect that human security is at a critical position. Though to a lesser extent, Africa is making positive strides towards the promotion of human security more dedication is required and without adopting people centred policies human security will remain a desire longed for. ESSAY CONTENT Africa’s healthy is determined by the extent to which her people are secure. Human security refers to the safeguarding of the vital core of all human lives from critical and pervasive threats. It entails the creation of economic, political, environmental, and social systems that build blocks for survival, livelihood and human dignity. Essentials of human security include economic security, political security, community security; personal security, food security, environmental and health security. In contemporary Africa, human security is tied to the complex and multiple challenges of development, democracy and good governance and the respect of human rights. African states often value traditional imperatives of state security disregarding people centred security. They ought to focus on addressing challenges of ethnic and tribal subjugation, civil wars, religious clashes, poverty, ecological deterioration, food shortages, health, natural disasters, rapid population growth and inequitable distribution of wealth which threaten human security. Other threats of human security are human trafficking, gender imbalances, discrimination, kidnaps, child labour, poor humanitarian intervention and terrorism. Meeting basic needs and aspirations of people is the major challenge of human security in Africa. The task of this paper is to discuss the state of human security in the contemporary Africa. Human insecurity cuts life short and thwarts the use of human potential. Caroline Thomas (1989) defined human security as “a condition of existence which entails basic material needs, human dignity including meaningful participation in the life of the community and an active and substantive notion of democracy.” To begin with, social fragmentation resulting from the clash of civilisation cultural differences and practices, ethnic and tribal differences, and religious conflicts threaten human security. War ravaged states like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Sudan have intra-violence which left people displaced and injured. Continuous experiences of differences remain threat to peace initiatives which promote human security. Some religions are intolerant they seek to dominate the political space undermining individuals rights like freedom of conscience. According to Paletz. D. I (1995) “religious affiliation has been a problem of politics in Nigeria. It served as a vehicle for communication and realization of political ambition with the help of the Islamic fundamentalist “Organisation of Islamic Conferences.” This is also the case in Algeria where Islam is dominant. The Algerian constitution expressly draws a line between Islam and other religions. Those who do not believe in Islamic religion are insecure, as failure to adhere to Islamic principles may lead to extreme dislike of each other. Therefore, religious extremism affects human security given the existence of conflicting religious interest. Most African states have in some instance experienced some ethnic strife, for example, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, Zimbabwe Gukurahundi atrocities, and the persistent Kenyan ethnic violence among other cases. Some ethnic groups launch attacks on other communities in trying to protect their traditional values and relationships. To end such human tragedies, there is need to uphold cultural diversity to clear bio-geographical differences and avoid arbitrary classification of persons. Social actors like schools, churches, clubs, and cultural organisations among other social constructs should be engaged in cultivating the spirit of tolerance. Economically, two thirds of Africans are insecure as the continent’s economy is in possession of the minority indigenous elites and foreign investors who control the distribution of wealth. According to Claude Ake (1999) “economic stagnation, the fiscal crisis of the state and intensifying poverty has caused the collapse of social and physical infrastructure.” It created a great deal of stress as well as proliferation of violent conflicts, chronic malnutrition and many deaths by starvation. In short, wealth distribution, equality of opportunities to economic resources and income levels play the central role in determining human security. Unemployment because of economic decline constitutes large proportion of Africa’s problems underlying human security. The unemployed population cannot afford basic commodities vital to human life. On the other hand, most of the employed people are earning little salaries that are below the poverty datum line. As a result, people end up involving themselves in criminal practices to make ends meet which is risky to their lives. A typical example is Zimbabwe where unemployment is over 85% and the inflation rate is, officially, over 11 million percent. People are turning into all forms of activities that endanger their lives like prostitution, stealing, gold panning and unlawful vending for survival, putting themselves at odds with the country’s laws. According to Christian Soe (2002/3. 130) Samuel Huntington held that “large number of unemployment is a natural source of instability and violence.” This means that the increasing unemployment levels in Africa is a potential source of instability. The legacy of the Northern imperialism and neo-colonialism left the South, particularly Africans, insecure through several mechanisms including Structural Adjustment Programmes for instance. Tagri Roger (1999) observed that sharp falls in the prices of commodity exports seriously worsened the economic situation in African countries as a result of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund policies on structural adjustment programmes. On the local market, basic commodity prices sharply increased negatively affecting low income earners; they could not afford to buy basic needs. In Zambia several employees retrenched, government subsidies were withdrawn and the country’s currency was devalued which affected income levels and the standard of living of Zambians in general. Hence, food riots and demonstrations broke as public response highlighting discontent and threatened security. Unequal distribution of wealth in Africa has seen development of civil strife. The Human Security Report Project (2006) exposed that emergence of insurgents in some parts of the continent resulted from unequal distribution of wealth. For example, in Nigeria, insurgents in the Niger Delta launch attacks in oil rich areas and forcing people out of resource fields. Oil pipelines are set to burst and mine workers are often abducted. The perpetrators justify themselves by arguing that they are not benefiting from the oil revenues despite the fact that the resource is coming from their community. In the same vein, war in Sudan has historical roots of unequal distribution of wealth claimed to have contributed to the explosion of violence between the North and the South region. Therefore, it can be concluded that unequal distribution of wealth generates hostility especially when people try to protect their economic interests from limited resources. Economic stability in Africa is mostly determined by economic policies made by the central government. Bad economic policies affect human security. African governments have a tendency of pursuing policies that safeguard ruling party interests instead of public interests. Such policies deprive the nation of good social service delivery which affects health service delivery for instance. It is the task of governments to ensure equitable distribution of wealth by developing and adopting people-centred economic policies. Educated is very important in maintaining human security. Educated people are generally free from exploitation unlike uneducated people. At a workplace, for example, educated people have basic knowledge to defend their rights than the unlearned ones. Women and children, especially those in rural areas, constitute a large number of uneducated population. In most African rural areas education is still a privilege compared to urban areas where it is treated as a right of every individual. Also, some traditionally, believes that it is best to send boys to school than girls which jeopardises the future of girls. So, lacking of education is a threat to human security since informed decisions to life threatening issues need informed persons Environmentalist echoed ecological deterioration as a threat to human security. According to White (1993) environmental deterioration refers to “increasing chain of vulnerabilities” like thinning of the ozone layer, air pollution and acid rain, fresh water contamination as well as land degradation.” In Africa people are loosely protected from the long and short term ravages of nature (man made threats). Extreme changing climatic condition shows environmental decline which people are failing to cope up with easily. Environmentalist, Wangari Mathai (2004) observed that the foundation of Darfur crisis is centred on climatic changes of the Sahara desert that steadily expanded to the South. Frequent droughts and famine affected food production in the region creating unbearable problems of hunger. Changing climatic conditions reduced essential resources necessary for viable standards of living of Africans in general. A bloody temperature in Sudan explains the implications of human security due to environmental degradation. Lack of access to clean water is another insecurity that clearly poses threats to people’s health security. Clean water bodies are polluted by various economic activities which include mining, contamination from industrial wastes and agriculture to some extent. The outbreaks of deadly diseases prompted by using contaminated water are quite common in Africa. For instance, there are water-borne diseases, such as gastric infections, vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and schistosomiasis passed on by the mosquitoes and small snails that use water to breed. Lack of water purification technology further worsens the situation leading to potential serious health hazards. Intervention on water sanitation is deeply required to serve human life from health dangers. Environmental sustainability in Africa is one of the least observed businesses. More attention is paid to economic expansion unlike in developed countries. In industrialising South Africa pollution is not considered so much than outputs from industry and agriculture. Million tons of wastes are dumped every day into rivers, lakes and streams, with one litter of waste water sufficient to pollute about eight litters of fresh water. Mining, and poor farming methods as well as poor technical laboratories explicate how fast the environment is weakening. In view of this, human security in Africa is at stake due to such massive exploitation of the natural environment. Food is one of the fundamental needs of human beings which, in Africa, are always in short supply. Brown (1993) noted that “food insecurity is connected with environmental deterioration.” Continuous population growth and poor production indicates more food insecurity. To support this, the United Nation World Food Programme authorities revealed that they are channelling more tonnes of food to Africa than in other continents. Diseases resulting from malnutrition like kwashiorkor are manifests of lack of balanced diet due to food insufficiency. With this observation, it can be advanced that food shortages in Africa is a threat to human security. Political interference in food distribution by charitable organisations further threatens food security in the continent. According to the United Nations Development Report (1994) “the overall availability of food is not a problem but the problem is often the poor distribution because of technical issues as well as political interference.” People at all times should have both physical and economic access to food since it is a basic need that guarantees their wellbeing. Health security plays a major role to maintain human dignity since health enables the functioning of individuals. Poor health like illnesses, injury, disability and death are critical threats to human security. In Africa, health disaster occurs mostly in times of conflict, humanitarian emergencies, and infectious diseases. Cases of health crisis were widely reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006 during the civil war. The Human Rights News (2003) expressed that good health is intrinsic to human security since human survival is at the core of human survival. Therefore, poor health service delivery, as in Africa, illustrates overwhelming levels of human insecurity. The pandemic HIV/AIDS is wreaking havoc on productive members of the society while the economic contraction has left millions jobless with many youths failing to secure employment. Orphaned children remain vulnerable while other affected persons suffer psychological and emotional trauma. The indiscriminate kill rate of the disease has tremendous impact in Africa. Sub Saharan African is the most affected area where alarming infection rates were recorded, deaths and orphaned children continue increasing. According to the Institute of Development Studies (2003) the “threat to Sub-Saharan Africa human security is such that those who are not infected, dying and dead will undeniably be affected by the epidemic” HIVAIDS and therefore stands as a big threat to human security and development. Personal security refers to the protection individuals against physical violence, emotional and psychological trauma and it complements other attributes of human security. Personal security is overlooked in Africa, particularly in times of political unrest. For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to The Human Rights Watch Africa (2005) rebel forces recruited children to work as soldiers while communal people were forced to provide food. Women were raped while others were forced to carry goods for the rebels for long journeys. All such things indicate a fragile political environment fro personal security. Existence of violent political friction is nothing but threat to human security. In general, diminishing capacity of African states to ensure personal security is the major reason why Africa has the highest number of refugees in Africa today. Several Human rights reports on human security comments that African governments commit various human rights violations which defeat human security and justice protected in their own African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The Human Rights News (2007) wrote that in Egypt, for example, government critics have no space to demonstrate against the Mubarak regime. In 2006 peaceful protesters were arbitrarily arrested and detained while they were lawfully demonstrating in the streets. Other examples include Kenya, Somalia, and Sierra Leone where ethnic rivalry arose over political affiliations in pursuit of political power. Criminal violence in Africa such as human trafficking armed robbery, kidnappings, illicit drug trading and sexual abuse like rape to mention is another issue affecting human security. According to the Central Asian Caucasus Institute (2005) “trade in illicit drugs threatens the fabric of societies through, crimes, addiction and diseases”. Criminal offences of human trafficking, kidnaps and armed robbery are widely pronounced in South Africa. Commonly, in every two weeks there will be reports of people either victimised or killed by armed robbers. Abduction cases are mostly cited in the Niger Delta while sexual abuses are chiefly reported in war ravaged countries especially those in the Great Lakes. It is also alleged that ‘Criminal Networks Linked to Occupying Nations Such as Uganda Exploiting Wealth in Democratic Republic of Congo. With widespread criminal violence people feel insecure since they can fall victim to any kind of tragedies. The long awaited crime free Africa guarantees human security. Political security is another aspect of great concern reinforcement human security in Africa. As Naidu M. V (2001) observed that “political security is concerned with whether people live in a society that honours their basic human rights”. Therefore, human security is attached to the observation of human rights. Amnesty International (2006) observed that political repression like systematic torture, arbitrary arrest and detention and disappearances is common in today’s Africa. A classic example is the Kenyan violence that erupted during and after the December 27, 2007 disputed election. Both the opposition party and the ruling party were responsible for unleashing violence to the electorate. Political repression expresses the type of leadership the government uses and its concern for human security. Autocratic governments show political insensitivity and inhuman by using wicked political repression tactics to avoid opposition parties from reaching the electorate in order to campaign. In trying to resist the regime’s repression (defending their interests) opposition parties and the civil society face cruel treatment escalating insecurity. Thomas Hobbes noted that in the state of nature life is short, nasty, solitary and brutish as people seek to control each other. This aptly points out that people are more insecure where high politics exist. Hans Morgenthau, according to Gabriel Almond (2001), defined politics as naked struggle for power. The struggle for power in Somalia left the whole country torn apart, people internally displaced and the government exiled leading to the collapse of the civil society. Currently people live in fear of their life because of the increase of small arms in the country seeking to control defined territories of their choice. Therefore, this paper submits that political power in wrong hands corrupts and its arrogance compromise human security as witnessed in Africa, where electoral competition is turned into a weapon against democracy. Kenneth Kaunda suggested that state leaders can only show their indispensability at the expense of their people. Impliedly, human security is most likely threatened when leaders devise methods of maintaining political power. The masses agitating for genuine new political dispensation are crushed by notorious security agents and militias such as the Janjaweed in Sudan. Kenyan violence indicates a single minded unwillingness to yield political power under any circumstances. Other cases drawn from Central Africa Republic, Liberian and Sierra Leone can best explain how people become insecure when leaders try to maintain political power. Gender equality is still conventionally disregarded in some African societies yet it forms important base of human security. Women are still being denied equal socio-economic and political opportunities. In Chad, Senegal and Mali women form the majority of the impoverished and uneducated rural population. They form the majority of civilian deaths, refugees and are often victims of violence. So, it is important to note that gender equality is a necessary precondition for assured human security and a prosperous Africa. Development and human security are deeply interconnected since both are people centred. Human development entails capacity building and empowerment of people so that they will be able to improve their quality of life. Oyugi Walter (1994) defined development as socio-economic and political changes deemed desirable and which contribute to the well being of the bulk of population in a given area. Because of globalisation, fast growing technology, Africa’s development mechanisms has been unequal platform for empowerment and capacity building since the elite few has monopoly over empowerment resources which they are not willing to share. In view of that, it can be noted that imbalanced development involving lateral inequalities warrants insecurity of persons. Ellsworth and Rifkin’s (2004) argued that humanitarian intervention is needed before anger generates retaliation and forms a vicious cycle leading to humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian intervention focuses on addressing deep rooted and multifactor problems that negatively hinge on the society’s dignity. In Somalia Ethiopia and Liberia there is abject poverty which needs humanitarian intervention to mitigate scarcity but it continues unaddressed. Poverty remains the most troublesome predicament of Africans especially in the sub Saharan Africa where the majority are low income earners living on less than US$1.00 per day, Poorly humanitarian intervention make people scramble for little resources available stimulating the spirit of violence in people seeking to protect their basic needs. Therefore, proper humanitarian intervention is essential to circumvent eruption of conflicts which lead to physical and psychological insecurity that generate nihilistic violence. However, in spite the gloomy picture of a sharply divided world painted above, there are a lot to be desired in Africa as far as human security is considered that should be presented. African governments are making strides to promote human dignity and livelihood. The formation of the Organisation of African Unity and various regional organisations shows remarkable evolution towards the promotion of human security. Fundamental systems and plans to upgrade human security were set which include placing a coherent Africa security regime and a human rights commission. Functional activities like denouncing the proliferation of small arms, light weapons and antipersonnel mines and enhancing the security system reform by continuously coordinating military assistance are constantly performed. African Union peacekeeping missions, HIV/AIDS mitigation , poverty, democracy and human rights advocacy and the provision of multiservice on humanitarian assistance evidence gradual improvement of human security despite mounting pressures from socio-economic and political dynamics resulting from globalisation. Human security is espoused in democratic values and democracy is a process, not an event, so is human security. The adoption of various treaties aimed at promoting democracy and human rights reflect positive development to human security. For example, the adoption of the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Africa shows significant strides towards improving women’s quality of life. The number of women being afforded equal opportunities and chances like men such as employment opportunities, education, and access to health services and so forth is noticeably increasing. Many governments with the likes of South Africa, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya and Zimbabwe adopted “affirmative action policies” to empower women. As such, increasing number of women’s organisation in Africa explains how best Africa is working towards the protection of human security. The African Union provide military peacekeepers in war ravaged countries and to other states facing political instabilities in the continent to advance human security. The African Union peacekeeping missions are seen actively participating in Sudan, Somalia, and Democratic Republic of Congo and in Uganda. Military coordination and diplomatic correspondents by regional groups like Economic Community for West Africa (ECOWAS), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) among other regional groups further heighten the protection of individuals. Therefore, the writer submits that human security in Africa is appreciated and is by and large gradually advancing positively. Africa is successfully mitigating the pandemic HIV/AIDS which is one of the ever emerging worst threats to human security. Success stories in the reduction of infection rates can be drawn from Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Intensive and holistic approaches to prevent and mitigate the disease were adopted from various international practices. Intergovernmental Organisations and Non-governmental Organisations are actively participating in many projects and programmes dealing with the impact of the epidemic. Interestingly, in West Africa the infection rates of HIV/AIDS are very low indicating high levels of health security consciousness. Participation of various stakeholders in the continent in dealing with the epidemic hopefully laid the common ground of human security. The absence of basic human security fundamentals in Africa like economic security, political, community, personal, food, environmental and health security reflect that human security is at a critical position. Continuous ethnic subjugation, civil wars, religious clashes, poverty, ecological deterioration, natural disasters, bad governance , human trafficking, discrimination among other attributes remain disturbing issues for a safe climate for human beings. However, though to a lesser extent, Africa is making positive strides towards the promotion of human security. If the spirit continues, Africa will in soon evolve from ethnic to non ethnic society, from mechanic to organic solidarity from ascriptive oriented behaviour to an achievement oriented one and from economy of affection to a legal rational economic order since there are no short cuts to development. Bibliography Ake Claude. Democratization of Disempowerment. Centre for Advanced Social Sciences, Malt house Publishing, United Kingdom 1999 Caroline Thomas and Peter Wilkins. (eds) Globalisation, Human Security and The African Experience. Lynner Reinner Publications, Boulder 1999 Christian Soe. (ed) Comparative politics 20th Ed California University, California 2002/3 Chuka Onwumechili. Africa Democratization and Military Coups. Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport 1998 Human Security Project. Human Security Report: The Protection of Individuals and Communities from War and Other Forms of Violence. Issue 37, January 2008 Naidu M. V. (ed) Perspectives on Human Security: National Sovereignty and Humanitarian Intervention. Canadian Research and Education Association, Brandon, Manitoba 2001 Oyugi Walter, O (ed) Politics and Administration in East Africa.East African Education, Nairobi, Kenya 1994 Paletz David, et al. Political Communication in Action , Duke University Press, Hampton, New York 1995 Sudan Watch. The Root Causes Of The Darfur Conflict: A Struggle Over Controlling An Environment That Can No Longer Support All People Who Must Live On It. Friday, July 14, 2006 Tangri Roger. The politics of patronage in Africa. Fountain publishers, Kampala, Uganda 1999 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Human Development Report 2004. Oxford University, USA 2004

Edknowledge Mandikwaza

MANICALAND STUDENTS ASSOSSIATION (Msa-uz) Meeting: 30 October 2007 Venue: New Lecture Theatre 400 (NLT 400) Time: 1:00-2:00 SECOND SPEAKER: Edknowledge Mandikwaza Title: President Presentation: The ideals of MSA-UZ and Motivational Speech. Introduction Mr Chairman, lecturers, dear students, and all invited guests: all protocols observed. It is my honour to address you today. Ladies and Gentlemen – It is true that: o If we grow trees, we will resuscitate the environment o When we invest in business, we earn profits and o When we empower our people, we develop the nation. It is also true, however, that if we sit on our backs; we cultivate the seed of poverty. Ladies and Gentlemen: Realising the need to markedly contribute to our country, as has been said earlier on, the Association was formed with the main objective being to provide students with career guidance hoping that they will be able to align their career aspirations to the requisite post high school academic and tertiary education. It is our sincere belief that this will contribute towards National Development. Because of resource constraints and the hurdles that arise in launching a new project at national level, the Association aims stride from the Eastern Border and move towards the West. It is anticipated that similar movements will, in the not too distant future, start up in the West (to move Eastwards), the South (Northbound) and the North (moving to the South). These will converge in the centre of the country and “What a Zimbabwe” we will have when that is achieved. Ladies and Gentleman, being infants in this endeavour, we have had to start somewhere-a small focal area. It is doubtless that the whole country will be covered ultimately. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step!!! We all have tremendous potential to contribute at community level, provincial level, national level and even international level. We can work from the grassroots until we reach the apex. It is my belief that our lack of initiative is as a result of something. What is it? Confidence. According to the Wikipedia Encyclopaedia the term refers to freedom from doubt belief in oneself and capabilities (It encompasses things like enthusiasm, commitment, planning, the list is endless if I can say. My colleagues, I believe that we are our own liberators. Some people still believe in the ancient orthodox that failure is not an option, but I have a divergent view, those are things of the past. To organized, committed and focused people, failure can be proved to be an option. My history tells me that most students’ organisations have chosen to be failures by giving in to political interferences hence denying the students the real platform they deserve to ensure academic and professional enhancement. If truth be told, I am simply saying Manicaland Students Association is non-political and it shall remain politically neutral. Ladies and gentleman, it is my view that most students organisations have ignored the missing link between and among students at all academic and professional level with the society. Here you are. You are yet to see one Manicaland Students Association which is one such intervention. With us it is possible. That is our prime focus. Ladies and Gentlemen: Imagine thousands of children groomed at Ordinary Level and Advanced Level with hopeless future. Lack of career guidance, exposure, poverty and inadequate educational resources, we know, has contributed much to this problem. Some children come to the University without knowing the benefits of studying programme A instead of B. only hearsays determine their destiny when it come to the issues of careers As a result they become failures in life or they will be people of struggling throughout their lives. “It is a fact that not all of us are studying programmes of our own choice, that’s not what we really wanted to pursue. Lack of career guidance and exposure are to blame.” Honourable associates it is our responsibility that we put things in place before the present and the following generations are not seriously affected. Let us tackle poverty from the grassroots. Say no to poverty by empowering the preceding generations. If we just sit on our backs and look at thousands of hopeless children in our communities we are breeding a contagious disease if not infectious that brings dead ends to our future. Lack of the aforementioned things (exposure, career guidance, counselling, community support and other empowerment tools) have negatively affected ambitions of the present and is yet to destroy the following generation’s ambitions if not dealt with effectively. As a result we end up having massive unemployment and the end result is the development of all sorts of nefarious activities which are not of their making. Ladies and Gentlemen: I challenge you this afternoon, let us unite and support students for the betterment of our own future and for national development. We blamed the past generations for mismanagement of the inherited jewel. So, let us not wait for the following generations to blame us, but to admire the making of ourselves. BEYOND EDUCATION THERE IS EMPOWERMENT Thank you Mr. Chairman

PAN-Africanism will never die

World wide the aspect of democracy is echoed from the West to the East and from the North to the South. Collective efforts by Inter-governmental organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and the World body, United Nations to promote peace and global democracy are peak. However, in all these strides, America and its subordinate the Great Britain are the most vocal and instrumental in advocating democracy and control of the World order which I describe as by hook and crook. The World body particularly the United Nations has become the extension of the United Nations. Why? This is one of the most questions that is bringing serious confusion to those who subscribe to Pan Africanism, Pan Arabism, Pan Slavic and Turananian nationalism. The manner and approach in whcih these entities act in their intention to foster democracy is questionable. They use pragmatism which perpetrates violence and suffering of innocent souls accompanied by imposition of leaders which automaticaly indicates dictatorship. It remains vague and ironic to understand the genuiness of their agenda. The writer argues that the North use imperialist approaches to exploit Africa for instance in the name of Human Rights and Democracy. Realistically, they pursue thier national and individual interest at the expense of the poor they underdeveloped during the colonial period. Neocolonialism! Visibly they support human rights by providing humanitarian assistants like in form of food which a fair minded observer can applaude though the aid comes with attached strings. Still on the same note, the same persons calling for democracy close one eye and support dictators behind the scene, initiating violence (if beneficial) instead of diplomacy and build their military bases on strategic positions ignoring mass human rights violation in the host countries.

Africa and the Middle East are on the brink of political repression as the superpowers continue building their empires while the social fabric of the concerned states crumbles.  The Central Intelligence Agency and Belgium gave a hand in the death of Patrice Lumumba, only the Belgians to apologise for the man’s death after 48 years. This kind of political arrogance was done to pave the advent of Mobutu Sese Seko in the international political sportlight  who later became the worst dictator in the African soils. He remained a darling and would fly to the West despite his dictatorship. Who else did not feel the ruthless of Mobutu both in Africa and beyond. The West could not bite the hands that feed them with minerals among other riches. When China follow the siute they start to say “China is addling with murderous dictators from Myannar to Darfur and at home it hold mass executions of criminals with bullets in the back of the head. What about the Guantanamo Prison, their invasion in Iraq, their occupation of Kossovo to mention a few.

Is the South inssificient ….. to be continued

<a href=”http://www.nexcomp.com/weblaunch”><B>FREE URL Submission</B></a> - Submit your site to dozens of top search engines for FREE. No strings attached!

<a href=”http://www.nexcomp.com/weblaunch”><B>FREE Search Engine Submission</B></a> - Submit your site to dozens of top search engines for FREE. No strings attached!

<a href=”http://www.nexcomp.com/weblaunch”><B>FREE Search Engine Submission</B></a>

 His Excellence: Edknowledge Mandikwaza

Educated people are too much understanding when it comes to national politics. The gospel of democracy in Zimbabwe is taking too long because the people playing the groundwork for change internally are too much understanding and sympathetic leading to more trust in round table negotiations and fighting legal battles. The judicial system where the complainants are putting their case is presided over by the accused. this means the principle of nemo judex in sua causa is irrelevant. The system has witnessed abortion and miscarriage of justice as from the early 1980s.

Genuine revolution must come with a price of bloodshed, untold sufferings, I believe, coupled with a series of martyrs just like what was seen in the potracted war of the liberation struggle during the fight against colonialism. There must be a clear separation between fighting for revolution and fighting for democracy. The opposition parties in Zimbabwe must be clear on this because fighting to dislodge ZANU PF is not fighting a political party but a system of governance which is similar to the agenda for Chimurenga. Practicaly it is evident that noone loves death, but in the spirit of nationalism, one has to believe in Franz Fanon’s political ideology that violence and violence alone brings about a desired change. Malcom X , the black American asked what is better the ballot or the bullet and this remained a bone of contention  among modern political practitioners.

For how long has the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opted for legal battles with the ZANU PF ruling party and won outrightly without appeals. The case for elections purported to have  been rigged in 2002 was postponed time and again until onother phase to hold elections arrived. This time silence is the only thing people are feeling in every part of the country despite delays in publishing the final presidential results. This is simply because opposition are putting trust on the same Southern Africa Development Heads of State (SADC) that are not interested and powerless on the issue at stake. Mbeki’s mediation has lost control and the judicial system the court applications are filed is part of the ruling government.  Civic organisations and independent lobbyist have consistently argued that those who pays the piper causes the tune and this is what is happening, I believe.

The puruit for change of leadership is not enough but a total revolution of the system of governance. Instead of using hard power for change the MDC has ever been soft since its advent in the political sport light. It is not true to believe all the charges the opposition has been facing as violence, personally I would call it mischief. With absolute violence all security tentacles for the government everything would be beyond control just like what happened in Kenya. Of cause there will be massive death records but this does not mean the end of human kind. The remaining will be the future of the nation. In the liberation struggle many people died as well as in the post independence period dubbed as the Gukurahundi massacres but leadership has always been assumed by the remaining. The pursuit of democracy would remain utopianism as long as the educated centralise all the political strategies without including those who are good at instilling violence and practice of revolution. The educated tell us that violence is a failure of diplomacy and this has made many people docile to believe in legal battles and faith in international laws which are not really enforceable in a court of law unless incorporated as part of the concerned nation’s internal or domestic law.  It is naive to follow some of the bureaucracies  in pursuit for revolution that brings about democracy and good governance. Round table negotiations must come after unleashing terror and threats, accompanied by mass civil disobedience.

Negotiations should only be honoured when the conflicting parties arewilling to understand each other without premeditated results. Dragging the ruling ZANU PF to a round table is a waste of effort since it is not a party but a system as mentioned ealier on. It is said that ZANU PF has been preaching democracy through violence, intimidation vote rigging and manipulation of information and I wonder why the oopposition is not coping up with all such tactics and find plan B for progress. I looks from a distant and cry fowl calling upon arbitrators who are less interested simply because they are benefiting out of the instability of their fellow member, which is less beneficial.

It is inevitable to dislodge the system of governance currently running the economy just like the difficulties faced by the Anti-communism wingers. It took a long time to reduce threat of communism through the cold war. I believe that if the element was directly fought through the use of the bullet, the result would have abolished either Communism or Capitalism and not neither. America, the Bush administration decided to use its military force in iraq just because of the failure of diplomacy. Despite the death toll recorde in the Middle East country’s soils, the ultimate objective was achieved which they are enjoying. Raila Odinga the Orange democrat unleashed terror and saw many people in Kenya losing their lives and invaluable properties. After all the consequencies of the violence forced Kibaki to come on the negotiating table with the assistance of the International community.On the 16th of April 2008 the oppositon parties of Ethiopia decided to boycott second round elections becuase of rigging and intimidation which led to further damaging of the democratic credentials of the key US ally. However, boycotting without mass civil disobedience or total violence is nothing but mischief which African dictators wuold not recognise but to continue ruling unashamed just like idi Amin, Mobutu Sese Seko, Bokassu of Central African Republic to mention but a few. The strength of the ruling party propaganda is very strong especially to the less politically conscious persons who make the numbers and determine the political path of the nation.

In a rape, it is suicidal and cheap politics, absolutely unethical and degrading to resort to violence. Opting for violence shows an element of power mongering and cunning. However, if therwe is perfect unity in the pursuit for democracy and good governance, violence is no option, but open passive civil disobedience. Martin Luther King Juniour and Mahatma Ghandi proved the possibility of change through the aforementioned tactic.

Edknowledge Mandikwaza 
BSc. Hon. Political Science University of Zimbabwe