Africa News blog
African business, politics and lifestyle
Will 2012 see more strong men of Africa leave office?
By Isaac Esipisu
There are many reasons for being angry with Africa ’s strong men, whose autocratic ways have thrust some African countries back into the eye of the storm and threatened to undo the democratic gains in other parts of the continent of the past decades.
For those who made ultimate political capital from opposing strongman rule in their respective countries, it is a chilling commentary of African politics that several leaders now seek to cement their places and refusing to retire and watch the upcoming elections from the sidelines, or refusing to hand over power after losing presidential elections.
In 2012 one of the longest strong men of Africa, President Abdoulaye Wade’s country Senegal is holding its presidential elections together with other countries like Sierra Leon, Mali, Mauritania, Malagasy, and will be shortly followed by Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Yoweri Museveni and Paul Biya of Cameroon , who are among the longest-ruling leaders of the Africa , won their respective presidential elections and continue to have a stronghold on their respective countries, albeit with charges raised of serious election malpractice. Eduardo Dos Santos of Angola, Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Republic and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe will in one or two years face the electorate in an effort to further cement their authoritarian leadership.
What happened in the second half of 2011 in North Africa and more specifically in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya does not seem to have had any kind of effect on other Sub-Saharan African Leaders. In fact, they have strengthened their stronghold on power and in some countries even harassed and jailed opposition leaders.
Who among the seven longest serving African leaders will be deposed next?
By Isaac Esipisu
Several African leaders watching news of the death of Africa ’s longest serving leader are wondering who among them is next and how they will leave office.
Three of the ten longest serving leaders have fallen this year – Ben Ali of Tunisia ruled for 23 years, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt ruled for 30 years and the longest, the Brother Leader of Libya ruled for 42 years – all gone in the last six months.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea (32), Jose Santos of Angola (32), Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe (31), Paul Biya of Cameroon (29) and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda (25), King Mswati III of Swaziland (24), Blaise Campore of Burkina Fasso (24) and still going strong, and must be wondering whose turn is next.
Teodoro and Jose Santos take the number one spot as the longest serving Presidents with 32 years of ruling Equatorial Guinea and Angola respectively and from what has happened in Africa this year and to Gaddafi this week, it is a post neither of them would be proud off right now.
Although the revolts have so far been limited to North Africa, increasingly there are protests against regimes in other African countries. Whether triggered by economic conditions—food and fuel prices, poor job opportunities or service delivery failures, the mass protests are becoming important and have forced policy changes. Slowly but surely, these revolutions are heading south and, unless Africa ’s long-serving leaders pave the way for inclusive governance and relinquish their power, they are increasingly likely to face the same fate as the North African ones.
Democracy is a culture that takes long to hold.African leaders whocame on power right after independance know nothing of democracy, governance and were mostly pursuing individual clanical of inner circle interest.The following generation is a bit better than the previous because of international influence. There si a hope that in the coming decade governance will improve in Africa. It is a process. It is taking longer in Africa because of our realities and the dirty hands of certains western leaders…
Are “African Solutions” right for the continent’s democracy push?
“This is an African solution to an African problem,” was African Union chief Jean Ping’s reasoning for another round of negotiations to resolve Ivory Coast’s bitter leadership dispute.
Regional leaders and the outside world had been uncharacteristically swift to condemn Laurent Gbagbo’s bid to cling onto power. The AU itself wasted little time suspending the West African nation from the bloc.
Gbagbo lost the presidential election in November last year, according to U.N. certified results, but he has refused to hand over power to rival Alassane Ouattara, citing fraud.
That has left regional powers, the AU and the United Nations all up against the same problem: how to convince Gbagbo to exit gracefully?
Ouattara’s camp have called for a military intervention. But talk of a military option opened up divisions within the AU.
Earlier message did not work.
Africa is a complicated place for many reasons, including, but not limited to, old leadership unable to cope with change, vested interests, and external influence. Regarding leadership, a group of African presidents represent themselves in most organisations and when the expression “African Management” is uttered, one knows it is likely to be a disappointment. While there is nothing wrong for wanting a home grown solution using one’s own values, the question is whether such values apply in a global world? African solutions never seem to work, with the notable exception this time of Nigeria and ECOWAS on Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria has been consistent all along regarding the departure of Gbagbo from power. Apart from that, most of the time, countries do what they want, knowing they are likely to find understanding at the AU, where leaders represent themselves and their own interests. Moreover, the AU, “Africa’s pride” depends to a great extent on external resources. The AU was surprisingly understanding on the Mauritanian case, validating various negotiation processes before the elections and then recognizing a coup leader, General Aziz, who had barred a democratically elected president Abdallahi, from running for president. On the other hand, it has been adamant regarding Madagascar and Rajoelina. StrategiCo. specialises in risk analysis in African and rates African countries and economies http://www.strategico.fr
Iran and Zimbabwe: birds of feathers?
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe backs Iran’s controversial nuclear programme and has accused the West of seeking to punish the two countries for asserting their independence.
“Be also assured, comrade president, of Zimbabwe’s continuous support of Iran’s just cause on the nuclear issue,” Mugabe told Ahmadinejad at a banquet he hosted for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who arrived in Harare on Thursday for a two-day visit..
Iran faces a possible new round of United Nations sanctions over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment. Zimbabwe itself escaped U.N sanctions in 2008 after Mugabe’s re-election in a second round poll marred by political violence, which forced his rival, Morgan Tsvangirai to pull out despite outpolling Mugabe in the first round voting.
The Iranian president’s visit has widened rifts within the coalition government, with Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party describing Mugabe’s decision to invite Ahmadinejad as a “collosal political scandal”.
Mugabe said Zimbabwe and Iran have been unjustly vilified and punished by Western countries. Is he justified in saying this? Is there a ploy by the West to pick on these two countries for not toeing the line, so to speak?
“The supply is endless, the wealth from all its treasures!” (Bible, Nahum 2:9)
“4 The chariots storm through the streets, rushing back and forth through the squares. They look like flaming torches; they dart about like lightning.” (Bible, Nahum 2:4)
There was a General in the U.S. Military who became Governor of New Mexico from 1878-1881. He wrote the book Ben Hur. It was the best selling novel until 1936. It was made into a movie in 1959.
In the Movie Ben Hur. Ben Hur grew up with Messala. Messala grew up and became a Roman Centurion. Ben Hur grew up to be a Prince of Juda. Then they Clashed. They put each other in various prisons and finally had a chariot race. Both Got Hurt. Then when they watched the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Heard him say Father Forgive them for they know not what they do. They both became Christian and dropped there swards, and stopped fighting.
There was a man named Saul of Tarsus who who did much worse than what Messalla did to Ben Hur and much worse than what Ben Hur did to Messala to the Christians. But Jesus made him a Christian. And Jesus made him The Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament Gospel.
“28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Bible, New Testament, Galatians 3:28-29)
“The Dispensationalist teaching of prophecy takes Jesus from the center of all prophecy and replaces our blessed Lord with the state of Israel. In Luke 24:44, Jesus says, “All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Dispensationalists, in effect, have recast this section of God’s Word to say, “All things written about the state of Israel in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Furthermore as Luther points out, Israel, even in the old Testament, has always referred to those who believed and followed God, not to a particular race of people or to a certain geographical area. The Psalms regularly refer to Israel. When the Psalmist is referring to Israel, he is pointing to those whom God has promised to bless. In there false understanding of scripture, the dispensationalists have misled millions to believe that the Psalms are referring to God blessing the state of Israel, when in fact, the Psalms refer to a blessing God wants to give to all who are worshiping him. In other words, the dispensationalist theology twists and redirects God’s promises of blessings from children who are his through Baptism to those they believe are his through geography. Among themselves Dispensationalists would agree that the leading schools teaching their interpretation of the Scriptures would be Moody Bible institute in Chicago Illinois, and Dallas theological Seminary in Texas. One of the founders of Fuller Theological Seminary was also a major promoter of Dispensationalism.” (Good News Magazine Prophecy Issue 35, Concordia Mission Society, P.O. box 8555 St Louis MO 63126)
“24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.” (Bible, New Testament, Galatians 4:24-26)
“I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” (Bible, New Testament, Revelation 2:9)
“9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.” (Bible, New Testament, Revelation 3:9)
Jesus lived in all sorts of holes. The grave is one of them.
Foxes have holes. (New Testament, Matthew 8:20)
King Herod is a Fox. (New Testament, Luke 13:32)
Jesus brought us out of all of them.
“He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Bible, New Testament, Colossians 2:13-14)
“13By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” (Bible, New Testament, Hebrews 8:13)
Law with its religion is Satan if You don’t have Christ and the Gospel. In fact we are no longer under the law but under Grace. “14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14) “13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”[a]” (Bible, New Testament, Galatians 3:13) Law is like a hole. Law is like a Cave. Law is like a Mountain. “12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Bible, New Testament, Ephesians 6:12)
Saul of Tarsus was a member of the Synagogue of Satan. He calls himself the “chief of sinners” But God made him The Apostle Paul who wrote most of the Gospel in the New Testament.
“15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Bible, New Testament,Romans 11:15)
“4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” (Bible, New Testament, Romans 4:4-5)
So we gain the Spirit of God not by observing the law. (New Testament, Galatians, 3)
“16″For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Bible, New Testament, John 3:16)
Men readily believe what they want to believe. (Caesar)
Saint Augustine said that if you want to believe you believe.
You have right standing before God.
You don’t have to jump through any hoops.
Jesus did.
He died for you and rose again.
Heaven is your Home.
Betting on Zimbabwe
With global risk aversion decreasing there has been renewed interest in frontier markets.
They don’t come much more frontier than Zimbabwe, which is where Investec Asset Management is looking to make one of its newest investments – buying into a supermarket chain – and then for other potential opportunities.
Despite the continued political troubles since President Robert Mugabe and old rival Morgan Tsvangirai put together a power sharing government just over a year ago, Zimbabwe’s economy grew last year for the first time after a decade of debilitating decline. Growth was estimated at nearly 5 percent.
Returns on the stock market have been even better, although trading remains thin. The ZSE Industrials Index is more than 160 percent above where it was a year ago if down 20 percent from its high last October).
Chris Derksen, head of frontier markets at South Africa-based Investec Asset management, which has $1.5 billion invested across the continent, saw strong further potential given gross domestic product in 2008 was half that of a decade before and Zimbabwe’s share of the economy in the Southern African Development Community had shrunk even more dramatically.
He sees the consumer sector as particularly promising.
“The Zimbabwean consumer is coming from a very low base and the potential for catch-up growth is strong. The difficulty, of course, is getting the timing on a sustainable change right,” Derksen said.
“Some investors have been unnerved by a push by Mugabe’s supporters to implement a law requiring foreign owned businesses to give up a controlling stake to locals.” In addition to his general corruption and ballot stuffing, Mugabe is targeting the illiterate masses in the country side and bribes them with corn and threatens the more resistant into believing that these vigilante missions of taking commercial farms from the qualified white farmers will benefit their country and slowly and cruelly cripples the economy. With such laws implemented, of course Foreign investment will disappear altogether.
Such a sad story.
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Out of Africa — and into China
At a meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh this month, China promised to double the aid it gives to Africa and even forgive the debt of some of the continent’s poorest countries.
We’ve known for some time that Chinese are migrating to Africa to exploit business opportunities. But it’s perhaps less known that growing numbers of Africans are also moving to China to live and work.
One of the most visible is Vimbayi Kajese, a 28-year-old Zimbabwean who reads the news on China Central Television – or CCTV – and is the country’s first African news presenter.
CCTV 9, also known as CCTV International, is China’s state-run English language channel. As well as China, it’s available in more than 80 countries, of which six are in Africa — an increasingly important audience.
“I’ve been in China for over 3 years now,” Kajese told Reuters Africa Journal. “I came after I graduated from the U.S., and the reason why I came to China was because China is the next upcoming emerging market and definitely is the place to be.”
Kajese is one of an increasing number of young Africans heading to China, where a booming economy and ever-closer ties with Africa are creating opportunities as tempting as any in the West.
Tebogo Lefifi left her job as the CEO of a South African mining and property development firm and came to China. Now on a Chinese-funded scholarship to study Chinese economics, the 34-year-old wants to make sure Africans make the most of China’s growth. But some of that may have to wait until she’s mastered the language. Lefifi is setting up an organisation for China-Africa discussion and networking in Beijing. Young African Professionals and Students, or YAPS, will eventually help African professionals and companies trying to get ahead in China.
dont doubt henok if the african-chinese partnership will last, because where else can they get the supplies they need? asia does not anymore, and the eyewatch of the americans, africa is less problematic to china than asia, and that is why they are staying, so the question is, will africa be strong enough to negotiate tough with the chinese, or they will divert this privilege to corrupt paths?
from FaithWorld:
Vatican synod urges corrupt African leaders to quit
Roman Catholic bishops called on corrupt Catholic leaders in Africa on Friday to repent or resign for giving the continent and the Church a bad name. Around 200 African bishops, along with dozens of other bishops and Africa experts, also accused multinational companies in Africa of "crimes against humanity" and urged Africans to beware of "surreptitious" attempts by international organizations to destroy traditional African values.
Their three-week synod, which ends formally on Sunday with a Mass by Pope Benedict, covered a range of Africa's problems, such as AIDS, corruption, poverty, development aspirations and crime. But it had a very direct message for corrupt African leaders who were raised Catholics.
"Many Catholics in high office have fallen woefully short in their performance in office. The synod calls on such people to repent, or quit the public arena and stop causing havoc to the people and giving the Catholic Church a bad name."
The message did not name any leaders. The international community has for years called on Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who was raised a Catholic and educated by Jesuits, to step down, saying he had brought his once-prosperous country to its knees.
Another African leader who was raised a Catholic and has been accused of corruption is Angola's President Eduardo dos Santos. Both men deny any wrongdoing.
In a section on AIDS, the bishops' message repeated the Church position that the spread of the disease could not be stopped by the use of condoms alone. Last March, on his way to his first trip to Africa, the pope caused an international storm by saying that the use of condoms could actually worsen the spread of AIDS.
Should West back Zimbabwe’s government?
The United Nations has joined Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government in appealing for more than $700 million in humanitarian aid for the ruined country.
But while Western countries may show willing when it comes to emergency aid, they are still reluctant to give money to the government between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his old rival.
First, they say, there must be broader political reforms and a clearer demonstration of respect for human rights.
The Western countries have long been at odds with Mugabe, accusing him of ruining Zimbabwe after the seizure of white-owned farms, of widespread human rights abuses and of making a mockery of elections last year that were widely condemned outside Zimbabwe.
But if those countries don’t come up with the finance that the government needs, some believe there is a danger it could undermine prospects for change rather than strengthening them.
“My advice is for the international community to engage Zimbabwe as the opposite of this will only benefit hardliners,” Tsvangirai told a visiting French minister last week.
The unity government has said it won more than $1 billion in promised credit lines from African banks for private firms, but says it needs more than $8 billion for reconstruction.
I know that this article was posted a while ago, but I just stumbled upon it sitting in my office. The issue of aid to Zimbabwe is a tricky one. On one hand, the west needs to be certain that aid given will be used to TRUELY benefit the people of Zimbabwe (we assume). On the other hand, the abscence of aid is now being used by the state media in Zimbabwe to show the people of the west’s “regime change agenda”. Not a day goes by now without the state media painting Tsvangirai as a failure for not being successful in obtaining the development aid that is required to get the Zimbabwean economy back on its feet. Indirectly, the west is strengthening Mugabe’s position by holding back the aid.
I am sure that the “great” financial minds in the west could think of creative ways of providing aid to the people of Zimbabwe without letting funds fall into the ZANU PF coffers. Possibly through South Africa or through SADC? Things such as repairing the water infrastructure in cities, upgrading hospitals etc? Does the “wait and see” approach really have any use except prolonging the suffering of the people? Would the west not be strenghtening Tsvangirai’s position and the future of democracy in Zimbabwe if the people could see rapid improvement in the state of the country? At present, inflation has been arrested and goods are now on the shelves, and who is being given credit for that? The new finance Minister Tendai Biti (MDC).
We need this aid and we need it soon. The longer we allow the situation to continue like this, the greater the chances that the corruptive elements in ZANU PF will work their magic on their MDC partners in the Unity Government.
However, the west does need to ensure that the Zimbabwean government is not given a blank cheque. While it is important for Zimbabwe to prioritise its development needs, the west and international financial institutions should have the right to monitor and in some cases control the nature, extent and timing of aid given. Although many hardliners in Zimbabwe may see this as an imposition and a return to “colonialism”, history has proved to us that this is probably the best approach.
Now, lets face it, there is a long way to go before the GPA is fully implemented, and there is a long fight ahead, but we need to ensure that while the fight is going on, the life of Zimbabweans is improving. The Reserve Bank Govenor and the Attorney General are going to be very tough to remove, and unless the regional body (SADC) puts pressure on Mugabe (unlikely), the west are going to be “waiting” and “seeing” for a very long time.
The people of Zimbabwe have made great strides towards achieving democracy. ZANU PF is a dying horse and cannot (in its current state) go on for ever. We will need a vibrant ZANU PF in the future to guarantee the parliamentary democracy that Zimbabwe so desperately wants. While this is happening, lets not let the people suffer. They have done enough of that over the last 10 years and have maintained their dignity and non-violence through out.
God Bless Zimbabwe and its people!
Africa? No thanks.
The pivotal marketing position when South Africa were still bidding for the 2010 World Cup was the assertion it would be a tournament for all of the continent. ‘Africa’s bid’ was the pay-off line used throughout the successful campaign.
Using famous footballing personalities from around the continent, South Africa garnered widespread support with its all-inclusive approach against their Arab rivals in the race to win the right to host the event.
But for their crowing about pan-African idealism, which the South African World Cup organisers still like to proffer from time to time, there is a growing ambivalence in the country about football to the north of its border.
It is as if South Africa looks more to Europe for inspiration and sporting solidarity and, if it had a choice, would bypass competition in Africa all together. (more…)
I relly am interested in the question of the effect or potential effect of technological devices in desposing the ‘unwanted’ regimes