adminmaterials. The argument and justification being that with the interdependence among the nations of the world through globalisation, western countries have the right to ensure proper functioning of that globalised village.
The recent Nato bombardment of Libya is a case in point which itself is the ultimate outcome of theories advanced by right wing intellectuals and their media surrogates in favour of the recolonisation of Africa. It is against this background that the debate opened by Dr Chimedza to the succession of the Africa Union commission chairman, taking over from Dr Jean Ping, should be looked at. In his discourse, Dr Chimedza is patently skeptical over the Sadc’s choice of the respectable Mai Nkosazana Zuma in preference of the equally respectable renowned Pan Africanist Thabo Mbeki, whom he described as an inspirational leader with passion for the African agenda.
Cde Mbeki can also be counted among a few African leaders who have consistently argued that NATO’s assault on Libya constitute a concrete expression of the systematic neo-imperialist resolve and determination to create conditions for Western governments to embark on neo-colonial interventions.
But as things stand, Africa is now gripped by a serious leadership anaemia, if the current crop of African leaders is anything to go by. First, the AUC with Dr Jean Ping at the helm, is as dead as the UN
under the current moribund secretary General Ban ki Moon. The AUC current chairman, is in Dr Chimedza’s words, behaving like a headless chicken, defenceless, not focused, totally disjointed and very slow and erratic in response to situations.
The second scenario regarding Africa’s palpable leadership paucity was presented when fellow African countries, instead of acting decisively and on principle, were bullied by the Anglo-Saxon alliance into voting for UN resolution 1973 which was used as cover by NATO for military action on Libya. As if that was not enough, the AU chairman, president of Equatorial Guinea Mr Mbasogo, and chairman of the AU Libya panel Cde Jacob Zuma of South Africa, shocked the progressive world at the recent UN summit by announcing that the AU recognises the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
It is apparent that by recognising the NTC the AU chairman has legitimised the NATO operation in Libya, thus effectively sanction in the killing of innocent Libyans. From the foregoing, it is apparent that the AU as it currently stands, has become a pale shadow of its founding fathers principles and objectives that sought to promote unity and solidarity of African states and to work collectively for securing Africa’s long term economic future and to eradicate all forms of colonialism.
There is no doubt that the only African leader today with the stature and stamina of the founding fathers of the OAU is President Mugabe who is a lone voice in decrying this loss of direction by the AU, as president Yoweri Museveni of Uganda once remarked, “the present generation of African leaders must rise to the occasion or else they will be like the African Chiefs of Yore that were fighting each other for local supremacy while the white man was busy taking slaves and colonising Africa”. There is therefore no doubt that throughout his political career Thabo Mbeki has distinguished himself as a champion of the African agenda who speak passionately about African emancipation from the bondage of economic slavery with regards to the African renaissance or rebirth.
Thabo Mbeki, it is generally agreed and according to Dr Chimedza, has got a passion for the African agenda, is experienced with the issues at hand and has got knowledge, skill, clout and rapport with international leaders. In effect, Dr Chimedza’s discourse is premised on the argument that Sadc should put forward Thabo Mbeki as the next AUC chairman because of his record as a passionate Pan Africanist.
But looking at the South Africa where Thabo Mbeki comes and which South Africa he was the second black president, I am not sure whether Thabo Mbeki, not withstanding his impressive credentials, as a Pan Africanist, would be the best candidate for the job from the Sadc region. Firstly, we all know how Thabo Mbeki was unceremoniously recalled by the ANC a few months before completing his tenure of office for reasons that were as unconvincing as they were humiliating, probably for failing to toe the party’s neo-liberal driven agenda. Secondly, the current crop of the ANC leadership’s failure to deliver to deliver on economic freedom to the poverty stricken masses would not make Thabo Mbeki or anybody from the ANC, including Sadc prefer Mai Nkosazana Zuma, an ideal candidate for the AUC chairman’s post.
In South Africa, with almost two decades after independence, the three successive black presidents have not given the black majority real independence, with the nice guy Mandela being more content with the copious accolades he is showered with by the neo-liberals ostensibly for compromising on the freedom charter, and Thabo Mbeki, having flopped dismally on economic uhuru during his tenure as president of SA. As for the incumbent, President Jacob Zuma, he is as clueless on economic independence as his compatriot, the neo-liberal mega-phone, Desmond Tutu.
It is apparent that the three successive black presidents of South Africa have been afraid of the white liberal community in so far as giving the black majority economic emancipation in the form of land, justice and total independence. No wonder Julius Malema’s radical message has struck a chord with the poverty stricken masses in the so-called rainbow nation.
This apparent failure by the current crop of the ANC leadership to deliver on an economic uhuru to the poverty stricken masses in South Africa would surely not make any one of them a suitable candidate for AUC’s chairman’s post. Indeed African must find a way forward to get out of this quagmire and to remain determined to free itself from perpetual bondage in the face of the imperialist equally determined effort to recolonise Africa through deceit, bribery, coercion and outright force as was the case in Libya. As an alternative, there are some highly progressive Pan Africanists who have distinguished themselves well as leaders of their governments in pursuit of the African agenda and in championing the African cause without compromising themselves and without fear of retribution from the white liberal community.
The likes of retired President of Mozambique Cde Joachim Chissano; former President of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa, Namibia’s former foreign minister Theo Ben and our own retired Brigadier General Felix Muchemwa, a former Minister of Health, among others, readily come to mind as principled Pan Africanists who have distinguished themselves in championing the African agenda worthy deserving to be considered by Sadc as ideal candidates for the AUC chairman’s post.
Online Reporter