Guinean Coup: Tragedy or Victory?

The word Military has never been synonymous with good governance or true representation. Spells of Military rule have been characterized by oppression and a deficiency in the expression of the will of the people, true in most cases, but the case in Guinea at least for now appears to be different, an obvious tonic.


Now we wonder, Mandela's People, what defines true representation of the People's will? Is it summarized to a government elected by the people only, should it not be a Government elected by the People, guided by the single rule of satisfying the People's desire and nothing more. True representation is an incorrupt Government, one that exploits every means to guarantee the best attainable welfare of the People and not limited to the Boys in Khaki or the men in indegenous clothings in parliamentary houses, indeed, Governance should be common sense, morals, ethics and the discipline of leaders.

Captain Camara, the self proclaimed President of Guinea, presents himself until now as a man committed to the people, a man of discipline, and unlike others with whom he now shares the title of "Coup Plotter", the architect of a bloodless coup.

We must be flexible in our analyses of events such as this in Guinea, we do not think that the massive cheers from impoverished citizens on the streets of Guinea is by design, rather a joyous cry for responsible governance. While the Military may not be the best hands to deliver, the desirable in Guinea is clearly not available but will be if the Captain goes on to fulfil his promise of credible, free and fair elections in 2010, like the former General Abdulsalami Abubakar did in Nigeria in 1999 in similar circumstances. In the interim however, if he sets a transparent tone and structures a sustainable groundwork for responsible, no nonsense, people sensitive governance, he will go down in history as one of the Guinea's greatest.

I am critical about the International Community condemning the Coup, Governments of the West have done little to caution misrepresentation by African Leaders, they have failed to show the total judicious moral and political support needed to remind Governments in the underdeveloped world to be all inclusive and prudent in their administrations. It will make better sense if the EU, when it votes, outlines it support for the new Military Junta in Guinea to fast track, accelerate the delivery of democracy as soon as practicable, and not by an imposition of a date or time line of six months perhaps, that will plunge Guinea deep into more socio-political disequilibrium, that grounwork, foundation and a lesson to an incoming democracy must be taught and masterminded gravely to resurrect the dynamism of a nation blessed with resources and potentials.

The People of Mandela do not support Power by the Barrel of the Gun, but when such power revives and renews the hope of a lost people, we render support and preach the Gospel of Good Governance. We support Captain Camara to as soon as practicable, give up Power by drafting a Transitional Constitution in view of a formidable future democratic dispensation in which all Guineans will enjoy the dividends of that Power that truly belongs to them.

Zimbabwe: Shame of 2008

We the People of Mandela see no greater worry, no greater Credit Crunch or Recession than the Human Crunch and Repression in Zimbabwe, Africa's remarkably locked land.

History will never see so much Executive Callousness without International Intervention, we will never see a leader of an arguably potentialy failed State as confident as the disease and economic collapse he has inflicted on his people, more worryingly, we will never see a people as patient and tolerant as the Zimbabweans alive at this time. The BBC says the signs of a failed state are apparent, Economic Crisis, Political Turbulence and Social Disequlibrium, we do not argue with that. As if to claim ignorance, a Stunning Mugabe strongly denies these obvious claims, saying many things including "Zimbabwe is Mine", Our God, the God of Mandela and the God of Zimbabwe forgives him.

Just today, a 10 billion Zimbabwean Dollar note is to be released, it will only be worth U$D20, the Media have dubbed this a "Christmas Gift" and indeed it is, a small thing as having people carry less cash or not having to seek U$D notes or the South African currency is a gift to Zimbabweans who at this time seek respites of the lowest definition.Less than or about 3 years ago, I recall the rate of inflation in Zimbabwe to be between 1,300 to 1,500 percent, we saw with disbelief how it rose to 10,000% and in August this year, it was a dangerously incredible 11.2 million percent, an economic contest never to be rivalled. I dare to say, Mugabe has ostracized his Country so much from the World that Zimababwe's revenue if there is any at all is desperately insufficient, and the Government resorts to printing notes to service unjust expenses including lavish Presidential needs because no IMF, no Government, no Paris Club will lend money to a State with a Mugabe-like President.

As the People of Mandela that we are, we want to see a Zimbabwe that is responsible for itself, a Zimbabwe that is freed by its own people. Zimbabweans are too tolerant, too patient, they must show the international community that they are ready to evict an incompetent government before the external aid needed will be gotten. We must remember the sovereignty of that Nation and the laws of the international game, an internal unrest will do enough to open that Country to the World, so as Food and Medical aid is given, Political aid will be forced in as well.

This is not a call for War but a call for Zimbabweans to believe in the survival of their nation and the credibility of its representation, a call to change their own fortunes through activism and a singular stand. If that turns violent, military or chaotic, the end will justify the means, there must be such a sacrifice in a struggle like this.

CNN warned of the disturbing images when it televised the spate of Cholera and horror against the President's high handed claims, those images couldn't have been more disturbing. The social system is shattered, demand for labour is erratic and only grave diggers are assured of employment as people die sporadically, they are laid to rest in a land of enormous failure, May their Souls rest in Peace.

So in the end, We the People of Mandela say that in all of the events of 2008, good and bad, successes and failures, recessions and booms, aggressive campaigns and monumental election, exotic Olympics and eye popping World Records, Celebrity News and Breakups, technological breakthroughs and hiccups, road side bombs and shoe throwing, none catches the eye or stings as painfully as the gross neglect in Zimbabwe, it is to us the SHAME OF 2008.

The Rwandan Verdict

The Life Sentences given would not be the true success of this Verdict, its true success would be when like-minds of Theoneste Bagosora who commit similar atrocities in equal or less proportions fear the wrath of Justice as a result.

If you watched the recent HardTalk interview of Leah Chishugi, a Rwandan lucky to have escaped the Genocide, you'd understand that the Hutu/Tutsi story is just one shade of this sporadic cum African related abuse of Human Dignity, Congo ranks high in likeable Genocide, the Central African Republic Similarly, not forgetting a pitiable Darfur. Leah revealed a case in which a militant preferred to insert his Gun through a woman's Vulva when it was his turn to finish off a serial sexual exploitation by his clique of perverted militants. So much pain she was in, Leah didn't consider the legality of dispensing pain killers to her.

We the People of Mandela say in unequivocal terms that the killing of the innocent in the Congo or wherever is not less punishable than the reported daily killing of 9,000 in Rwanda in 1994. The killing of one and the killing of 9,000 is the same, it is still Genocidal. The International Community must do everything possible to negotiate the sovereignty of Nations so that rebels will be easily removed and tried immediately, when the harm done would have been less advanced, a proactive, not a defensive action in effect. It is clear that while Africa may seek independence to solve its social and political problems, that continent desperately and timelessly needs the aid of the International Community to solve its Crises.

The people of Mandela make this call because it is apparent that smaller crises that exist in Nigeria's Niger-Delta for instance have the propensity to develop into similar ethnic battles and Genocide as we know is often the result. We say no more about other African States and their quarrels, with conviction however, Proactiveness will punish more swiftly and for the death and exploitation of less innocent Civilians.

Shouldn't it be a Humanitarian Auto Bail Out?

Is the issue more humanitarian than it is political? I think so, as a Business Student, I know very well that Consumers in the US prefer competition rather than protectionism to determine the future of their businesses, an argument possed by Republican Senators. That is true and Good, but these are not ordinary times for even Auto Competitors in Asia, some who have had to suspend their ancillary involvements in by the way activities. For the simple statistical reasons of 3 million people likely to lose jobs, another 4 million people dependent of the American Auto Industry potentially having the same fate, not forgetting the 100,000 workers that have been sacked, one would have thought the entire process would be a "humanitarian" rubber stamp in the senate but NO, it wasn't, and guess the guys responsible again, the same Republicans!!

The People of Mandela are sorry to say, but these Republicans, against their own President Bush this time only strengthen the voices of local and international observers who have timelessly asked the United States to solve its own humanitarian crisis before attacking other countries' humanitarian status. Let us hope the White House eventually bails them out, I am confident they will, but imagine if this option was non-existent. The People of Mandela take a particluar interest in this because the number of destitutes on the streets of the US in the cold winter have for long sought to be be bailed, as an example of freedom and democracy to others, the US must continue to bail its already bailed citizens and not anymore unbail any.

Cholera In Zimbabwe

"Because of Cholera, Mr.Brown wants Military Intervention, Sarkozy wants Military Intervention, Bush wants Military Intervention because of Cholera, but I am happy to say our doctors have been assisted by others, the WHO, have now arrested Cholera, so now that there is no Cholera, there is no cause for war...(He Pauses) anymore" were the words of Robert Mugabe. It pains very severely to see that men soaked in shamelessness have the audacity to stand and still be listened to. And even more when equally shameless cronies like the Information Minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, cites Cholera as a genocidal strategy by the UK to recolonize Zimbabwe, a Nation that may very soon be a collapsed state. As if that was not enough of jokes by these two, an aide of Mugabe went on to say later that his boss' sarcasm was mistaken for the eradication of Cholera. Seems to me there are a handful of shameless people in there than we know. What sarcasm? Why sarcasm? Sarcasm over the lives of the UN estimated 800 dead people, sarcasm over the humanitarian imbalance, sarcasm over the immeasurable hazards imposed on Zimbabweans by a Man who once was a hero. I have said, Mugabe was good enough to win freedom and independence for Zimbabwe, and spearhead a nationalistic cause of nation biuilding but that should have been it. I pity the People of Zimbabwe, We The People of Mandela identify with Cholera stricken families living and dead but we fear most for the Cholera that existed long in Zimbabwe, the political Cholera and social questions unanswered.