SELFISHNESS DESIRE & THE LEADERSHIP

The world countries are blessed by the existence of governing bodies ranging from national, regional, continental as well as international. The examples of these bodies are Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU), European Union (EU), Group of Eight (G8), United Nation (UN), just mention a few. The membership composition of these bodies is comprised of political leaders who have different perception towards their leadership expectations. The common people in all levels of classes have all entrusted these bodies with unquestionable confidence in the endeavours as per their stipulated objectives.

All the bodies have one or more in common, that is their primary objectives, e.g. the SADC and AU in Africa both of them are concerned with economic development and stability of security of their jurisdiction. Though these bodies have powers discharging the affairs of communities the external assistance is required to resolve other complex issues. It is therefore the United Nations (UN) exist with the very same objectives but at the global level.

The achievements of each and every body entirely depends on the body�s membership composition and individual members objectives. The differences of individual member� goals are common in all bodies and have contributed inability to meet the prescribed targets and then end in poverty and injustice in many parts of the world. For instance the SADC in Africa , this regional body has managed to achieve none other than a lot of success in the failures to resolving the region�s problems. One of indications for their failure is the political impasses in Zimbabwe .

Since the large number of SADC membership is filled with the leaders whose interests are of the similar nature of Zimbabwe current undesirable leadership style. For this reason the body has chosen an option of zipping up its mouth from uttering the words of truth to liberate the voiceless citizens of Zimbabwe . Despite of knowing the truth the leaders are afraid to speak it out in fear of tomorrow�s consequences when their hidden agenda of altering the countries constitution in order to accommodate their personal political interest will be released. It is therefore the country of South Africa leadership has undoubtedly chosen to entertain a handful Zimbabweans and betray the country�s millions of lives.

The African Union is not exception in this regard. The position of this body in Zimbabwe situation is completely questionable. The spectators have been wondering whether the body existence is for the affairs of ordinary or influential figures. The union�s proposal for negotiations with an aim of forming government of nation unity is a solution but only for power hungry leaders. In the eyes of visionaries Zimbabwe require formed solution more than the government of national unity since the GNU is not the voice of Zimbabweans. It is clear then that AU leaders would have said since neither Robert Mugabe nor Morgan Tsvangirai leadership imposition are not the solution to the country�s problem rather let the voice of ordinary Zimbabweans be the only solution.

The most challenging fraction for Zimbabwe �s issue is the intervention of international bodies, United Nation in particular. Millions of concerned un-influential world citizens were filled with immeasurable excitement hearing the position of G8 countries condemning the illegitimacy of Mugabe�s government. And everyone including I-don�t-know-what-will-happen-tomorrow-Zimbabwean was swimming in the ocean hope thinking that the proposed sanctions to the selected individuals will reinstall the people�s right to different endeavours. Unfortunately the people hope has been swept away by veto of the sanctions. The UN members behind the veto had tried all their best to give their reasons for baring the sanctions.

Russia stated that the Zimbabwe situation is not a threat to the world security and China mentioned her position citing the dialogue. Both excuses are completely viable and reasonable but only for some few individuals who have not realized dirty politics played within the body of United Nations. These countries may be are not aware that every world citizen has fully come across the world super power fight among developed countries and economic plunders from the poor countries. In their eyes they know that the sanctions will help to empower the voiceless figures that have been rocked in dire poverty by the act of intimidation, and these two countries� selfish desire and human greed of gaining supremacy over Zimbabwe will not succeed.

Chinese government should always remember that although there is tremendous boost in her economy the ratio also has corresponded with outspread of her negativity to the affairs of ordinary people in some parts of the world. The deadly and unstable condition of Darfur region in Sudan is the first immediate example that comes to mind of every person when trying to list down China �s un-trusted action towards mankind. The authorities have directly or indirectly bartered the lives thousands of innocent civilians with selfish desire of minerals. Gradually spectators are coming to a conclusion that the spirit demonstrated by China is a possible threat to the democracy and human rights.

The argument has been raised over Russia �s claim that Zimbabwe problem is not a threat to the world security. The question posed by many spectators is how Russia interprets the phrase �world security� or �world threat�. If the security of the people of Zimbabwe is not stable the other parts of the region will be affected as well as it has happened now and the extreme consequences will extend to the whole continent and the other parts of the world. The flow of affected individuals will be seeking asylum in other countries through out the world and this will promote unemployment rate, population density, robbery, etc, for this which attestation do we need to use to prove that Zimbabwe�s problem is one of the major threats to the world stability? Russia please!

UN security council leaders please revisit your decision. You are the only hope for the people of Zimbabwe . Do not put your interests first consider the voiceless, innocent person out there. Remember the decision you make there has powerful consequences that will affect millions lives if it erroneous in its tastes.

The future of Zimbabwe is surely rests in Morgan Tsvangirai?s power of his decision making. The deadlock in the power sharing negotiation deal is clear indication that President Thabo Mbeki has taken a partial approach in the exercise favouring his counterpart Mugabe.

As Morgan Tsvangirai is all aware that the role Arthur Mutambara in the negotiation is none other than seeking opportunities since he is just failure. The Zanu-PF deliberately pushes the inclusion of Mutambara in order to politically confuse Tsvangirai. The spectators have continued warning the opposition MDC from entering the unity that will allow Mugabe retain power. Since it has been proven that Mugabe use the military as machinery for decampaigning against his opponents as well as civilians. It will be a great grave mistake to betray the opposition supporter by engaging in unintelligent alliance with Zanu-PF.

Tsvangirai should learn from the past. Don?t sacrificing people?s life because of uninformed decision. Don?t give Mugabe another chance of cleansing the wayfarers of Zimbabwe?s future.

Don?t be shaken by Mbeki unproductive role in the negotiations.

ICC and the International Criminal Court

The ICC position to indict all concerned parties in Darfur conflicts is an absolute initiative and there is a need for the world and African leaderships in particular to support this effort. Despite the speculations that has been transpiring regarding the ICC of using Africa as an instrument of experimentation, the true advocates cannot buy this idea. The claim just clearly indicates how complex the Darfur conflict is. As almost every spectator of Darfur conflict is aware that there are a lot of contributors to this conflict.

The neighbouring countries for instance Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, etc, are involved in one way or the other. It is therefore the leaders of these surrounding countries rush to make a lot of noise on baseless grounds whenever there is a need for the rule of law requires taking its action. They mask themselves and their agendas in the name of avoiding destabilizing the peace process. The question is what kind of peace process that keeps continuance bombing, killing and displacing innocent civilians, and legal baseless arrests of activists?

There is a solution for Darfur conflict and the answer is absolutely in the hands of Sudanese themselves. The first step towards this solution is for them to realize that regardless of being northerners or southerners but there are all called Sudanese. Upon identifying with the same name as �Sudanese� they will also need to look at other simple but important aspects that are organic for their oneness. Ordinary citizens and militia groups should strongly resist from being used by egotistical politicians. They should always put at their memory that there are them (ordinary civilians) who are extremely suffering from the consequences of such gestures. Let them demonstrate the atmosphere of peace in their own grass root communities and develop a strong sense that no one can solve out the problem rather than engaging themselves in unconditional dialogues. Should the difference maintain holding the nerves Sudanese leaderships the 2011 proposed referendum will decide the future of Sudan.

The neighbouring countries should support the Sudanese people in the positive gesticulation. These nations and governments should entirely refuse to accept from helping both sides acquiring arms using their territories. Although there are large gains of proceeds in such deals when there is arms embargo, they must only be motivated by the spirit service that will surpass the interest of material acquisition by breaking the arm embargo truce at the cost of innocent souls.

Since the justice is indispensable element from achieving the goals of peace for any land both Sudanese rebels and government officials should be accountable to the law. The perpetrators and players of atrocities must at all cost face the sword of the law. Every one accused on the grounds of war crimes or otherwise should be tried by competent and bipartisan court. For this reason International Criminal Court (ICC) is the only qualified Legal Body that will not prosecute the individuals based on political reasons.

The ICC itself should do whatever possible to make sure that charges are brought before its judges. The world is fed up of hearing the claims of justice enforcement with no substantial domino effects. World needs action and action, this is not time for words.

The UN must support the ICC with pure eye and all necessary requirements.

THE 2009 PROJECTIONS FOR AFRICA

The 2009 will be the year of new definition for African democracy and economy at large though the actual meaning of it will not portray its effects within the same redefining year.

� In Southern Africa
o The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) which is nicknamed �The Southern African dictators� club� because of its inability and ineffectiveness in good governance and development related issues will face the internal challenge for running of its affairs. The political posture demonstrated by Botswana and Zambia (particularly by the late President Levi Mwanawasa) towards the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe commences a new page for the charter of this body. According to April 2003 Mauritius Summit 13 member states approved principles and guidelines of democratic elections in its charter. As the history writes most members have been willingly or unwillingly unable to implement these guidelines though some few attempted to tackle them. The Zimbabwe�s political climate has obliged other SADC members like Botswana to stand up and enforce the application of the sections of the body�s charter to dominate the political affairs of member countries. It is believed that this is the dawn of realization for the region and the other members will join President Seretse Khama Ian Khama raising the banners of democratic voices against dictatorial leaderships. In that way SADC will redefine itself in the year 2009.
o The Political and Economic crisis in Zimbabwe � the situation is predicted to be even beyond the level of current gravity. Since 1980 Mr. Mugabe and his political allies in ZANU-PF have been using brutal tactics to silence the opponents. From the independence in 1980 ZANU-PF and its leadership committed several atrocities by starving the population plus militarily torturing that resulted into the loss of about 20, 000 lives. The outcome of political difference reconciliation between Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe proved the smartness of ZANU-PF in destroying opponents. The collapse of health care, education and economy at present is another campaigning tool for ZANU-PF against innocent masses. The 2008 fatal and intimidation of ZANU-PF against MDC is not new in Zimbabwe�s political chapter and accusations of any kind in Mugabe�s ears are not strange, unfortunately these do not paralyze his objectives. Therefore I see him continue appearing in front pages of newspapers in 2009 and MDC if will not be careful will be totally swallowed. Since the verbal pressure from International Communities has done nothing to change the situation if the approach will not change Zimbabweans suffering will continue.
o Malawi: - As the country will be going to polls in May this year the country faces numerous outstanding issues concerning the constitution. On April 24, 2008, a UDF convention, the opposition party choose Bakili Muluzi as party bearer for 2009 general elections despite the questions of his eligibility as a presidential candidate. Muluzi had served as a president of Malawi for two five-year terms. The Malawi Constitution sets a limit of not more than two terms for the office of president and his vice but there is confusion over the interpretation. The confusion arises because of the wording of the section 83 (2) which carries the phrase �two consecutive terms� Unfortunately the Malawi Electoral Commission has not yet declared its position on the matter and several judicial reviews have proved futile. On the separate development the issues relating to the Section 65 of the constitution that had affected many MP remains unresolved. There are lots of questions whether the Malawi�s politicians respect their country�s constitution. These two items make me project a very tough and difficult political journey in 2009 for the country as far as politics are concerned.
� Election Dogma for entire Africa
o The elections of Kenya and Zimbabwe held in 2007 and 2008 respectively have established a new tune of staying in power for all dictators. The spectators fear that the idea of forming the inclusive governments will promote the interests of illegitimate leaders to remain in the power and it is considered as a threat to the emerging African democracy. Keeping the possibility of engaging into Government of National Unity in mind there will be slim chances of conducting free and fair elections process. Despite such a threat to democracy other African countries in the year 2009 will join the Angolan opposition, the UNITA leader Isaias Samakuva, and Ghanaian ruling party 2008 presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo conceding the defeat. Therefore the hope has been pegged that the democracy in Africa will take a new twist.
o Unhealthy means of campaigning during election in many African states is a challenge to the future of democracy as well. Politician in power often use govermant machineries like police and armed forces to suppress the opposition influences within the scenes of campaign. This deformity will take the shape of change as arteries of democracy establish the roots.
� Somalia
o The resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed creates the mountains of doubts for the future of the transition government. The implication of peace process negotiation will also gravely affect the operation of pirate which have backing vocals in both Somali land and the off-shores. 2009 will hard year for Somali citizens and economically the land of Somalia will continue to be one of the players of parallel economy in the world. If the measures will not put in place the Islamists will succeed.
� Unrest in the East and Central African Region
o The operations of rebel groups in this region e.g. Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony and General Laurent Nkunda and his royalists will continue destabilizing the region. The possible reason for the continuation of the unrest situation is what I call the war economic enterprise business that both local and international protagonists of conflict are benefiting from the situation. In Uganda for instance, the current leadership as well as Mr. J. Kony do not support the idea of peace process negotiations because there are afraid of loosing the material benefits that come in the name of humanitarian crisis donations.

By Chris Gonolinje