Arcadia Foundation » Africa http://arcadiafoundation.org It's in our hands to create change Mon, 14 May 2012 09:17:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Zambia’s ‘Ukwa’ No Longer a Laughing Matter http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/zambia%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98ukwa%e2%80%99-no-longer-a-laughing-matter/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/zambia%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98ukwa%e2%80%99-no-longer-a-laughing-matter/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:41:49 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1922 The following was originally published in Zambia Reports, penned by Nse Udoh is a Contributing Journalist at the online magazine:

Wherever top Nigerian actor Nkem Owoh maybe at the moment, he should not be shocked when he hears that he has a replica that is giving him serious competition in Zambia.

Owoh’s stage name of Ukwa is perhaps the most trending in Zambian bars and Internet blogs. Why, you may ask? In most Nigerian films that he has starred in, Ukwa is this no-nonsense and highly unpredictable character who rants and moans at everything and anything. He possesses a character that combines humour, a clear lack of understanding of what’s going on around him, and regularly displays of volatility, sarcasm and illiteracy to get his way around things.

Watching him when he is at his best—which he usually is—is simply hilarious. But Ukwa can also be excruciating to watch, as he fails to draw a line between serious issues and all the joking around to make the audience laugh. Zambians have their own version of Ukwa—President Michael Sata, a nickname which was originally bestowed upon him by now his best friends in the media at The Post, Zambia’s highest selling newspaper.

At one point when Sata was in the opposition, his greatest nemesis was The Post. The paper stopped at nothing; they called him all the names you may think of, accused him of being unfit to be trusted with national affairs, defamed him and labeled him a serpent, a crook, corrupt and declared that Zambia did not deserve to have an “Ukwa in State House”, meaning Sata was not fit to be entrusted with the presidency.

Well, times change. The man once painted black, a serpent, by The Post has had sainthood bestowed on him (just this weekend, Post owner Fred M’membe, wrote. Throughout the election campaign, the newspaper made no secret of its support for the candidacy of the Patriotic Front – and regularly ran attack articles of questionable journalistic quality against the incumbent. In exchange for reporting only positive stories about Sata while also attacking his opponents, the newspaper and its reporters were handsomely awarded with dozens of jobs in government, positions at state-owned companies, and especially the diplomatic corps. The constant poaching of Post employees is even said to annoy the editor-in-chief, Fred M’membe.

The Zambian Government’s hiring of journalists has created a troubling and incestuous relationship between the state and the only non-state media – if a critical story were ever to be published, of course it would be those journalists-turned-ministers who would be blamed, creating pressure on them to make sure their colleagues posted to State House only write about approved subjects. Additionally, the fact that so many reporters were offered these better paying positions with the PF administration, they going to be economically motivated not to sacrifice their own future career prospects by publishing a report critical of the government.

In this manner, President Sata has compromised many of his fiercest critics such as civil society organisations, journalists and political commentators that caused the former ruling party the—MMD—sleepless nights. Nevertheless, to some Zambians, Sata is still highly volatile and unpredictable character of Ukwa, even if the newspapers no longer attack him as such.

And these concerns again came to light last week when Sata resumed his official duties, almost a full month since his “personal trip” to India where he had gone for a surgery to treat a urinary problem as widely reported by the Indian press. Though the controversial India trip itself had different titles ranging from “private”, “holiday” to “investment promotion crusade,” there has still been silence from Sata himself on what exactly he went to do as he shunned journalists on arrival at the airport and kept away from public eye for two weeks before finally appearing in public glare last week to resume his duties.

One of his first functions after the India trip was to receive a report from a Commission of Inquiry he appointed to investigate contracts awarded to companies to install radars at Zambia’s three international airports.

The background to this Commission of Inquiry is that there is suspicion in government circles that radar contracts were corruptly awarded to foreign companies who were supposed to install them. The chief suspect in the eyes of many government officials, including president Sata, is former Minister of Transport and MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya.

But when the report was handed to Sata, he labeled it as “complicated,” “useless” and wondered whether the Head of the Commission Sebastian Zulu was “trying to protect Dora Siliya.” In the process, the president admitted that this Commission of Inquiry had been a huge waste of money – presumably because its conclusions did not meet his expectations to go after a primary opposition figure.

The Head of State was not done with Zulu. A day after he presented the radar report, Zulu was again supposed to hand over a report into another Commission of Inquiry, this time tasked to investigate the acquisition of land under the leadership of former republican president Rupiah Banda by a government owned institution, the National Pension Scheme Authority (Napsa). But instead, Zulu (reported to have traveled to South Africa on official duty) delegated his deputy to present the report to Sata.

Sata refused to receive the report. This time, he was incensed that Zulu had snubbed him and surprised many people by declaring that “there is a lot of dust which has been swept under the carpet” by the report. He abruptly called off the report handover ceremony by calling for the singing of the national anthem and declared he would only receive the findings when Zulu was around.

Could Zulu have possibly travelled to South Africa without the knowledge of his boss? Such sentiments by Sata’s critics were also expressed when another Commission of Inquiry appointed by the president to investigate the deadly 2011 riots in Mongu, a town in the western province of Zambia. This Commission of Inquiry report concluded that some people actually wanted to secede from the rest of Zambia, and that the 1964 Barotseland Agreement should be restored.

During the 2011 presidential campaign, Sata traveled to Western province and during one of the rallies made a promise to the Lozi that he would give them what they want (much like the promise of “more money in your pocket”). Perhaps, he was joking but the Lozi took him seriously on a matter they are so passionate about. The rallied him and for the first time in the 10-years of his party, he won parliamentary elections in Western Province – Mongu Central and Nalolo constituencies. But that’s the problem with Ukwa – he can be very entertaining, but he confuses serious issues when in fact he’s just joking.

When he got into State House; his first attempt to the promise of restoration of Barotseland was to constitute a Commission of Inquiry into the January 14 deadly violence and pardoning over 80 activities arrested during the protests. Surprisingly, there was no mention of secession in the terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry.

But when the Commission of Inquiry recommended restoration of the agreement, Sata outrightly rejected such calls, effectively going against what he had promised the people of Western Province during campaigns that led to his election.

“I am reluctant to ask my government to allow for the secession of Western Province. This is because all the tribes in Zambia will want the same thing,” said Sata, who during the 2011 campaigns promised to restore the agreement within 90 days of being elected president.

The ruling party’s secretary general Wynter Kabimba did not want to be left out in supporting Sata.

He did not only accuse Dr Richard Chongwe, a well respected lawyer, of being an “interested party,” but charged that the Commission exceeded its terms of reference when it proposed the restoration of the controversial agreement.

“President Sata should not have given the chairmanship to Dr Chongwe. This was probably an oversight on the part of the President,” he said. “The issue of the Barotseland Agreement is nowhere in the terms of reference as given to the commission by President Sata.”

He added: “It’s the position of the PF that the commission went above its mandate and therefore misdirected itself and the nation at the end of the day. The findings are not supported by the terms of reference.”

Kabimba said Dr Chongwe was emotionally involved in the matter as he was one of the lawyers who represented some of the victims of the Mongu riots of January 14 last year.

“In future, President Sata needs to be extremely careful whom he assigns national duties to,” Kabimba warned.

It is pronouncements such as the above that leave Zambians wondering whether these Commissions of Inquiry, whose cost to the taxpayer is not known, are serving any purpose, apart from appeasing the appointing authorities and providing a pretext for the ruling party to eliminate its opponents. The PF Government has deployed at least 8 Commissions of Inquiry, presumably costing millions of dollars, to investigate what mostly turn out to be false rumors heard around the bar room. There have been more Commissions appointed in the last six months than the last six years.

Has Zambia now reverted to its people being declared “guilty until proven innocent” instead of the opposite as required by the constitution? Why should Sata make any declaration about a judicial process, much less label the findings of a Commission he appointed as “useless”? Does that instill public confidence in the people he’s appointing to serve under him? Clearly, as seen in many Commissions of Inquiry headed by the ruling party’s sympathisers or members, there can be very little justice expected in these reports as many of them have political scores to settle with their opponents. And many of those that have merely been conduits of Commissions of Inquiry submissions, albeit not in good taste to the powers that be, may forever be refereed to as “useless” “incompetent” or indeed accused of “sweeping dust under the carpet.”

But when it comes to Ukwa, we should remember that he who pays the piper, calls the tune.

Nse Udoh is a Contributing Journalist to Zambia Reports. He can be contacted at nudoh51@yahoo.com

]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/zambia%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98ukwa%e2%80%99-no-longer-a-laughing-matter/feed/ 0 Nigeria and the Akwa Ibom Model http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/nigeria-and-the-akwa-ibom-model/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/nigeria-and-the-akwa-ibom-model/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:33:28 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1913 Historically, development was a promise all too often given in the nation with the fourth largest oil reserves in the world. From the federal level on down to the state to state, electricity was and in many cases is lacking throughout Nigeria and infrastructural progression is often subtly put on the political backburner.

Then there is the case of Akwa Ibom State.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, in a few short years, has tangibly fulfilled his promise of ‘uncommon transformation‘. In Uyo, hospitals are being built, bridges are connecting business to business, an entertainment complex is quickly on the rise and the maritime potentials of the state are soon to be unlocked.

A railroad linking Uyo with Port Harcourt is the latest endeavor of the Akwa Ibom State Government to benefit economic development throughout the state and indeed the country.

Governor Akpabio was quoted by the Vanguard as stating that “…it was important to link all states, economic zones and mining areas with railways for easy movement of goods and people. The Ibaka Seaport  has the added advantage of proximity and centrality to deep offshore operations and the West Africa Region Joint Development Zone including Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Gabon. Added to this is the availability of ample undeveloped land.”

Next on the agenda? The Governor stated that his administration plans to build an Industrial City on the area the seaport is located, adding that “the Ibom Industrial City would be an industrial mix of oil and gas-based support services, dockyard and watercraft repair facilities, fertilizer plant, oil refinery, gas-to-liquid projects, petrochemical industries, power plant and [along with] the Ibaka Seaport, promises to be self-sustaining.”

He said that when fully operational, the industrial city would employ 100,000 people and increase the export base of the nation.

It should indeed be noted that Governor Akpabio commended Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for the Federal Government’s acceptance to develop the seaport.

]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/nigeria-and-the-akwa-ibom-model/feed/ 0 Zimbabwe and Wikileaks – Sir Richard Branson ‘Bankrolled’ Plan to Ease Out Mugabe http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/zimbabwe-and-wikileaks-sir-richard-branson-bankrolled-plan-to-ease-out-mugabe/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/zimbabwe-and-wikileaks-sir-richard-branson-bankrolled-plan-to-ease-out-mugabe/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:39:24 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1904 Sir Richard Branson last night denied a report in a leaked US embassy cable that he bankrolled a diplomatic effort to sweeten the exit of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, writes Alex Duval Smith in the Independent.

A confidential memo released by Wikileaks says that in July 2007, Branson was due to hold a secret meeting with South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela and other senior African statesmen to discuss persuading President Mugabe, now 87, to step down.

The initiative is said in the cable to have been brokered by Zimbabwean politician Jonathan Moyo, but never came to fruition. Last night Sir Richard Branson’s office acknowledged that he had been approached by Mr Moyo to discuss ”ways to broker a peaceful reconciliation in Zimbabwe” but no further action was taken.

Sir Richard Branson owns a luxury game lodge and a chain of gyms in South Africa and takes a strong interest in the Southern African region’s politics. Last year, on the sidelines of the United Nations poverty summit in New York, he launched Enterprise Zimbabwe – an fund aimed at attracting western investors scared off by the political instability in Zimbabwe.

The cable, dated 10 July 2007 and classified by the US ambassador Eric Bost to South Africa, states: “UK businessman Richard Branson is bankrolling an African ‘Elders’ initiative to convince Zimbabwean President Mugabe to step down. The ‘Elders’ plan to meet secretly in Johannesburg July 17-18 with Branson to discuss their initiative.”

The cable says the planned July 2007 meeting was to include Mandela, former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan, as well as the former presidents of Namibia, Zambia, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya and Botswana. Former US president Jimmy Carter was also mentioned as a possible participant.

The memo identifies Mr Moyo, a controversial figure in Zimbabwean politics, as “working with Branson on the plan“. Mr Moyo’s career has seen him flip-flop in and out of favour with the ruling Zimbabwean African National Union – Patriotic Front. At the moment, he is back in favour, acting regularly in an information role.

The cable says: “Moyo reached out to Branson, who owns Virgin Atlantic airlines as well as a game lodge and chain of gyms in South Africa, in early June to suggest the involvement of the former African leaders. Branson agreed to fund the initiative, including Moyo’s travel and technical assistance.”

The cable goes into detail about Moyo’s plan, adding that he proposed the Elders visit Mugabe and urge him to support a new constitution, giving him the chance to select an executive prime minister in exchange for standing down.

Moyo is even quoted as suggesting ”a script” for the elders’ encounter with the Zimbabwean president, including stressing that ”they respect him” and want to protect his ”proud legacy”.

Asked last night by The Independent for his views on the leaked cable, Dr Moyo, who is a member of the Zanu-PF Politburo, initially said he could not comment on information ”given to the US ambassador by a third party” he named as the International Crisis Group.

Later however, in a lengthy phone call, Dr Moyo admitted having met Sir Richard Branson in a check-in queue at O.R Tambo airport in Johannesburg in April 2007. ”We chatted for about an hour and a half. He told me that he was setting up a group of Elders with Peter Gabriel. When he learnt that I was an MP he was interested in my views. Mr Branson is a good man. We exchanged phone numbers and emails.”

Dr Moyo denied initiating a meeting with Mr Branson and claimed that the Virgin millionnaire had phoned him as a follow-up to the airport encounter. ”He asked my advice on who to appoint to his panel of Elders. I told him that the names he was proposing, including Desmond Tutu, were non-starters in Zimbabwe and I gave him more suitable names, including the former presidents of Namibia, Zambia, Ghana and Mozambique.”

However the cable appears to be informed by conjecture. The Elders – a group of prominent figures and former statesmen and women who receive financial support from Branson – were launched on 18 July, 2007, a week after the cable was written. Apart from Nelson Mandela, they do not include the former African presidents named as putative participants in the July 2007 meeting. The Elders did not begin working on the Zimbabwean crisis until the following year.

]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/zimbabwe-and-wikileaks-sir-richard-branson-bankrolled-plan-to-ease-out-mugabe/feed/ 0 Steps in the Right Direction: Zambian President Bows Out After Losing At Polls http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/steps-in-the-right-direction-zambian-president-bows-out-after-losing-at-polls/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/steps-in-the-right-direction-zambian-president-bows-out-after-losing-at-polls/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:00:32 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1894 CNN reports that Zambia’s incumbent president has bowed out with “grace and honor” today after election results showed his main challenger had won, his party said in a statement.

“The people of Zambia have spoken and we must listen,” outgoing President Rupiah Banda said on the website of his Movement for Multiparty Democracy. “The time now is for maturity, for composure and for compassion.”

Zambians voted Tuesday in the presidential election.

The incoming president, Michael Sata, will be sworn in Friday, party officials said.

Sata is the leader of the opposition Patriotic Front and a major critic of China’s investment in the nation.

Ten candidates took part in the presidential race .

]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/steps-in-the-right-direction-zambian-president-bows-out-after-losing-at-polls/feed/ 0 The Bidun Demand Better Living Conditions http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/the-bidun-demand-better-living-conditions/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/the-bidun-demand-better-living-conditions/#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:49:53 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1873

The Tehran Times reports that HRW issued a statement on Monday saying the Kuwaiti government has denied the Bidun “essential documentation, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as access to free government schools and legal employment opportunities.”

Middle East Director at Human Rights Watch Sarah Leah Whitson said, “Like the rest of the Arab world, the Bidun have had enough and are demanding reforms the government should have made years ago.”

According to HRW, the Bidun in Kuwait live under “vulnerable” conditions and “without protection,” and the government considers them “illegal residents.”

On May 26, the Kuwaiti government agreed to provide ration cards for food allowances through government-run cooperatives, but it has not recognized enforceable legal rights and benefits for the Bidun and continues to enforce discriminatory policies against them.

In February and March, hundreds of Biduns assembled in the streets in Kuwait to protest the government’s failure to act on their citizenship applications.

Moreover, rights groups say Kuwaiti women still encounter social discrimination and violation of their economic rights despite being granted a female suffrage by the parliament in 2005.

Statelessness has existed in Kuwait since independence from Britain in 1961, and Kuwaiti law bans the courts from ruling on citizenship claims of the Bidun.

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]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/the-bidun-demand-better-living-conditions/feed/ 0 Diamond Bourse Federation Urges Kimberley Consensus on Zimbabwe Stones http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/diamond-bourse-federation-urges-kimberley-consensus-on-zimbabwe-stones/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/diamond-bourse-federation-urges-kimberley-consensus-on-zimbabwe-stones/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 19:38:46 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1869 The World Federation of Diamond Bourses has called on members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to resolve internal disagreements as to whether Zimbabwe should be allowed to export stones from Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond field, saying a continued deadlock is causing irreparable damage to the global industry.

In a statement, Federation President Avi Paz said Kimberley members must “take the essential and courageous decision to allow Zimbabwe to export rough diamonds from all diamond mining areas in the country, including Marange.”

Voice of America reports that Paz said the Kimberley Process has failed to end a longstanding impasse over diamonds from Marange and therefore bears responsibility for reputational damage to the diamond industry and indeed for much of the economic hardship facing Zimbabweans today.

“The KP, due to the deadlock in its decision-making process and its experts ensuing indecision to allow rough diamond exports from Zimbabwe to resume, is about to cause irreparable damage throughout the entire to supply pipeline of our industry and trade, and threatens the livelihood of literally millions of people throughout the international diamond and jewelry sector ” Paz declared in the statement.

“In addition, if the KP remains indecisive on (Zimbabwe diamonds), there is a real danger that the relevance of the KP itself will be at stake.”

The tangled Marange question is to be taken up at a Kimberley process meeting in June. Paz says that in the meantime his federation is telling members not to trade in stones from Marange so long as the Kimberley Process has not given approval.

Deputy Mines Minister Gift Chimanikire told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that Zimbabwe has fully complied with Kimberley requirements and should be allowed to sell its diamonds so that it can increase pay for struggling civil servants.

Executive Director Farai Maguwu of the Center for Research and Development said that while he agrees Kimberley is in disarray, Harare should not be given a green light to sell diamonds into the world market given numerous outstanding questions about the development of the Marange field and ongoing human rights abuses.

]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/diamond-bourse-federation-urges-kimberley-consensus-on-zimbabwe-stones/feed/ 0 UN Evaluates Tunisia’s Human Rights and Anti-Terrorism Efforts http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/un-evaluates-tunisias-human-rights-and-anti-terrorism-efforts/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/un-evaluates-tunisias-human-rights-and-anti-terrorism-efforts/#comments Fri, 27 May 2011 16:16:52 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1866 UN officials made a special visit to Tunisia to determine the progress of it’s recommendations involving human rights and counter-terrorism in the country. According to a report from the UN News Centre, Martin Scheinin visited the country for the first time since last January to see what human rights efforts still needs to be accomplished in the country.

An independent United Nations human rights expert today urged Tunisia’s transitional Government to carry out the necessary reforms to ensure that its counter-terrorism measures comply with international human rights law.

“I call for measures against impunity to secure accountability for crimes and human rights violations committed in the name of counter-terrorism,” said Martin Scheinin, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, at the end of his five-day visit to Tunisia.

The visit was intended to assess progress in the implementation of the recommendations made after his previous mission in January last year and identify areas where reforms are necessary.

“The global threat of terrorism is real and can only be responded to through properly targeted and lawful measures, instead of using the notion of terrorism to suppress dissent,” Mr. Scheinin said in a press release.

He offered to assist Tunisia to replace the abusive anti-terrorism law of 2003 with a proper legislative framework to bring the North African country’s anti-terrorism efforts in line with international legal standards.

Following up on his previous report in which he expressed grave concern over the activities of various entities in Tunisia’s security apparatus and the secrecy and impunity with which they operated, Mr. Scheinin welcomed the abolition of the Directorate for State Security by the transitional Government.

“Secrecy was an important element that contributed to the shield of impunity under which these actors could operate,” he said. “All security organs’ functions and powers must be regulated by publicly available laws. Such transparency avoids not only the creation of myths about what these agencies do, but also ensures accountability of these agencies if they commit illegal acts,” he added.

He commended the first steps taken by the transitional Government to establish accountability for those who attacked pro-reform demonstrators earlier this year, but underscored that “in order to look truly forward towards a new Tunisia, it has to come to terms with dark remnants of its past.

“Tunisia should continue to investigate ex officio allegations of torture and illegal detention, often committed under the pretext of the fight against terrorism,” he said. “Investigating, prosecuting and trying those responsible for the crimes in question can also help rebuild trust between the population and the security forces in the country.”

He also praised Tunisia’s decision to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the Optional Protocols to the Convention against Torture and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/un-evaluates-tunisias-human-rights-and-anti-terrorism-efforts/feed/ 0 Uganda: 120 New Parliamentarians Sworn In http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/uganda-120-new-parliamentarians-sworn-in/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/uganda-120-new-parliamentarians-sworn-in/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 05:55:20 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1849 Ugandan Parliament was a beehive of activity yesterday as new MPs, including Arcadia Foundation Co-Founder Betty Bigombe, began taking their oath of office, ahead of the official opening of the second multiparty Parliament on Thursday.

At least 123 ‘fresh’ MPs were sworn-in including Lubaga North MP Singh Katongole Marwaha whose election was shrouded in controversies. While Mr Marwaha was supposed to be sworn-in today, authorities in Parliament said Mr Singh had requested to take his oath ahead of time.

While Mr Singh said he was going to travel, there was speculation that he could have been favoured for fear of an impending court injunction to block his swearing- in because of the tumult surrounding the vote-recount that gave him the ‘victory’.

Some of the key figures sworn-in yesterday include the Deputy Speaker, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, who is competing for the Speaker job, the Vice President Prof Gilbert Bukenya, former Security Minister Amama Mbabazi, Army Commander Maj. Gen. Aronda Nyakayirima, former Chief Whip Daudi Migereko, the former minister for Northern Uganda, Ms Betty Bigombe, and the former first deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Gen. Moses Ali, among others.

At least 123 MPs will today take their oath and the remaining 149 members will be sworn-in on Wednesday to conclude the three-day exercise presided over by the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Aeneas Tandekwire.

Asked if he would want to return as the Vice President of the country, Prof Bukenya said he has never asked for that job but the appointing authority found him a capable assistant because of his traits.

The new MPs promised to fight corruption in the government, improve service delivery and foster unity, democracy and rule of law in a multi-party political setting.

]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/uganda-120-new-parliamentarians-sworn-in/feed/ 0 Nigeria, Africa’s Political Giant of Corruption http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/nigeria-africas-historical-giant-of-corruption/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/nigeria-africas-historical-giant-of-corruption/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 17:56:39 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1843 As AllAfrica reports, to run a democratic government in Nigeria is very expensive but the people that run the government determine the political system. In the recent past, the Federal Government has been bedeviled with high- profile corruption which emanated from the military interregnum but has continued under the civilian government. Yet, corruption undermines everything the law enforcement community works toward. It impoverishes whole communities and threatens the safety and security of the many for the benefit of a very few.

Corruption is a multifaceted phenomenon supported by different historical and socio-economic conditions in each country. It exists at all levels of society. Although in the past it could have been considered a largely domestic issue, corruption now often transcends national boundaries. Its consequences are global; its hidden costs immense.

The private sector has responded by implementing ethics and compliance standards and regulations, while the public sector benefits from the ratification of recent laws and international conventions. Oversight bodies and mechanisms have been created to ensure the smooth running of efforts in both sectors. Corruption remains rampant in many countries, continuing to siphon off valuable resources and economic gains.

Political corruption is not a recent phenomenon that pervades the Nigerian State. Since the creation of modern public administration in the country, there have been cases of official misuse of resources for personal enrichment. The rise of public administration and the discovery of oil and natural gas are two major events seen to have led to the litany of ignoble corrupt practices in the country. Over the years, the country has seen its wealth withered with little to showing in living conditions of the average human being. A Nigerian political leader, Obafemi Awolowo raised a salient issue when he said, since independence, our governments have been a matter of few holding the cow for the strongest and most cunning to milk. Under those circumstances everybody runs over everyday to make good at the expense of others. Corruption has been blamed on colonialism.

According to this view, the nation’s colonial history may have restricted any early influence in an ethical revolution. Throughout the colonial period, most Nigerians were stuck in ignorance and poverty. The trappings of flashy cars, magnificent houses were seen as symbols of success to be emulated from the colonialists in different political ways. Involvement in the agenda of colonial rule may also in habit idealism in the early stage of the nascent nation’s development. A view the community held during the colonial days was that the colonialist’s property, (cars, houses, farms etc) is not “Our” property. This vandalism and looting of public property was not seen as a crime against society. This view is what has degenerated into the more recent disregard for public property and lack of public trust and concern for public goods as a collective national property.

In Nigeria, particularly, corruption is celebrated as a man who just got married to a beautiful wife. Corruption, through prevalent, was kept at manageable levels during the First Republic, however, the cases of corruption during the period were sometimes clouded by political infighting. Azikwe the first major political figure was investigated for questionable practices. In 1944, a firm belonging to him bought a Bank in Lagos. The Bank was procured to strengthen local control of the Financial Industry.

In Western Nigeria, politician Adegoke Adelabi was investigated following charges of political corruption leveled against him by the opposition. The report led to the demand for his resignation as District Council head.

In the Northern region, against the back-drop of corruption allegations leveled against some native authority officials in Bornu the Northern Government enacted a law to forestall any further breach of administrative procedure. Similarly, under the military regime, several millions of dollars were siphoned into foreign banks. The various military governments legalized corruption which transferred to the civilian government.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has recorded many cases of deadly corrupt practices involving public officers. Despite that the fact that former president Olusegun Obasanjo introduced the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to curb the menace of corruption of Public Office Holders, yet corruption has refused to go. Public offices are now synonymous of corruption as integrity, accountability and transparency are gradually fading out of the political system. Corruption is identified with the Nigeria police, political parties, National and State Assemblies, Federal, State and local governments, Traffic Police, FRSC and PHCN.

Democratic corruption is more pronounced in Nigeria which makes it difficult to conduct free and credible elections in recent years until Professor Jega resurrected the political structure. Nigeria is presently ranked as 121 of 178 all over the world as the most corrupt nation. Transparency Intervention Corruption Perception Index (TICPI) and Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC) together with Civil Society Organizations have equally listed the epidemic corruption in Nigeria. It is sad that public and private office holders are now perpetrating political and economic debauchery.

The recently concluded 2011 elections have indicated that many political office holders’ seekers have spent so much money while campaigning. Most politicians would like to recoup their money before considering the masses that voted them into power. Nigeria is the giant of Africa but glued with deadly corrupt leaders who have made themselves demi-gods without considering the implications. Corrupt leaders are more celebrated than good leaders.

Although corruption can often be seen as purely a domestic issue, the international dimension of corruption is no less important, as corrupt acts usually take place in multiple places and are generally linked to crimes carried out in other countries. President Goodluck Jonathan must fight corruption to have workable institutions in the country. All hands must be on deck to fight corruption.

]]> http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/nigeria-africas-historical-giant-of-corruption/feed/ 0 Zimbabwe Journalists Mark Press Freedom Day With Push for Open Airwaves http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/zimbabwe-journalists-mark-press-freedom-day-with-push-for-open-airwaves/ http://arcadiafoundation.org/latest-papers/africa/zimbabwe-journalists-mark-press-freedom-day-with-push-for-open-airwaves/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 16:16:16 +0000 The Arcadia Foundation http://arcadiafoundation.org/?p=1832 Zimbabwean journalists marking World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday in Harare told Information Minister Webster Shamu the country must open up its airwaves and repeal repressive laws under which Zimbabwe remains a difficult working environment.

VOA reports that journalists attending the event organized by the new Zimbabwe Media Commission said that while there has been some improvement on the print side with the licensing of independent dailies, they still feel targeted by authorities for reporting the truth.

Media professionals and officials representing the Information Ministry discussed media issues. Information Minister Shamu echoed a statement by President Robert Mugabe on Monday that journalists should not be hindered in their work – but should also not focus on the negatives side of the government and the nation’s political parties.

Journalists for their part asked Shamu to assure them that their fellow professionals now in exile would be protected should they decide to return to Zimbabwe to work.

Media Commissioner Mathew Takaona told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that in a bid to liberalize the airwaves, his commission has decided to accelerate its efforts to find ways to promote the issuance of independent broadcasting licenses.

Zimbabwe National Students Union President Tafadzwa Mugwadi said foreign-based  media have become more important as journalists have emigrated under pressure. He Tatenda Gumbo that exiled journalists should be protected if the come home.

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray said that although parts of the media have been liberalized, the working environment for journalists remains legally perilous which leads some media houses to practice self-censorship.

The US-based, federally funded think tank Freedom House said press freedom in Zimbabwe is on a par with that in Russia, ranking it 173 out of 196 nations.

Deputy Information Minister Murisi Zwizwai, noting that observances of Press Freedom Day were overshadowed by the grievances of journalists, assured VOA that independent broadcasters would be operating in Zimbabwe before the next elections.

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