Development Talk

Kader Asmal (8 October 1934 – 22 June 2011)

 

June 23, 2011

Click for photo source

Creative Consulting and Development Works would like to extend our sympathy to the Asmal family as we join the rest of South Africa in celebrating Kader Asmal and his life as an activist academic and politician.  His ANC comrades hail him as a “selfless man of honour” and that “his death must be a reminder for all of us of the non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa we committed to build”.  Kader represented the anti-Apartheid movement as a committed ANC member from the United Kingdom during his early professional life after being exiled by the Apartheid government.  In exile he was awarded the Prix UNESCO award for his work in human rights, founded the British Anti-Apartheid Movement, and served as Chairperson for the Irish Apartheid movement.  When he returned to South Africa he became a professor of human rights at University of the Western Cape before he was tapped by the first democratic government to be the Minister of Water and Forestry and later as Minister of Education (a position for which he was appointed personally by President Nelson Mandela).  He was also involved in many other anti-racism and human rights commissions and movements throughout his life. 

Professor Asmal’s memoir will be released in August, and the official launch for the book will be in September at the Open Book Festival in Cape Town.

Full story

Filed under: Africa,Awareness,basic human right,better life for all,Breaking New Ground,civil society,community,Constitution,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,democracy,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,election,ethical leadership,ethics,Family,Fatherhood,forgiveness,Government,History,Hope,identity,Inequality,legislation,nationhood,Parliament,Policy,politics,power,race,reconciliation,rights,social transformation,South Africa,TRC,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:39 pm

Are Zuma’s supporters turning against him?

 

September 3, 2010

Jacob Zuma seems to be losing favour. Photo: Globovision via Flickr

Jacob Zuma seems to be losing favour. Photo: Globovision via Flickr

It was not so long ago that ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said he would “Kill for Zuma”, but now it seems that President Jacob Zuma has fallen out of favour with the ANCYL and leaders within his own party. Could we soon see a new candidate stepping up to become president of the ANC? Or will there be a split in the ruling party – reminiscent of the COPE formation?

The Mail&Guardian wrote today that tensions are brewing within the party and the tripartite alliance, which will probably reach boiling point at the ANC National General Council (NGC)that kicks off on 20 September. News24 earlier reported that Zuma will not be attending the United Nations general assembly on the 23rd of September, as he is prioritising the ANC NGC. The presidential spokesperson denied that this was because of rumours relating to a planned revolt in the ANC.

Now the M&G is saying “many party leaders have their eye on higher office or want to punish Zuma for not rewarding them sufficiently for their support in the run-up to the ANC’s 2007 Polokwane conference”. They name Siphiwe Nyanda, the communications minister, Fikile Mbalula, the deputy police minister, and Malema.

Who will next feature on election posters for the ANC? Photo: Attawayjl via Flickr

Who will next feature on election posters for the ANC? Photo: Attawayjl via Flickr

The newspaper also reports that a group of ANC members including Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Lindiwe Sisulu are said to be banding together with Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu‘s general secretary, and ANCYL members (including Malema) to make sure that Zuma does not serve another term as president.

Apparently these people are: “Discussing a return to such values as a rejection of corruption and a clear division between party and state”. This sounds much the same to what the members of COPE were saying when they split off from the ANC.

It has repeatedly been said by analysts that it would be good for the country’s democracy if the ANC had a strong party to oppose it. The possibility of perhaps losing an election would keep the ruling party on its toes and ensure better service delivery to the people of this country. COPE has failed to provide this opposition, not gathering enough votes in the national election and being plagued by infighting.

Is there perhaps hope in a new party? Will people have faith in a faction that includes Malema, seeing as this controversial figure’s popularity is plummeting?

Filed under: CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,democracy,election,governance,Government,politics,power,South Africa,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:08 pm

Four way choice in Zimbabwe

 

February 11, 2008



With just under 8 weeks to go before the elections, last week saw the announcement of the failure of the 2 MDC factions to form a coalition for the upcoming election in March. Talks between the two party leaders, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, collapsed after their failure to agree on the selection of candidates in the election.  The other dramatic turn in the week was the announcement by Simba Makoni, a former Finance Minister and member of the ZANU PF politburo, that he would be contesting the elections as an Independent. Makoni has for a long time been viewed as a possible successor of Mugabe who would be acceptable to the people of Zimbabwe, as well as the international community. If the reports that Makoni is being supported by senior members of ZANU PF are true, then his coming in can be viewed as providing an alternative leadership for the disgruntled members of the ruling party who are no longer satisfied with the current incumbent, Mugabe. This will be the first time that President Mugabe has actually had someone from the ruling party opposing him. This could also be viewed as a tangible sign of a rift with the ruling party which for the past 28 years projected an image of being united and is a huge blow. 


 


The MDC has welcomed Simba Makoni’s entry into the presidential race.  His entry could result in one of the two MDC candidates deciding to unite with Simba Makoni in the coming elections.  The negative impact of his entry is that it could divide the MDC support base in the urban areas. There are some circles in Zimbabwe who are viewing his entry as another ZANU PF gimmick thrown in to disorient the voters. 


 


 


The people of Zimbabwe have over the last 7 years yearned for change in Zimbabwe.  However the absence of an electoral environment that is conducive for a free and fair election has hampered these efforts. The weakened opposition had eroded any prospects of reforms in Zimbabwe. However the coming in for Simba will divide the ruling party and provide an opportunity for reformists within and outside ZANU PF to emerge. The election will not necessarily bring about meaningful change but could merely usher in a shift in the balance of power within the ruling party.


 


But more importantly what do all these happenings mean for the common man on the street who is going without basic food, water, electricity and power? Do they have any hope in an election, to they believe in democracy? Will they even go to vote this year? Do they have the desire, the energy or even the power to do so? Are the people of Zimbabwe still looking for a change of governance? Or do they just want an end to their hunger and lack of basic amenities?






	


	
	
	
Filed under: election,Makoni,Mugabe,Tsvangirai,Zimbabwe —   @ 2:23 pm 












	 

     
the Kenyan election crisis
 
January 5, 2008
	 

     
	

		
In the latest edition of Pambazuka News Firoze Manji gives an interesting perspective on the recent violent post-election clashes in Kenya, which is worth reading. What has instigated this unexpected conflict that has flared up so suddenly? Talk of ethnic cleansing and genocide raise concerns at ethnicity fuels this crisis.  The key question is why are the Kenyans fighting?


Accounts indicate that more then 350 people have been killed and many Kenyans have been displaced from their homes. Many have fled to neighbouring Uganda.


International aid, specifically food from the World Food Programme, travels through Kenya, arriving at Mombasa port and then overland to neighbouring coutries including DRC, Sudan and Ethiopia.  These aid shipments have been delayed or even halted given the current crisis in Kenya.  As the conflict continues it has repercussions for the region, spilling over through trade and aid blockages, displacement and movement of people fleeing from the conflict.  Kenyan’s tourism industry will in particular suffer from this recent crisis, as will its booming economy.  


Revered by many anthropologists as the ‘cradle of mankind’ Kenya has for many years been seen as a positive example of a successful and developing African state.  To many Kenya is the financial and commercial hub of east Africa.  However, the current conflict arising from the 27 December 2007 election poses serious challenges for the citizens of Kenya, as well as those involved in politics, development and aid in Africa.  The need for continued support  and overseeing of election processes by international observers is crucial.  Consolidating and supporting good governance is key, as is finding ways of reducing inequality.


Those marginalised, uneducated and frustrated living on the margins in the slums of Mathare and Kibera are at the forefront of clashes with police.   In a post by Associated Press “War is happening here,” said 45-year-old Edwin Mukathia, who was among thousands of people who poured out of Nairobi’s slums to heed opposition candidate Raila Odinga’s call for a million-man march in the city’s Uhuru Park.  The mobilisation of thousands of people in support of Odinga in opposition to the election results have fuelled the violence.  The willingness of these disenfranchised, frustrated and angry protesters perhaps bears witness to long simmering tensions amongst the ethnically diverse people of Kenya. The propensity to use violence, and the speed with which this violence has spread, is particularly worrying for what seemed to be a beacon of growth and development in east Africa… on its way to  becoming the “African Tiger”.


Kibera slum 

	


	
	
	
Filed under: democracy,election,governance,Kenya,marginalised —   @ 4:56 pm