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NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Africa must stand tall

Columnists
Africa Day will be celebrated on Wednesday all over the continent and in the Diaspora, under the theme: Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development. The day at the African Union headquarters will be celebrated in the presence of AU chairperson Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, India’s Manmohan Singh and President Robert Mugabe, among […]

Africa Day will be celebrated on Wednesday all over the continent and in the Diaspora, under the theme: Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development.

The day at the African Union headquarters will be celebrated in the presence of AU chairperson Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, India’s Manmohan Singh and President Robert Mugabe, among other dignitaries attending the Africa-India Summit ending on Wednesday.

We believe now is the time for the AU, regional African blocs and individual African leaders to stand beside Africa’s citizens in their call for greater democracy on our continent.

We see in the waves of popular uprising in North Africa the opportunity for our leaders to support democratic consolidation that will allow for the advancement of the economic opportunities for Africa’s citizens and the amplifying of the voice of our people.

Despite differing circumstances and contexts, all the peoples in uprising share in common a demand, so long unheard, for human rights, reform and an end to the autocratic dispensations.

This can’t be created just by determination on the part of citizens or secured by good intentions alone.

Africa needs governments the world over to act promptly and decisively. Stable democracies, like those of South Africa, Nigeria etc, must come to the aid of those struggling with transition and offer whatever experience and practical support they can. The Zimbabwe crises quickly come to mind.

The infighting between the country’s major political players Zanu PF and MDC-T must not be simply ignored by the AU so as to escape censure of the continental leaders.

The AU and Sadc must rein in President Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to ensure the people of Zimbabwe are allowed to move on with their lives.

We believe countries in transition present opportunities for change; strong moral leadership now will translate into a chance for Africa to influence the shape of global politics and economics.

While the former powerhouses of the past struggle with recession and stagnation, Africa has a chance to stand tall.

However, we can only stand as tall as our smallest citizen and if we disregard the voices of our people, we sacrifice our ability to contribute to global change.

The Ivorian people called to have their vote upheld, and their voices were heard. Tunisia is facing a power vacuum, after the Jasmine Revolution ousted authoritarian president, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, after 23 years.

On Tuesday, the Tunisian government confirmed July 24 for the first election since the overthrow of Ben Ali in January, after opposition parties protested against a proposed delay.

We call on the AU to come to its senses and add its voice against Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi’s onslaught on citizens who are expressing their demand for an end to autocratic rule.

Decisive leadership will prevent further bloodshed, ensure civilian authorities are installed in government and support the change cried out for by the citizens.

We urge the AU to demand that democratic institutions be put in place, protected by entrenched constitutions, so that individuals cannot subvert them and they cannot be dispensed with by opposing elites.

We wish to remind African leaders that democratic elections are the starting point of democracy, and the results of polls cannot simply be disregarded.

Ignoring this universal and fundamental principle will have serious consequences for future generations of African citizens who have the right to live in peace and relative prosperity.

We believe democracy extends beyond elections to active citizen participation, government accountability and universal human rights.

Disregarding these rights compromises our continent and undermines its history of resisting oppression and struggling for the rights of every man, woman and child.