2-23-05, 3:01 pm

As the continent of Africa endures ongoing issues of enormous humanitarian needs and a pandemic health crisis, the flickering light of hope can be seen at the far end of the tunnel. The African masses, long discouraged by the slow pace of real economic advancement and the unpredictability of frequent extra constitutional changes of government, namely, the 'coup d’etat,' are beginning to recognize the potential of monitored elections.
The legacy of colonialism and the imposed arbitrary boundaries of African countries wreaked havoc over the vast geographic landscape comprised of diverse ethnic groups speaking a multitude of languages.

Although nearly 50 years have passed since Ghana gained its independence from the British (March 6, 1957), the frequent changes of government have been bewildering to the casual observer of post-independence history. The overthrow of the first legitimate president, Kwame Nkrumah preceded a series of coups d’etats that amounted to political uncertainty and despair. Nkrumah described his Pan-African vision simply: 'The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked to the total liberation of the African continent.'

Thirty-seven years later, despite US diplomatic opposition, his dream became reality.

The eradication of all colonial bastions on African soil was fulfilled when progressive forces, led by the African National Congress, kicked South African apartheid to the dustbin of history in 1994. Upon his release from 27 years of confinement at Robbins Island, Nelson Mandela reminded the people, 'It is our task as leaders to place our views before our organization and to allow the democratic structures to decide. On the question of democratic practice, I feel duty bound to make the point that a leader of the movement is a person who has been democratically elected at a national conference. This is a principle which must be upheld without any exceptions.'

When Mandela languished in jail he was vilified and labeled a 'terrorist' by the racist apartheid regime. The US State Department looked the other way. The South African military was strengthened by collaboration with US military policy makers who created a larger-than-life-boogeyman-diversion of the so-called 'communist threat.' The actual threat was the potential of democratic rule by the majority. US foreign policy in this part of the world had little to do with human rights and dignity.

As the African political landscape evolved and direct colonial rule was no longer feasible or practical, the emergence of new forms of dominance by foreign monopolies resulted. Neocolonialism became a reality that put a stranglehold on the limited economies of politically independent African states. Simply put, African surrogates in formal colonial territories operated for the benefit of foreign companies with the inducements of personal enrichment and status.

Ten years following the ascent of the African National Congress to political power in South Africa, progressive leadership is playing a pivotal role in moving history forward. The national alliance of the ANC, SACP ( South African Communist Party) and COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) has been an agent for change among democratic forces. The April 2004 election of President Thabo Mbeki to a second five-year term followed the overwhelming mandate of support for the ANC, resulting in the winning of 270 national assembly seats out of 400.

The mindset of Mbeki is reflected in the online edition of ANC Today. In a column titled, 'Taking a Stand for Democracy' he shares his perspective on history:

The countries of Africa, including our own, owe their liberation and independence from colonial and racist rule to the struggles of the African masses. As these masses engaged the foreign and racist masters, as did those who fought against fascism, they were asserting their right to determine their destiny…Unfortunately, soon after liberation from foreign domination was achieved, many of our countries fell victim to military dictatorships. When the soldiers used their guns to seize political power, they took away the right of the masses to determine their destiny. They put in place 'Jim Crow' decrees of a special type, also intended to keep the people in subservience.

As elections in Africa become transparent and open, international monitoring groups have become more efficient. The African Union, the UN, the EU and other international organizations have major watchdog roles to play, ensuring that ruling parties don’t manipulate election results. An election observer mission from South Africa recently was on hand for the Palestinian elections.

Up and coming electoral activity in Southern Africa in 2005 will include the nations of The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

The transformation of reality through democratic participation of people was not possible during colonial times. The same can be said during the heroic Vietnamese people’s struggle against foreign occupation by the French and subsequently, the US military. The lost lives resulting from imperialist aggression in Southeast Asia could have been prevented had the State Department respected the international principle of self-determination for former colonial subjects. The coalition of opposition groups that rejected foreign domination of their country was too similar to the historic occupation of early America by the British.

War and bloodshed is not the way. President Mbeki has hope that African political developments will lead to the harnessing of 'creative energies' of the people, 'expanding their possibility to become their own liberators from war, dictatorship, instability and poverty, in the same way that they were their own liberators from colonialism and apartheid. Indeed, Africa’s time has come! Ke nako!'



--Ron Bunyon is a contributing editor of Political Affairs.