The World Fully Embraces Democratic South Africa
12 June, 2010 | By Genet Mersha
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the first time in our region, should be seen as homage to the human spirit that
is uncompromising with all forms of oppression and bondage.
Sports became internationally first line defender of human dignity against the
apartheid regime. Again, this time it is sport that is sealing South Africa’s last
phase of its complete return to the international fold. In the past decade and
half since freedom, South Africa has proved to the world that it shares the
values of freedom and democracy. In spite of all sorts of difficulties,
especially deep poverty of the black majority, South Africa has been taking
important steps to redress those situations step by step. Its democracy is
seen growing.
Even after the end of apartheid, South Africa has been picked on time and
again because of level of poverty, crime rates, disease (HIV/AIDS) and
corruption of some officials. This has not relented South Africans. While
under Mandela’s leadership they have taken the right course, not an easy one
though, they have barely deviated. During the last decade-and-a-half, they
have shown at least the end of apartheid has fostered a free nation, whose
success has begun to shine, Not only that it would lift Black South Africans
out of poverty, but also with its inspiration most of the rest of Africa out of
its morass, if Africa is willingness to be governed by the rule of law.
South Africa has organised a couple of elections since 1994. Although the
ANC is the dominant party, its members are proud of its democratic
traditions within the party as well as outside. Individual members enjoy the
freedom their struggle has earned them. The ANC does not disenfranchise
citizens or suppress the freedom of individuals to express themselves in any
form or suppress the media. Those that disagreed with it before the last
election created their own party. They have not been subjected to harassment
because of that, nor their abandonment of it considered a crime and thrown
to prison.
We have followed its history, the ANC does not swear at every turn in the
name of a democracy it does not practice. We do not see ANC engrossed in
an effort to build a cult—not even that of the architect of the nation—the
beloved Madiba, the world’s living icon Nelson Mandela! South African
democracy is not perfect, nor should we look for perfection in human
society, as it is a sign of neurosis. The journey is promising; that is why
today we see a united Rainbow Nation, rallying as one to raise the glory of
South Africa.
Apartheid was overthrown by popular struggle and determination of united
humanity, which effectively reduced racist South Africa to pariah status until
its demise in 1994. Since then, South Africans have strived to build on the
remains of institutional racism a society where everyone would be equal. The
giant steps they have taken so far have shown that no one would get hurt
because all members of society are equal and because everybody enjoys
equal protection by law. That is why people live without fear and insecurity
in a place they call country and home.
Why all this tumult about a round ball?
I am not a ball roller; still I watched happily the ceremonies and the opening
match glued in front of the TV. I loved the warmth and spontaneity of the
whole thing: South Africans together cheerfully, as they looked to the future
hopefully. The message of the opening show was delicious and inspiring.
Already the Rainbow Nation has proved to the world that, under a
democratic system and where the rule of law is prevalent, imperfect as it
might be in terms of opportunities, it is still possible to transcend the barriers
of race, ethnicity, colour, age, gender and class. This makes it much better
than any of the alternatives.
I am enamoured by the glory South Africa has brought to Africa, much as by
the greater attention this has focussed on the region. That should facilitate
introspection and more outside eyes, especially in the light of the emergence
of new crops of oppressive single party authoritarian states of latter
concoction, which in the name of democracy are further damaging the
already poor image of Africa with their undemocratic and corrupt practices.
Reading the tea leaves
Media people tried to survey African reactions from around the region to the
holding of the World Cup in South Africa. Their findings confirm that Africa
is ecstatic. The media have also listed names of African countries in West
and East Africa, including Somalia, where there have been public events
celebrating the moment. Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba who would not
participate in this competition because of a broken arm has chosen to use the
occasion to make public appeals to the leaders in his country and the region
to value peace, democracy and forgiveness toward one another.
Ethiopians are football enthusiasts, notwithstanding that they have been
overlooked this time around when the media was gauging African reaction.
Could it be the fallout from the recently held election that has raised
eyebrows around the world? From the many subliminal messages that fly
around, that seems to be the case. The world knows that Ethiopians are not
allowed to hold any public events—other than supporting the government, as
happened recently to show their joy at the 99.6 percent electoral victory of
the ruling party.
For sure, the latest unmistakable evidence to the shunning of the country is
the fact that Vice President Joe Biden is in Africa at the moment, whose
agenda comprises: (a) discussion of Middle East, Horn of Africa and
Southern Sudan Issues with Egypt, (b) engaging Kenyans on the
forthcoming Kenyan election, the Sudanese referendum and the situation in
Somalia, and (c) representing the United States in the World Cup. Why did
the vice president did not choose to discuss this issues with Ethiopian
officials?
Recall in this connection that the ruling party in Ethiopia was telling citizens
during the political debates preceding the May 23rd election that it is African
leader and key to stability in the region. To what should we attribute the fact
of it being now kept at arms length by Vice President Biden, earlier by
Secretary Clinton? In the scheme of things, surely the message that this
sends is stronger than the slap of looking the TPLF regime askance.
In what the US embassy in Nairobi termed as “a major speech” to a packed
Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the vice president assured Kenyans
that the United States stands beside them on what he called their journey to a
"secure, free, democratic and prosperous Kenya." He reminded them:
"Too many of your resources have been lost to corruption and not a single
high-level official has ever been held accountable for these crimes…Too
many of your institutions have lost the people's confidence, and too many
times Kenya has been divided against itself, torn apart by ethnic tensions,
manipulated by leaders who place their own interest above the interest of
their country." He added, "As you prepare to write a new history for your
nation, resist those who try to divide you based on ethnicity or religion or
region and above all fear. It is a tool as old as mankind and it’s been used to
great effect in this country in the past,"
A regime that suppresses human freedoms, persecutes its opponents because
they do not agree with it is an opponent of freedom and human dignity. The
world isolates it more and more as pariah—the signals of which are too
visible in this case for any Ethiopia observer to miss.
Having followed South Africa’s long journey to the present, correspondent
Emma Hurd captured the essence of this moment, the moving spirit of the
24th World Cup, after whose opening match she reported from
Johannesburg saying, “This is the moment South Africa is welcomed in the
World…It is a celebration not just of football but of freedom in the Rainbow
Nation.” What a nice way of putting it!
Anyone could see from this piece that, while watching the football, I was
buffeted by the troubling realities of our region. Strictly speaking about
football, the outcome of one-one draw between Bafana-Bafana (The Boys)
and the Mexican national team does not really matter. After all, South Africa
has triumphed by gathering the world on its soil to compete for the cup in
Africa, as it showcases its achievements and boasts of its bright prospects.
For me that gave me tears of joy. It also gave me pain because of the
regressive path my country has chosen in choosing the path of a single party
state.
12 June, 2010 | By Genet Mersha
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Today, we are at an
exceptionally great moment
in the history of Africa,
thanks to international
sports and South Africa—
the truly Rainbow Nation.
The 2010 World Football
competitions opened on 11
June in style, displaying
African dignity and warm
hospitality. The holding of
the first time in our region, should be seen as homage to the human spirit that
is uncompromising with all forms of oppression and bondage.
Sports became internationally first line defender of human dignity against the
apartheid regime. Again, this time it is sport that is sealing South Africa’s last
phase of its complete return to the international fold. In the past decade and
half since freedom, South Africa has proved to the world that it shares the
values of freedom and democracy. In spite of all sorts of difficulties,
especially deep poverty of the black majority, South Africa has been taking
important steps to redress those situations step by step. Its democracy is
seen growing.
Even after the end of apartheid, South Africa has been picked on time and
again because of level of poverty, crime rates, disease (HIV/AIDS) and
corruption of some officials. This has not relented South Africans. While
under Mandela’s leadership they have taken the right course, not an easy one
though, they have barely deviated. During the last decade-and-a-half, they
have shown at least the end of apartheid has fostered a free nation, whose
success has begun to shine, Not only that it would lift Black South Africans
out of poverty, but also with its inspiration most of the rest of Africa out of
its morass, if Africa is willingness to be governed by the rule of law.
South Africa has organised a couple of elections since 1994. Although the
ANC is the dominant party, its members are proud of its democratic
traditions within the party as well as outside. Individual members enjoy the
freedom their struggle has earned them. The ANC does not disenfranchise
citizens or suppress the freedom of individuals to express themselves in any
form or suppress the media. Those that disagreed with it before the last
election created their own party. They have not been subjected to harassment
because of that, nor their abandonment of it considered a crime and thrown
to prison.
We have followed its history, the ANC does not swear at every turn in the
name of a democracy it does not practice. We do not see ANC engrossed in
an effort to build a cult—not even that of the architect of the nation—the
beloved Madiba, the world’s living icon Nelson Mandela! South African
democracy is not perfect, nor should we look for perfection in human
society, as it is a sign of neurosis. The journey is promising; that is why
today we see a united Rainbow Nation, rallying as one to raise the glory of
South Africa.
Apartheid was overthrown by popular struggle and determination of united
humanity, which effectively reduced racist South Africa to pariah status until
its demise in 1994. Since then, South Africans have strived to build on the
remains of institutional racism a society where everyone would be equal. The
giant steps they have taken so far have shown that no one would get hurt
because all members of society are equal and because everybody enjoys
equal protection by law. That is why people live without fear and insecurity
in a place they call country and home.
Why all this tumult about a round ball?
I am not a ball roller; still I watched happily the ceremonies and the opening
match glued in front of the TV. I loved the warmth and spontaneity of the
whole thing: South Africans together cheerfully, as they looked to the future
hopefully. The message of the opening show was delicious and inspiring.
Already the Rainbow Nation has proved to the world that, under a
democratic system and where the rule of law is prevalent, imperfect as it
might be in terms of opportunities, it is still possible to transcend the barriers
of race, ethnicity, colour, age, gender and class. This makes it much better
than any of the alternatives.
I am enamoured by the glory South Africa has brought to Africa, much as by
the greater attention this has focussed on the region. That should facilitate
introspection and more outside eyes, especially in the light of the emergence
of new crops of oppressive single party authoritarian states of latter
concoction, which in the name of democracy are further damaging the
already poor image of Africa with their undemocratic and corrupt practices.
Reading the tea leaves
Media people tried to survey African reactions from around the region to the
holding of the World Cup in South Africa. Their findings confirm that Africa
is ecstatic. The media have also listed names of African countries in West
and East Africa, including Somalia, where there have been public events
celebrating the moment. Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba who would not
participate in this competition because of a broken arm has chosen to use the
occasion to make public appeals to the leaders in his country and the region
to value peace, democracy and forgiveness toward one another.
Ethiopians are football enthusiasts, notwithstanding that they have been
overlooked this time around when the media was gauging African reaction.
Could it be the fallout from the recently held election that has raised
eyebrows around the world? From the many subliminal messages that fly
around, that seems to be the case. The world knows that Ethiopians are not
allowed to hold any public events—other than supporting the government, as
happened recently to show their joy at the 99.6 percent electoral victory of
the ruling party.
For sure, the latest unmistakable evidence to the shunning of the country is
the fact that Vice President Joe Biden is in Africa at the moment, whose
agenda comprises: (a) discussion of Middle East, Horn of Africa and
Southern Sudan Issues with Egypt, (b) engaging Kenyans on the
forthcoming Kenyan election, the Sudanese referendum and the situation in
Somalia, and (c) representing the United States in the World Cup. Why did
the vice president did not choose to discuss this issues with Ethiopian
officials?
Recall in this connection that the ruling party in Ethiopia was telling citizens
during the political debates preceding the May 23rd election that it is African
leader and key to stability in the region. To what should we attribute the fact
of it being now kept at arms length by Vice President Biden, earlier by
Secretary Clinton? In the scheme of things, surely the message that this
sends is stronger than the slap of looking the TPLF regime askance.
In what the US embassy in Nairobi termed as “a major speech” to a packed
Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the vice president assured Kenyans
that the United States stands beside them on what he called their journey to a
"secure, free, democratic and prosperous Kenya." He reminded them:
"Too many of your resources have been lost to corruption and not a single
high-level official has ever been held accountable for these crimes…Too
many of your institutions have lost the people's confidence, and too many
times Kenya has been divided against itself, torn apart by ethnic tensions,
manipulated by leaders who place their own interest above the interest of
their country." He added, "As you prepare to write a new history for your
nation, resist those who try to divide you based on ethnicity or religion or
region and above all fear. It is a tool as old as mankind and it’s been used to
great effect in this country in the past,"
A regime that suppresses human freedoms, persecutes its opponents because
they do not agree with it is an opponent of freedom and human dignity. The
world isolates it more and more as pariah—the signals of which are too
visible in this case for any Ethiopia observer to miss.
Having followed South Africa’s long journey to the present, correspondent
Emma Hurd captured the essence of this moment, the moving spirit of the
24th World Cup, after whose opening match she reported from
Johannesburg saying, “This is the moment South Africa is welcomed in the
World…It is a celebration not just of football but of freedom in the Rainbow
Nation.” What a nice way of putting it!
Anyone could see from this piece that, while watching the football, I was
buffeted by the troubling realities of our region. Strictly speaking about
football, the outcome of one-one draw between Bafana-Bafana (The Boys)
and the Mexican national team does not really matter. After all, South Africa
has triumphed by gathering the world on its soil to compete for the cup in
Africa, as it showcases its achievements and boasts of its bright prospects.
For me that gave me tears of joy. It also gave me pain because of the
regressive path my country has chosen in choosing the path of a single party
state.
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