|
|
One of the most significant functions of elections is to legitimise a political system, ensure the accountability of leaders, and reinforce people's participation in the political system. Legitimation, accountability and citizen participation are crucial not just for political stability, but are also at the heart of the significant issue of representation. Indeed, since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of democracy movements across the world as from the 1980s, scholars and practitioners have drawn attention to the need for a more sustained examination of the dynamics of electoral systems as one of the most significant pillars of democratic rule.
The emphasis placed on winning, and the fact that leaders in most of the Third World appear to have been expunged defeat from their political vocabulary makes elections battlegrounds for conflicts, some times with tragic consequences.
Elections are widely held as essential pillars of democracy; yet, that the variety of electoral systems and the procedures for the conduct of elections, the historical trajectories of such systems and procedures, as well as the responsiveness, and therefore participation of voters in elections all depend on specific national historical experiences has more often been taken for granted. Indeed, these constitute very broadly, some of the most serious challenges to electoral systems across the world. Responses to these challenges vary and it is this variation that accounts for the diversity of election procedures.
This project seeks to study and analyse the causes, nature and dynamics of the limited success of Africa's electoral systems. It aims to study and understand the relationship between electoral systems on the one hand, and the prevalence of conflicts and violence on the other. It examines how to the possibility of using the benefits of technological developments in the conduct of elections in Africa, and especially in enhancing effective monitoring of the political systems in pre-election, election, and post-election periods. It seeks to, on the basis of a comparative study of Africa' electoral systems, improve non-adversarial management and resolution of electoral disputes. The study will be conducted in six African countries that offer a wide range of comparative possibilities. These countries include, Nigeria (post-military), South Africa (post-apartheid), Mozambique (post-conflict Lusophone), Uganda (non-party regime), Senegal (regular elections, Francophone), and Cameroon (bilingual).
The study aims, among other things to develop benchmarks for assessing the legitimacy of elections, and methods for the resolution of electoral disputes without resorting to open violence or conflict.
The 'Electoral Systems in Africa' project needs financial, professional, logistical and moral support. If this project is of interest to any donors, organizations or individuals that would like to be involved please e-mail either panafstrag@multilinks.com, or afstragcentre@linkserve.com
Conflicts give serious problems to security in affected zones. The killings, violence, destruction, massive movements of displaced populations and refugees, the dislocation of families, breakdown of social order and state institutions results from armed conflict which seriously compromises human security in all its aspects. The capacity building for 'Women and Human Security in Africa' is placed in the framework of reaching a global and multi dimensional vision of security and its transformation.
Women play a decisive role in the education of children, their emotional security and their psychological stability, their feeding, health and the fulfillment of the family which foundation remains the women; and in the harmony of the entire community. It is precisely when these factors of securing social life are disturbed that human security is threatened. But the majority of African conflicts have their sources from the non-operation or disappearance of the above securing factors of social life, which also provoke political instability. Furthermore, international organizations indicated that 80% of armed conflicts victims are women and children and that they form the greater majority of refugees and displaced persons. Women can and must play an important role in order to ensure a greater human security in the zones of conflicts during conflicts and post conflict reconstruction as well.
The Concept of Human Security has emerged out of the realization that the security of States and the maintenance of international peace and security are ultimately constructed on the foundation of people who are secure. The concept of Human Security takes people as its point of reference and departure, rather than focusing exclusively on the security of territory or of governments. Due to the fragility of the state in conflicts zones the project aims to assist states to play its traditional role of maintenance of security and public order. National and sub regional responses must address their challenges through the prism of human security.
Serious violations of physical security and integrity of individuals (murder, aggressions, mutilation, women and children victims of sexual violence and kidnapping) and compulsory enrolment, especially of children, in conflict are commonplace. Destruction of the economic and educational basic infrastructure, agriculture devastated by the fights leading to famine (food security), all need to be addressed. This insecurity runs counter to International Humanitarian Laws that prohibit attack against populations and properties.
This project aims to develop and strategically position women for early response in conflict situations in the West African region. Although, a lot of studies and efforts have being made to organize women in peace efforts, but the impact has not been felt because most of the activities lack strategy - relevant actors. One thing central to the previous efforts, is that most of the women involved are not in positions of power to influence the policies of their different countries. Therefore, this project will focus on the different actors in the different countries, and this is where PANAFSTRAG has an advantage over other NGOs.
For further information please contact the Ineba Bob-Manuel on inebabob@yahoo.com at the PANAFSTRAG secretariat on panafstrag@multilinks.com
In a book entitled: “In search of an alternative: A Collection of Essays on Revolutionary Theory and Politics published by SAPES Books of Zimbabwe in 1992, Prof Mafeje told us that those who advocate for black cause are ironically “products not of African Culture, but of Western Education.
Maybe it is this education of those referred to by Mafeje not being rooted in African Culture that is responsible for the “Western Orientation” of the above-mentioned Centres. In addition, they were set up by the powers that be in Europe and USA and lately in some Asian countries like India and now in Latin America and the Caribbean. Does this suggest that the millions of “Afro-Descendants and African expatriates” lack the requisite intellectual passion to explore into the routine esoteric research and provoking serious discussion in the public domain? It must be realized that the Centres in Africa and in Diaspora to respond to the genuine interests of Africans world-wide. Global Africans must play crucial role in Research functions of Centres which serve as think tanks for policy formulation and policy implementation. Therefore, the fundamental question is how the various agenda and orientations of these centers are designed and developed by whom and for whom and to achieve what?
To be able to answer these questions, reorientations of these Centres need to be done in order to ensure that we take the ownership of the analysis and the proffering of solutions to our problems. We have to do some rethinking and redesigning of processes that African development theorists and practitioners ought to have been doing over the past three decades not to talk of those who warned us about the structural defects in the Structural Adjustment Programme that were used to scuttle the Lagos Plan of Action which keeps coming up like a mirage anytime we come up with a new Development Plan.
The CODESRIA Bulletin Nos 1 and 2 2002 Page 12 has an interesting article entitled “Rethinking African Development: Social Science Perspective by Emmanuel Chia Kiawi and Jean Mfoulou of the University of Yaounde, Cameroon. They pointed out that theories propounded for explaining African Development have remained a development nightmare and institutions and think tanks worldwide have made attempts to come up with understanding of what they called “African Phenomenon”. However, diverse thinking is coalescing into an emerging consensus that conventional theories of development have been callously implemented on the African Continent (by whom, why and for what?) (questions mine) with the net effect that “the basically tribal societies have rather grown poorer. (Kiawi; Mfolou 2002 Page 12) Again, like Mafeje said, IS IT BECAUSE, THOSE WORKING IN THESE INSTITUTIONS AND THINK TANKS, ARE NOT PRODUCTS OF AFRICAN EDUCATION AND CULTURE BUT THE PRODUCTS OF WESTERN EDUCATION AND CULTURE?
In Asia, we have these Institutions and Centers formed/set up and run by those Asians rooted in their philosophy and culture needed for a cultural and philosophical foundation to policy analysis, formulation, decision-making and implementation though adaptation of foreign ideas and thoughts, theories and practices for the betterment of their own people.
With the serious worldwide threats of terrorism and criminal activities, area studies may be coming back into vogue because of the need to target some areas of the world where the threats need priority response. These area studies will continue to lead to conditional development assistance but like in the past, it will not take sub-Saharan Africa to the promised land. Again, this is not good for the African people nor does it have any philosophical and cultural foundation for participatory development.
For medium term and long term needs, there is need to address the concern which derives from the fact that those agenda for African and Black Studies in global Africa can generate mutuality under the leadership or guidance of those who have the philosophical and cultural claim to Africa. This is in order to build a synergy between Africa and the two separate and compartmentalized Worlds of Afro-Descendants, Africans and Africanists i.e. those of non-Afro-descent as described by Michael Crowder as far back as 1986 even though the debate continues.
In order for this synergy to be strengthened, I see the need for the global Africans to meet to consolidate their positions as the primary researchers and producers of first-rate knowledge about their own realities so that the new knowledge coming from African and Afro-Descendant Research is broader and deeper within African problematiques while defining new African phenomenon that will enrich the basically tribal societies of Kiawi and Mfolou. I have adopted the statement of G. Mikell the President of the American African Studies Association in 1999. The revival of the sophisticated inquiry into Diasporas, transnational communities, the indemnities and interactions of people of African descent is one of this new African phenomenon. One has to agree with Emmanuel Akyeampong when he said, “when scholars bemoan the marginalisation of Africa, African Studies is receiving an infusion of new life through its CONNECTION TO WIDER REGIONAL AND OCEANIC HISTORIES. According to John Londale too, there is a new (revived) instrumental network here, new energy and a new constituency for new areas of study, especially of the African Diaspora, of which more conventional regionally focused, Africanists are mostly unaware notwithstanding the political, social economic complexities apart from the intellectual explanations.
It is because of the above challenges that PANAFSTRAG with its partners sees the need for Africans and Afro-Descendants in Africa, Black and Afro-Descendent Studies, to meet with one clear objective and that is borrowing from the Doyen of British Nigerianists Anthony Kirk-Greene when he said that “there is need to review and reinforce Academic Africanism by RESHAPING IT”. He was
further helped by John Lonsdale who said that these centers have “the intellectual, normal and political responsibility with the opportunity to coordinate and synthesize the various forms of expertise and experience of Africa with Africans and Afro-Descendants in the world of Academia, NGOs, the Media etc so that at the end of the day, through their various activities with Africa and the Diaspora, they can make
- Africans and Afro-Descendants learn, understand and work together to develop a common agenda.
- To solidify the energy of all in confronting the pressing problems of Africans and Afro-Descendants wherever they are.
- To encourage multi-disciplinary and transnational activities in confronting the problematiques.
- To find Afro-solutions to African and Afro-Descendants problems.
This meeting is being planned for Canada in August 2005 and will bring together Academics in various disciplines related to Africa and Diaspora studies, NGOs and interested Afro-Organisations.
If you have comments and contributions please send them to
CONFERENCE OF GLOBAL AFRICA PARLIAMENTARIANS (CGAP) 2009
INTRODUCTION
At the initiative of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Conference of members of the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliaments was started in the Americas i.e North Central and South America in Brasillia, Brazil in 2003. The next one was in Bogota, Colombia in 2004 with representatives from Africa, Canada and some countries in the Caribbean- Dr. Usman Bugaje, the ten Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations was there at the initiative of PANAFSTRAG. Recently, regional Parliaments of the West, East, Central, North Africa and the African Union Parliament met in Lusaka, Zambia this month.
The 2005 meeting of the Americas held in San Jose, Costa Rica (28 August – 02 September). We need to convince the President of the African Union Parliament, Mrs. G. Mongella while trying to do the same with the President of African Parliamentary Union and the Speaker of the South African Parliament.
PROPOSAL
My proposal is that in 2009, the inaugural Conference of Global African Parliamentarians will hold in a place and venue to be determined.
In line with the above, PANAFSTRAG got the Conference in San Jose to endorse the proposal so that the Conference will bring together Black Parliamentarians from North, South, Central America, the Caribbean countries, Europe and Africa or wherever there are Afro-descendant Legislators.
There is no doubt that the inaugural Conference may not attain the maximum objectives but it will have a good beginning by linking the US Congressional Black Caucus, the CARICOM Parliamentarians, the Afro-Latino Parliamentarians African Regional Parliamentary Assemblies, the Afro-European Legislators to become a Forum.
THE OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this Conference is to create a common platform and one voice for Legislators of African descendant worldwide in order to
a. Provide the Parliamentary environment for eliminating discrimination and inequality
b. Enhance the quality of life of Afro-Descendants through pressure and lobby at national, continental and global assemblies and organisations.
c. Interact with African and Global African CSOs in order to sensitise peoples of Africa and the Diaspora.
d. Be at the forefront of synergising the potentials for our mutual benefits.
e. Encourage more Afro-Descendants to seek for political representation and positions in order to influence policies and decisions at National Regional and Global Organisations.
f. Bring Global African and African issues on the front burners of national governments and Regional and Global Inter-governmental Organisations e.g. NEPAD.
Theses and other objectives can be achieved to benefit Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora.
OUTCOME
There is no doubt that this Conference will focus world attention not only on Nigeria and Africa but also on the untenable miserable situation of the global Africans at the bottom of the politico-socio-economic ladder in the Diaspora. This will lead to a global African movement that will strengthen Africa’s and Diaspora position on global affairs by influencing policies and decisions of Global Governance Institutions and the G-8 countries.
It will create formal organisation to be known as CONFERENCE OF GLOBAL AFRICAN PARLIAMENTARIANS (CGAP) with the Interim Secretariat in any volunteer country or the inaugural host of the conference.
THE COLLABORATING ORGANISATIONS
This initiative from PANAFSTRAG will be in partnership with the African Union Parliaments the African Parliament Union and African Institute of South Africa.
THE HOSTS
The hosts will be the African Parliament in Johannesburg.
VENUE
It will hold at the African Parliament in Johannesburg.
PARTICIPANTS AND LOGISTICS
Each country can send as many participants as they wish. The host will accommodate and feed only 3 Legislators per country i.e. one Senator and two members of the Lower House. Each Delegation must try to include a female member and will cover the costs of their Airfares while the Hosts will provide local transportation, accommodation and meals. Abuja is becoming an International city and visa procedures must be made easy and free.
DURATION
The Conference will be for 8-days to include days of arrival, departure, sightseeing and 2-days for work and 3-days for interaction with Pan African Civil Society Organisations and the Media.
The dates will be determined by PANAFRICAN PARLIAMENT BY October 2008
PREPARATION
The collaborating organizations can meet in Jo'burg in September or October 2008.
The meeting will work out the Logistics, Budget, Fundraising, Publicity and Invitations. It will also provide time to present the Report of the meeting immediately to the African Parliament while circulating the Report to all other Regional Assemblies and meetings
CONCLUSION
I await comments and critiques from you and others you may wish to consult.
ISHOLA WILLIAMS
Maj. Gen. (Rtd)
Executive Secretary
PANAFSTRAG
BITING BREAD OR BITTING THE BULLETS; GOING TO JOBS OR GOING TO JAIL, PRIDE OR PAROLE.
The number of deprived black youths especially male between the ages of 12 and 25 is increasing from Nairobi to New York from Kingston to Kano and from Johannesburg to Janeiro. Many of them do not have access to a good life as there are limited opportunities in the slums they are born into. The environment is drug and crime tolerant while there are organisations and individuals and some enterprising youths who are devoting time, energy and money to make changes. There is need for a global African approach to the problem by sharing of experiences, ideas, expertise and best practices through visits and interactive sessions that will also break the psychological barriers of hopelessness and poverty of Global Africans. There is no doubt about the impact these activities will make in the lives of black youths worldwide.
In addition to the above, there is need to reconnect the youths to their past, to their mother land Africa and to cover the gap that has led to the loss of self-pride self-respect, trust and community spirit of our people.
PANAFTSRAG is proposing with any collaborators, experimental Interactive activities that will bring together Youths in slums and its Suburbs to One day workshops that will discuss African Civilisations, Pan-Africanism in the 21st Century, the African Union, and Intellectual covering the Technological, Intellectual Economic Gap between us and others and the opportunities that we can create and use immediately.
The discussions will be led by Panel discussants of the same Generation but moderated by experts with experience and the job expertise in the areas mentioned above.
You may add your own suggestions.
THEME
GLOBAL AFRICAN YOUTHS IN THE 21ST CENTURY : “BITING BREAD OR BITING THE BULLETS. GOING TO JOBS OR GOING TO JAIL; PRIDE OR PAROLE”
SUGGESTED PROGRAMME.
* OPENING REMARKS
* WHY ARE WE HERE
* PLENARY SESSION
* THE STATE OF THE BLACK YOUTHS IN THE WORLD
1. PAN-AFRICANISM AND BLACK YOUTHS – THE STORY
o What is your role
2. BECOMING GLOBAL PLAYERS AND LOCAL CHAMPIONS. KNOWLEDGE / PROFESSIONS / BUSINESS / SKILLS / ACCESS TO RESOURCES
3. COVERING THE GAP IN
o Economy
o Culture, Philosophy and religion
o Technology
WORKING GROUPS.
1. A WORKING GROUP – YOUTH ROLE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO PAN-AFRICANISM TODAY AND TOMMORROW
2. YOUTHS AS GLOBAL PLAYERS AND LOCAL CHAMPIONS – CREATING A NEW IMAGE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR –
1. INTELLECT
2. KNOWLEDGE
3. PROFESSIONS
4. SKILLS.
For further information please contact panafstrag@multilinks.com, isholawilliams@yahoo.com
CONFERENCE OF CENTRES OF AFRICAN PAN/GLOBAL AFRICAN / BLACK / AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES/AFRO-LATINOS/AFRO-LUSOPONE STUDIES ETC AUGUST 2006 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST INDIES ST LUCIA CENTRE (UWISLU) CASTING ST LUCIA
1. The above-mentioned conference is scheduled for August 2006 in collaboration with the above institution led by Mr. Matthew V. Roberts
2. In order to ensure maximum participation, the following members will be responsible for the following Diaspora Regions.
3. The Conference is NOT OPEN TO AFRICANISTS. IT IS FOR GLOBAL AFRICANS WHO SEE THE NEED TO REPOSITION, REFORM AFRICAN AND DIASPORA FOR THE INTELLECTUAL, MATERIAL, SPIRITUAL, PSYCHOLIGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF GLOBAL AFRICANS. The Concept paper is attached.
EUROPE
Mrs. B. Biekman - Europe
Mr. Gilbert Kankonde - Brussels
Mr. R. Wilson - UK
Prof. Eloi Diarra - France
Ms. Iman Drammeh - USA
Mr. E. Londji - Germany
SOUTH AMERICA
Ms. Madeleine Alingue - Spanish
Ayo Fasoyin - Portuguese
USA AND CANADA
Dr. Jim de Jongh - NY
Dr. Serapnio - DC
Dr.David Horne - West Coast
Dr. Deidre Badejo - Mid West
CARRIBEAN
Ms. Clementia Eugene -St. Lucia
CARRIBEAN FRANCOPHONE
Mme. Marie-Josie Tirolien
AFRICA
PANAFSTRAG Secretaria t - West
Ms. Mary Kimoye - East
Prof. Adekunle Amuwo - South
PROPOSAL FOR WEST AFRICAN MEDIATORS FORUM
In West Africa, a growing number of armed conflicts are being fought within states rather than between states. These civil wars are most often characterized by irregular forces with loose chains of command, which are driven by ethnic, political or religious interests. Small arms are often used and non-combatants account for most of the casualties. These conflicts... ...read more
|
