The House of Commons Debate on Cameroon and Zimbabwe:Part 2

Clock Tower and Big Ben at Westminster

http://www.wikitravel.org/

http://www.creativecommons.org/licences/by-sa/3.0

By Louis Egbe Mbua

Ms Tanje had just finished her eloquently crafted speech when a familiar ding dong sound broke the controlled applause that went after the well intentioned delivery. As I studied the harmonics of the sound with keen interest, it dawned on me that we had reached the top of the hour; and so Big Ben was striking. It struck seven times immediately after which Hon. Corbyn MP began his speech on Elections and Democracy in Africa.

The Hon. Legislator began with his experience in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR) formerly known as Zaire: that during the election campaign, there was not the slightest of hints or mentioning of future policies by any of the leading politicians in the campaign trail. This was strange to him as the long civil strife in that country had devastated Goma; where he made his observations. At least, he had expected a politician to come up with reasonably sound ideas of rehabilitation as a policy; and platform for his elections. Unfortunately for the African people, no policy was forth coming for the forgotten African poor. To add to this great political and social misfortune, the war in Zaire had killed at least 3- 5 million people since it began in the 1990s when Mobutu was driven out from power. The amount of people killed was far greater than those killed in the Iran-Iraq war in the late 1970s and early 1980s; and the present day Iraqi insurgency war against America in Iraq; all put together.

He also lamented the lack of sustained reports on important and devastating news that are emanate from the African continent. He furnished these regrets with illustrations about the plane crash that occurred in Goma, DCR. The doomed aircraft had arrived Goma; at an airport whose runway was merely partly tarred, and partly bare earth or the tar had worn off leaving huge holes on the runway; thus making landing and taking off uneven and consequently dangerous. As the aircraft approached, one of its wheels came off the on landing leading to the disaster. Eighty people died from this unfortunate accident. This, according the Hon Corbyn, was an important event that needed international news attention so that the world might be aware of the dangerous and appalling conditions the people of DCR are subjected to; and that there should might have been an internationally-led investigation as to the cause of this crash and recommended solutions availed. However, the plane accident was reported by the CNN for just a single day; and the news was dropped the next day.

This was not appreciated giving that the Congo is one of the richest countries, in terms of natural resources, in the world-- Diamonds, Cobalt and Gold. In the hinterlands and the forests of Congo, away from the coast, are rare unexploited hardwoods found nowhere in the world. All kinds of peoples of this world have been made rich by the DCR from inside and outside the country -- foreigners, the Congolese elite, Europeans, Asians have all been made very rich by the DCR. Yet in this rich country, the politicians have neglected their responsibility as to why they have been elected to power due to unaccountability and heartless neglect of the masses who are in danger of extinction due to grinding poverty, illiteracy, death and disease. Half the children of DCR have no school to attend or are not attending due to desperate circumstances. As many children as one may conceive, in such harsh and politically uncaring environment, are orphaned. As the politicians do not take any responsibilities, Police officers are not paid; leading to bribery and consequently abuse of powers by the Police and Civil servants.

Further, in Africa, democratic powers have been usurped by China and Big Companies as a result of unaccountable African politicians who have refused to take their responsibility to perform their duties as democratically elected officials at the highest levels.

He concluded with a powerful speech which he gave later; after the first speech. On accountability, therefore, he arrived the irrefutable conclusion that most African politicians are a law onto themselves in Africa; and that this is against democratic principles. Corruption, kick backs and neglect of duties have allowed them to get away with lawless actions with impunity. Unless we build democratic institutions that can hold leaders into account for their actions Africans will be doomed. Thus democracy does not mean fair elections alone; but that those elected are punished according to the law if they are found to have committed a serious crime as no one can be above the law. This necessitates, also, that there should be an independence of judiciary and freedom of speech for all African citizens. In these settings, therefore, we can hold corrupt and incompetent politicians accountable but allowing and encouraging only the competent and the near flawless characters to prevail in leadership and politics. We also need powerful democratic institutions who will prevent or stand before these powerful organisations, corrupt politicians and other exploitative nations from stealing the wealth of Africa while the people suffer from abject poverty in riches. Furthermore, these democratic institutions would be able to negotiate with these powerful organisations and companies to obtain a fair deal for the people.

Author's Comments:

Hon Corbny's speech is a powerful voice against foreign exploitation, corruption, violence and graft in Africa that are inflicting untold suffering, indignation and indignity among Africans, their friends and the world. Post-Independence African leaders have woefully failed their people; and are further leading their own people to abysmal ruin and possibly inevitable extinction.

Hon. Corbyn's citation of China is very intriguing. It must be noted here that China has a history of brutal and forceful expansionism so as to accommodate her people as a result of her huge population; and also as a result of her cunningly disguised ambitions to attain international Superpowerdom. In October 1950, China invaded and annexed Tibet that had been independent since the 13th century; for prestigious purposes bent on adding on to Mao's communist vision of a powerful and expanded China. They continue to occupy Tibet despite international outcry for the prevalence of international justice; and Tibetan protests which are brutally put down by crack Chinese troops from Beijing.

China and India are also locked in a hot border dispute after China illegally occupied Arunachal Pradesh, an entire state in India, the size of Cameroon. A border war with India found India defeated and humiliated and later gave up the fight. China still occupies the Indian State. Again in the 1950s, China attacked Aksai Chin near the Everest Mountain range in India, a region that borders Tibet and India. They have not given it up.

The romance between Africa and China is a dangerous game that may end up in tears; with Africa being recolonised by China, a second time, after the regrettably unconsultative Berlin Conference. There have been recent reports in the Cameroons fishing waters in Victoria and Bakassi;whereby Chinese fishermen are brutally overfishing with trawlers, consequently forcing local African fishermen out of business; at the same time depleting fish stocks. While one should support bilateral agreements and fair trade between Africa and China, only the most tellingly uninformed and hopelessly desperate would want to surrender their Independence as a result of small fish and biscuits offered by China in return for the huge natural resources; and a potential emergence of a powerful, politically resourceful and economically viable Africa.

According John Swain, in an article, "China's New Frontier" in Sunday Times Magazine, February 10, 2008, an interview with a Chinese scientist revealed this answer: "We sic[in China] have 600 rivers, 400 of which have been killed by pollution. We will have to send 300 million people to Africa before we begin the end of our problems". One should be in support of people emigrating and contributing to the world. However, planning to send or export 300 million people to another man's land looks like a colonial Coup D'Etat. Africa's population is about 500 million; meaning that the Chinese will then make up almost half of the resultant 800 million overnight.

One is in support of Chinese enterprise and her determination to share technology and knowledge with Africans. On the other hand, one should be reminded of Sun-Tzu (Master Sun) who wrote the monumental philosophy on "The Art of War". On Strategy, Master Sun wrote:

In War,

Better take

A state

Intact

Than destroy it

Ultimate excellence lies

Not in winning

Every battle

But in defeating the enemy

Without ever fighting..

When far appear near

When near appear far....

Lure with bait;

Strike with chaos

Attack

Where he is

Unprepared

Appear where

You are unexpected

This is victory in warfare

It cannot be divulged in advance.