WHAT HAVE OUR LEADERS LEARNT FROM NELSON MANDELA ?

By Pathias Klinn Akabanjuna

I think it is safe to say that anyone who has had exposure to the media in the last fortnight or so has had about Nelson Mandela and his continuously frail health. Growing up, my father used to tell me of this great leader who came from prison and was elected president. I did not know much by then about politics but the way my father would talk about Mandela with such passion, it became hard to forget his name. I, like many people across the world who have heard his story or experienced his accomplishments first hand usually feel like we owe him something. We usually feel a kind of emotional attachment to him, and that’s probably why every international media organisation has a correspondent in South Africa right now specifically to monitor his situation. In his words, he said that no one should see him as a saint but as a sinner who keeps trying. The bitter truth is that we shall one day lose Mandela, but the greatest loss will be if we fail to learn from this great leader.

Almost, every leader and president across the entire world since the late 90’s, be it Africa, Europe or the Americas has been heaping praise on Mandela. But to what extent does this reflect in their policies and decisions as leaders? Mandela stood for principles like rule of law, equality in all spheres and democracy. What we see in Africa and other parts of the world today is inequality orchestrated by governments and regimes, judiciaries that are not independent but are influenced to give unfair judgements and police nations. Closer home, media houses get closed for almost a fortnight to whip them into line after running stories that  are not appealing to the powers that be. Public funds taxed from citizens struggling to make a living are being plundered everyday by selfish thieves in public offices, totally devoid of any morals and unaware of the plight of ordinary Ugandans. Sixteen mothers die every day in child birth in Uganda because the money meant to provide pregnancy kits and pay midwives continues to be stolen from government coffers and stashed away in sacks under the beds of government officials. Opposition leaders are being harassed and denied the chance to enjoy their constitutional rights in what seems like government’s new commitment to suppress any kind of dissent. Uganda has become a country ruled by tear gas and rubber bullets and some leaders now brag about how tear gas has silenced the opposition.  

For how long shall we allow this to go on? What does equality and rule of law that are emphasized in our constitution, mean for this government? Does it mean cutting the budget for accountability and keeping health centres deficient of medicine to relocate the money to buying tear gas and anti-riot gear for quelling protesters akin to what is being done in Uganda?

In Mandela’s first year as president, he launched the Reconstruction and Development Plan aimed at creation of jobs, housing and health care. In 1996, he signed a Constitution that centred on protecting minority rights, freedom of expression and promoting democracy; three key issues that many governments in Africa have largely left to civil society.

A recent survey by Foreign Policy magazine using the Failed states Index places Uganda at number 22 with Somalia leading the group, Kenya at number 17 and Zimbabwe at number 10. According to the results of this survey, out of 178 countries sampled, Africa has 10 among the top fifteen failed states and poverty rates are higher in sub-Saharan Africa compared to anywhere else in the world. The study points out political instability, economic inequality and corruption as some of the top causes of failure in these states. Why have many African leaders failed to recognize and implement transformation policies like their “role model” Nelson Mandela?

The idea of “Africa Rising” may be true but it is still a myth to the larger percentage of Africans. The Impressive GDP figures, growth of economies and technology may be appealing to the middle class but a lot still needs to be done about governance in Africa.   

Unfortunately, the Nobel Laureate’s health is giving way. I hope that as we pray for Mandela’s peaceful rest and transition to another life, we do not just remember him as an idol but also embrace his principles of governance based on rule of law, equality and democracy for the good of our nation and the continent at large.

The writer is a social and political commentator, blogger and democracy enthusiast

Bsc. Quantity Surveying

Twitter: PathyKlinn

The FP Survey: Africa Rising? | Foreign Policy

The FP Survey: Africa Rising? | Foreign Policy
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WHAT MEDIA SIEGE, COURT ORDERS AND LITIGATION MEAN FOR "DEMOCRATIC" UGANDA

In the wake of the media siege that saw truck-loads of gun and tear gas wielding police officers invading media houses and courts of law attempting to compel reporters to reveal their sources, one wonders whether Uganda is a true democracy or a banana republic. Over the years, the media has suffered threats, police brutality, closure of premises (thrice in the case of Daily monitor) as they attempt to carry out their roles.  The government has often employed the "whip them into line" approach whenever they feel uncomfortable about a story that appears in the media, advancing the popular rationale of media risking to compromise “national security”.  

First of all, we need to de-mystify this term called “national security”. The government should organise a seminar for media houses and explain the issues that are entailed in national security and topics that should not be discussed, broadcast or published in a bid to avoid threatening the same because clearly, the government, the media and the citizens hold different perspectives about what is entailed in national security.

The media is the fourth estate and as seen in developed democracies, its major objective is to keep the three arms of government in check. We have heard our president many times over going on about how committed he is to the fight against corruption in this country. It is perturbing therefore, in a country where stories are first discovered, investigated and published by the media before government agencies whose mandate is to do the same take the initiative, to see media houses closed for more than a week after publishing a serious allegation made by a high ranking army general who has not denied doing so.  

The citizens' way of thinking in any country is largely influenced by the media. One wonders whether this is what the government is fighting by constantly gagging the media and breathing down their neck. One "mis-placed" statement and your place of business is closed. The gist of creating an environment where people can think freely and share opinions in different fora has been lost at the risk of grooming a population that can not think or freely express themselves.

Journalists risk their lives every day doing the work of the Inspectorate of government, the CIID, the Solicitor General, Accountant General, name it. All because they understand their informatory and investigative roles as the fourth estate but partly also because the institutions mandated to do that are either malfunctioning or deliberately look the other way as government offices are abused, taxpayers money plundered with impunity and the country going to the dogs each passing day.

Any supporter of free media and freedom of expression ought be worried after a senior government official say that, "the government and the Monitor Publications have agreed to interface regularly to ensure that the undertakings made are respected and implemented" as part of the conditions to lift the siege on the media houses. If you have lived in Uganda long enough and followed vocal politicians who get ministerial appointments, you will know what this means. Whether Daily monitor will follow the same path, time can always tell.

The same government official was quoted saying that many top politicians were “tired” of Daily monitor and that they should close them until they learn their lesson. If there is any lesson to be learnt here, it is for the government to understand the role of the media in democratic governance that this country claims to have.

It will be a major blow to the media in Uganda and the citizens if the government through their courts manages to compel the Daily monitor reporters to reveal their sources. In a country where the state has been accused of getting rid of their opponents, an allegation they vehemently deny, investigative journalism will be buried if this prevails because not a single soul is willing to risk their lives to give useful information to the media. Journalists have a common saying the "No story is worth dying for." This will be detrimental for a country like Uganda that is yet to achieve middle income status of development. 

The role of the media to protect their sources and its independence must be respected and supported if the current leadership of Uganda or any subsequent ones have any interest in developing this country, stamping out corruption and developing quality citizens. The government's self preservation should always come secondary to the interests of its citizens.