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Issue 00555 |
February 21 - 27, 2009 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Mailbag |
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Write to: The Editor, Arusha Times, P.O. Box 212, Arusha. E-mail: arushatimes@habari.co.tz
Is Gaddafi far ahead of schedule?
I have read with keen interest Mr.Alhassan Atta Quayson article “Gaddafi and his African Unity Agenda” that appeared in the publication of February 7 – 13, 2009 (No.00553). . Two issues are born out of that article, the first one is on the controversial image that the current chairman of African Union President Gaddafi has and secondly the puzzle of African unity that for decades has remained unsolved. Before I dwell into the issues, may I first congratulate the outgoing chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete. Indeed under his term we have witnessed a more practical African Union particularly in matters of democracy and security in Africa.
The image of President Gaddafi has been controversial, his relations with the Western states had in the past been not so friendly. His views about the Southern African states on the issue of Palestine- Israel relation have not been well received. He has been accused of connections with a terrorist network, he has been in power since 1969 and him together with most North Africa Arab states leaders have been said to feel more pulled to Arab league than the African Union. This is our current African Union Chairman’s short controversial biography. But we can ask ourselves today if all these past controversies matter and if they have any bearing in the credibility of our current Chairman’s initiatives for a United Africa.
I do not personally agree with those who negatively picture the initiatives of Chairman Gaddafi. By accepting emotions upon the controversies within our current Chairman’s image of the past might bring misleading results. I believe our concern should be that is it time for the African Unity or is it that our current Chairman President Gaddafi has been ahead of time as a result of a higher vision which is a good leader’s essence.
Secondly, it is this puzzle of African unity that for decades has remained unsolved. Although Kwame and Mwalimu had a pull and push on the matter of African Unity, both had one common goal and that was the urge for African Unity. Today the pull and push continues, one side is that of Kwame which is African unity now (political approach) and the other side of the coin is that of Mwalimu which is regional unity first (economical approach).No doubt our current chairman is on Kwame’s side but what are the rest of the Africans? Are a majority of the Africans on Kwame’s side or Mwalimu’s side! May be we should vote, but is it an issue of what majority wants or is it an issue of need? Should we abort such initiatives for the moment or input them promptly? For the East Africans like us the current chairman is ahead of schedule for we are not yet done with the East African federation.
I agree with Mr. Alhassan Atta Quayson that may be our chairman President Gaddafi has much more to care, issues like corruption, diseases, territorial insecurity, poverty and bad governance than this ideals about political unionization of this complicated continent.
H.Makando, Graduate of University of Dar Salaam , Political analyst.
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