Col. Muammar GhaddafiGADDAFI AND THE UNITED STATES OF AFRICA
By Diaspora writer
I have followed on your blog the debate of Gaddafi and the AU leadership with great interest especially the works of my respected learned friends Mashaka and Dr Shayo.I do personally commend these two great chaps with US blogger who have added a great deal of intellectual touch and spice to our beloved blog ya Jamii.
Not departing from their respected view , I wish to put forth my case: Fore mostly, lets first examine whether gaddafi as a true son of Africa [without being racist] deserves this position.
Once a pariah state because of his support for terrorism, Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi now enjoys full diplomatic relations with the United States. The turning point came in 2003, when Mr. Gaddafi renounced terrorism and agreed to dismantle his nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs.
At the time, many attributed Mr. Gaddafi's shift to his fear of meeting the same fate as Iraq's Saddam. It also reflected his desire to lure U.S. and other Western companies to redevelop Libya's vast oil reserves.
In any case, the U.S.-Libya reapprochement has reached the point where Mr. Gaddafi is seen as the most clever and favoured African/ Arab leader. In otherwords he is the only African head of state who has turned round the down course of his country to a successful one against all the odds.
Secondly, lets look at the circumstances how he qualified to be the head of AU in the first place. One should know that this was the culmination of an internal struggle to define the extent of the AU’s reach into the internal affairs of its member states. Since 2005 when Gaddafi floated the idea of a united states of Africa no African leaders could agree with him and even when they came to their senses that there was a need for unity as Africa, tension between those who would prefer to have a gradual and considered transition towards a Union government of Africa and those who want to do it right away, tensions had already kicked in.
This left one person with a clear head on this matter , a showman whose fiery, often rambling speeches, sometimes unconventional behaviour and colourful robes are always a scene stealer at international gatherings, Gaddafi!.
This was evident when President Museveni , the brainchild of Gaddafi openly clashed with his mentor in February 2009 at a summit in Addis ababa on the issue.
Its reported that the next day , diplomats in Kampala were frantically running up and down like headless chicken to limit the damage caused because you don’t double cross gaddafi and get away with it. Typical African chief!
It is known that the communique at the end of the summit, was a watered-down compromise that proved ultimately hollow. Libya and Senegal led a coterie of “unionists” who argued that deeper continental political union was necessary. And that Museveni and his team had been put where they belong!
The “gradualists” camp, which included South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia, argued that it would be imprudent to rush into a union government when the AU had not even got the rudimentary aspects of operational efficiency sorted out.
The gradualists also argued that the continental integration could only be achieved by building upon the integrative processes already underway within regional economic communities. The election of Gaddafi is therefore an indication that the unionist camp has decided to adopt a higher profile and will seek to use the remaining year to make the case for deeper continental integration, if not actually lay the foundations for a full blown United States of Africa.
Thirdly, It should be known that Col. Gaddafi renounced terrorism in 2003 and Libya has paid out over a billion dollars to the families of the Lockerbie victims.
Libya has also entered into deals with major oil companies for exploitation of its reserves and re-established diplomatic ties with the UK and the US. Col. Gaddafi has also been involved in mediating the conflict in Darfur.
The Libyan leader’s mediation has resulted in deals between Chad and Sudan Libya has never held the chairmanship in the 46-year-history of the African Union and its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity and that the AU’s chairmanship rotates among Africa’s regions, and a North African had not chaired the continental body since 2000, when Algeria held the post.
Fourth, did Mashaka and Dr Shayo say something about terrorism?
Let’s examine Terrorism Terrorism Act 200: interpretation d
(1) In this Act “terrorism” means the use or threat of action where— (a) the action falls within subsection
(2), (b) the use or threat is designed to influence the government or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and (c) the use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.
(2) Action falls within this subsection if it— (a) involves serious violence against a person, (b) involves serious damage to property, (c) endangers a person’s life, other than that of the person committing the action, (d) creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public, or
12 Support (1) A person commits an offence if— (a) he invites support for a proscribed organisation, and (b) the support is not, or is not restricted to, the provision of money or other property (within the meaning of section 15).
(2) A person commits an offence if he arranges, manages or assists in arranging or managing a meeting which he knows is— (a) to support a proscribed organisation, (b) to further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or (c) to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation.
(3) A person commits an offence if he addresses a meeting and the purpose of his address is to encourage support for a proscribed organisation or to further its activities.
(4) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (2)(c) in respect of a private meeting it is a defence for him to prove that he had no reasonable cause to believe that the address mentioned in subsection (2)(c) would support a proscribed organisation or further its activities.
(5) In subsections (2) to (4)— (a) “meeting” means a meeting of three or more persons, whether or not the public are admitted, and (b) a meeting is private if the public are not admitted. (6) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
By this definition Mr mashaka and Dr Shayo , do you want to imply that democratically elected African heads of state and especially my beloved president Mrisho kikwete is liable for an offence when he officially handed the wand of Africa noble hood to Col Gaddafi? Na wah wo!God Forbid!
“I think his time has come,” Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Liberian president, said. “He’s worked for it. I think it’s up to us to make sure it comes out best.”
Mashaka and Co. remember the fate of Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabral, Eduardo Mondlane, Samora Machel, Laurent Kabila, Thomas Sankara and countless other foot soldiers for Africa’s full freedom - where are they?.
Please give a chance to this last son of Africa who happens to come from the desert dunes Lastly , im for a united Africa as one, of all a United Africa stands to demolish the stereotypes, propaganda and lies that have been increasing in intensity ever since independence with the subsequent psychological liberation for Africans the world over.
Two, the almost limitless natural and human resources of the Continent will be harnessed under one polity, projecting immense power.
Three, such a large land mass under one government will have to develop the means to defend itself and its people, thereby producing substantial military, diplomatic and political forces. Any of these conditions will create a seismic shift in the global power dynamic and cause a severe restructuring of the social, psychological and politico-military pecking order.
Personally I will be reluctant to have faith in Tanzania’s position on the AU gaddafi matter since Tanzania’s reluctance over the integration process became apparent during the fifth round of negotiations on the EAC Common Market Protocol held in Zanzibar and Tanzania consistently opposed proposals by the other four member states of EAC that East Africans be allowed to use their respective national identity cards as travel documents in the region.
It also refused to accept the inclusion of a clause that would allow East African citizens to acquire, access and use land in any member state.
My massage to African leaders is that thank you for accepting back your lost son and gave him the mandate to look after the family granary.
Mashaka and Dr Shayo Just like Gaddafi -a show man , scene stealer , once again you have stolen the show on this blog.
Have i?
Shayo naye si ndiye yule aliyesema "ukirudi mwenyewe kwa nguvu zako, hapa nyumbani pesa ipo bwana" Kama ndiye yeye, tangu lini amekuwa "respected scholar"? kwa kitu gani alichokifanya?
ReplyDeleteduh unakaba hadi vivuli
ReplyDeleteVIVA QDDAFI
The bottom line is, Gaddafi is not a democtaric leader. It doesn't matter if he is a smart leader or a beloved leader of his people or even of Africa. It doesn't matter if he helped Africans in the continent. He has been in power for way too long and doesn't tolerate opposition to his rule. Even if there are other nasty leaders in the west, at least we know for sure that they will not rule forever. This is the difference between a democratically elected leader and a tyrant: LEADERSHIP TIME IS LIMITED.
ReplyDeleteMdau, Tokyo, Japan.
I support Mashaka, Bloodshet is bloodshed, Gaddafi is not fit to rule.
ReplyDelete"President Kikwete stood for what he believed was right; he stood as a pan Africanist and a leader with love for the continent, and spoke from heart with passion and courage telling his fellow leaders to be careful.."
ReplyDeleteBwana Mashaka na Dk Shayo nawaombeni someni hiyo nukuu halafu muangaliane machoni. Mkishaangaliana machoni muambiane mmeona nini kwenye macho na fikra zenu.
Iwapo Mashaka na Shayo wanatafuta ajira ndani ya CCM kupitia mgongo wa Kiwete basi wawe wazi,au kama watataka kuja kugombea ubunge katika uchaguzi mkuu ujao na hilo si bora waliweke wazi tujue moja?Badala ya kutugiribu kwamba wao ni wasomi sana na wanauchungu sana na bara la Afrika!Acheni kabisa hizo wazee!Bongo sasa hivi kumekucha,watu hawadanganywi kirahisi hivyo!ni umaskini tu unaotusumbua licha ya utajiri mkubwa ulipo hapa nchini!Hebu jaribuni "Dili" jngine,hili limefeli!Gaddafi may be a Dictator alright!But whoelse in Africa isn't?You are too young to embrace "Politics of Romanticism!"GO BY THE FACTS!Who in AFRICA has really shown sacrifice for trully MultiParty Politics and Free and Fair Elections!Name one country and I will take you to the Moon!Unafikiri Mchezo!Wamarekani wangekuwa Wajinga kama sisi unadhani Obama angepewa nafasi ya kuwa Rais Marekani against all the Odds?
ReplyDeleteNyie hamjui kiswahili nasi tufaidi
ReplyDeleteWE MDAU WA JAPAN,NANI BORA KATI YA SERIKALI YA GADDAFI KWA MDA WOTE HUO NA SERIKALI YA CCM KWA MDA WOTE? JIBU LAKO NDIO LITAWEZA KUFAFANUA UNATAFSIRI VIPI UONGOZI BORA.
ReplyDeleteMDAU WA SHIMO LA UDONGO.
MIMI NACHOKIONA NI KWAMBA
ReplyDeleteDEMOKRASIA NININI?
KWANINI TUNAMUITA GADAFI HANA DEMOKRASI?
ME NADHANI TUSIWE NA DHANA WALIZO TULETEA WAKOLONI KULETA MAANA YA DEMOKRASIA, MBONA UINGEREZA WANA QUEEN AMBAE YUPO NI UKOO WAKE TU NDO UNATAWALA, JAPO HAINA MAMLAKA SERIKALINI, ILA BADO ANAUDUMIWA IPASAVYO
MEME NADHANI TUFWATE KAMA OBAMA ALIVYO SEMA JUZI' NO ONE CAN PRESSUME WHAT IS RIGHTS FOR THE OTHER' NAMAANA MAMBO YA GADAFI KUKAA MADARAKANI MDA MREFU NI YA WA LIBYA SISI HAYA TUHUSU SISI WATANZANIA TUMEJIWEKEA UTARATIBU WETU WAO WANAWAKWAO,MAMBO MUHIMU NI ACCOUNTABILITY YA MTU,TUJIULIZE JE GADAFI YUPO ACCOUNTABLE? MIMI NAONA NDIYO YUPO ACCOUNTABLE
KUHUSU SWALA LA TANZANIA KUKATAA FREE ACCESS OF LAND KWA EAST AFRICAN MEMBERS ME NAONA NI SAWA KABISA, KAKA MICHUZI WATANZANIA ANGALAU WALE WA DARAJA LA KATI WANAWEZA KUMILIKI ARDHI, WENZETU WA KENYA NI MPAKA UWE TAJIRI SANA NDO UNAWEZA KUMILIKI ARDHI, SASA KAMA TUNATAKA ARDHI YETU ICHUKULIWE NA WAKENYA, WAGANDA, WARWANDA BASI TUKUBALI FREE ACCESS OF LAND KWA EAC, ME NAONA TUSIKUBALI
by Alcapon
Mashaka na Shayo ni matapeli tu.
ReplyDeleteFrom the article I am pleased with the quote from President Sirleaf when she comment about El-Qaddafi and AU "He's worked for it. I think it's up to us to make sure it comes out best"
ReplyDeleteMdau Alcapon:
ReplyDeleteTofauti kati ya CCM na Gaddafi ni kwamba viongoi wa CCM wamekuja na kuondoka. Hii ndio haki ya wananchi. Wananchi wamechangua uongozi wa CCM na ina viongozi mbalimbali waliochukua madaraka. Japokuwa siwezi kusema kwa uhakika kama uongozi umechukuliwa kihalali huko zanzibar kwa kuwa wanalalamika wanakandamizwa kisiasa. Kama Tanzania ipo tayari basi tutakuwa na kiongozi wa chama kingine lakini huwezi kuchagua kiongozi Libya. Hii ndio tofauti yetu na yake.
Huko Libya, Gaddafi hataki mwanasiasa yoyote apiganie uongozi na ameongoza nchi yake kinguvu tangu miaka ya sitini mpaka leo. Pia, miaka mingi tu Gaddafi alidai kuwa yeye ni Mwarabu sio Mwafrika na alitaka nchi yake iungani na nchi za kiarabu. Walivyomkataa, ndio akajipeleka kwa Waafrika na kujiita kiongozi wa Kiafrika na kutumia fedha za mafuta kununua kura za viongozi wetu Afrika ili wampe kura za kuwaongoza.
Mimi sitaki demokrasia ya uzungu wala ya kiafrika. Mimi nataka haki ya kumchagua kiongozi wangu. Kiongozi wa AU anatakiwa awe na sifa za kidemokrasia. Karibuni viongozi wengi wa Afrika hawana sifa hizo na sioni kuwa inaleta faida yoyote na inaonyesha picha mbovu kwa jamii. Sisi wananchi wa karni hii tumeamka sasa na hatutaki kuendeshwa na viongozi wasioheshimu haki za binadamu wala demokrasia. Demokrasia ni haki ya binadamu wote na hakuna tofauti ila kuna sauti zinasema eti kuwa tusiwafuate wazungu na demokrasia yao ili kuendeleza uongozi wa akina Mugabe na wenzake.
Mdau, Tokyo. Japan
Wananchi tuache kuloloma kila nji ina njia zake za kujiongoza, wamarekani wameona Iraq haina demokrasia sasa wameona wamuondoshe dictator sasa matokeo yake yako mbele yetu tunayaona, wananchi wake wote wanauwawa wakiwemo wataalamu wao kila siku. Sasa nchi inaongoza na Wairaq waliokua wakimbizi waliorudi toka Umarekani na Uingereza na inazidi kudidimia.Hakuna siasa nzuri hizo propaganda tu tunabadilishiwa kikombe maziwa yale yale.
ReplyDeletemdau japan
ReplyDeletegadafi kwake anakubalika sana, tena sana, na ni moja ya nchi tajiri duniani
me naona tusidanganywe na propaganda za wazungu, mtu asipo kuwa rafiki yao wanamuita dikteta, mfano marekani ilikaa kimya kwa msharaf kisa alikua ni rafiki yao
libya umeme,maji,elim ni bure niambie ni nchi gani afrika ipo kama hiyo ukiondoa libya
nakubaliana na wewe kuwa viongozi wa CCM wanakuja na kutoka, ila hiyo ndo demokrasia yetu tuioridhi kwa wakoloni
mbona uingereza wana queen ambae anaudumiwa mapesa mengi na ni kwa ukoo
Malkia w aUingereza hashiki wadhifa wowote wa serikali. Ni sura ya nchi tu. Pia, yuko tayari kuondolewa kama wananchi wakitaka aondoke. Canada na Australia pia ipo chini yake lakini hana wadhifa wowote pia huko. Lakini huwezi kusema kuwa wananchi wa Libya wanaweza kumtoa Gaddafi bila ya nchi kupigana vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe.
ReplyDeleteMdau, Tokyo, Japan
Mdau 7:51: Libya ni nchi tajiri lakini wananchi wake ni masikini. Pesa zote ziko chini ya Gaddafi na rafiki zake. Uchumi wa Libya ni GDP Bilioni $92. Kupewa maji, elimu na umeme bure sio sababu ya kuiba fedha za wananchi. Mwaka jana wananchi wao walikuwa wanawapiga waafrika waliokuja huko kufanya kazi kwa kuwa wanasema wanachukua kazi zao.
ReplyDeleteKorea Kazkazini pia wanawapa wananchi wao kila kitu lakini watu hawako huru. Uhuru wa binadamu hatuwezi kupima kwa fedha. Muda wa Gaddafi umekwisha na aondoke na kitabu chake cha kijani cha maendeleo ya Kijamaa. Waafrika hatudanganyiki tena.