What a vote!

Jul 02, 2005

Having been out of Uganda for three weeks, AWOL as you might put it, in this case absent with official leave, your columnist came back to a mighty event concerning the future of our country.

UGANDA’S No1 COLUMNIST.. INFORMED, CONTROVERSIAL AND PROVACTIVE

By John Nagenda
Having been out of Uganda for three weeks, AWOL as you might put it, in this case absent with official leave, your columnist came back to a mighty event concerning the future of our country.

I am, of course, talking about the result of the parliamentary vote on the lifting of the two-term limit presidents can constitutionally stay in office. Chew your fingernails to the quick while I look back three weeks.

I had gone to London on a private visit not unconnected with health, and friend unlike foe will be happy that I passed with flying colours; tell you about it another time perhaps.

The creaking media intelligence around Kampala heard that a number of London media stations had bothered to interview me, especially on the International Debt as it afflicts the Third World. But this was not enough for conspiracy theorists: I must have been unleashed into Europe to fight the counter-propaganda methods of the FDC (Forum for Democratic Change) there.

I answered that the FDC (many of our friends are there!) would always injure itself by the mere act of opening its mouth, and didn't need people like me to waste precious time! But back to Parliament. The day after my return, as now even the Man in the Moon knows, it debated the two-term issue and emerged with a stupendous 232 in favour of lifting the limit, with 50 against and one abstention.

Game, set and match to the ayes, whichever views you held, although diehard opponents will never change their view that manipulation (and worse) was applied by Government. I have stated my stance on this subject, and the reasons for it, but the numerical logic of the result seems conclusive on what the legislative representatives of the electorate feel about this matter. I would go further to add that the population at large, in a free and fair election, will go the same way.

Otherwise the Movement, or if you prefer it the government, will be shown the door, in next year's elections. That too is democracy, as is the changing, or not, of parts of the Constitution, depending on the majority's desire. What, you might ask, is an individual to do? Put individual desire aside in deference to the majority, or, at the very least, preach to that majority and turn it round.

That tool is open to all. But to the one who loses out, what a bitter pill! The only medicine is slow methodical work by all those disappointed (some might say disgusted) by the vote, especially if they think Uganda’s majority is with them. But, hand on heart, can anyone in sane reflection see the Opposition: the UPC, and DP, and FDC and CP, and all the little sprats which together make up the ZZZ, unite to achieve this? Of course not. And what is the reason for this?

The only realistic prayer must go to the Movement. Patiently open your hatches wider to welcome back the dissident shoals. Uganda would be the winner!
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The possible cancelling of the International Debt to the poorest nations has been so heavily aired recently that one prays it is not hot air for surely otherwise the Arctic and the Antarctic would melt, low-lying lands would be submerged, and higher ones turn to desert!

Your humble columnist’s contribution to the electronic media frenzy (and Africa is current flavour, but for how long) was that it was entirely normal, and expected of fair richer nations, to wipe out the debt of poorer ones.
I gave the example of how at home in Uganda the better off paid the school fees for the less fortunate; not that the former in most cases could be described as prosperous in any way. It was a moral duty.

The same should occur between nations. It was made doubly imperative by the direct signposts of history. In the same “ungrateful” Oliver Twistish fashion I pointed out that there was often a wide gap twixt what was offered and actually given, so that we should patiently wait for what would happen this time.

And in any case, in the trinity of aid, cancellation of debt and the fair opening up of world trade markets, these three, the greatest of these was the last.

Now the G8 are about to sit and the message remains the same: Africa, the “Sick Man” of Earth, will continue to wither until these things are resolved, or at any rate a serious route to their resolving is embarked on. This is not being ungrateful to what has already been given in good faith, which we acknowledge. And also that much of it has been wasted, as is the fashion of governments wherever found. It is to go to the next level in finding realistic solutions to intractable problems.

Incidentally, one of these, as all my interviewers were at one in asking me, was the question of Zimbabwe. What would happen to that stricken nation and its poor citizens, and why was the African Leadership mute on the matter? As it happens, this column has been tortured by the fate of ordinary Zimbabweans over a long period, and in article after article raised the matter, although not very recently.

I am ashamed to say that weariness set in. But this latest vengeful act of the mean destruction of property of those who did not vote for Mugabe is the last straw and our African leaders cannot avert their eyes any longer. If they persist in doing so they must, singly and severally, lose all credibility.

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