Afro-Arabs depend on G8 - Mbabazi
Mar 12, 2008
DEMOCRATIC reforms do not automatically free a society from corruption and poverty, the Minister of Security, Amama Mbabazi, has said. Presenting a paper on ‘Democratic reform in Africa and the Arab world’ at the conference yesterday, he warned that the multi-party political system did not guara
By Joyce Namutebi
DEMOCRATIC reforms do not automatically free a society from corruption and poverty, the Minister of Security, Amama Mbabazi, has said.
Presenting a paper on ‘Democratic reform in Africa and the Arab world’ at the conference yesterday, he warned that the multi-party political system did not guarantee the stability of the states created by colonialism.
“While there has been modest but clear progress along the democratic road both in Africa and the Arab world, we should not be lulled to sleep in celebration of a would be rebirth.
“Our economies are still dependent on the resources and direction of the G8 and other industrialised economies,†the minister said.
He said there was a major challenge of making democracy more meaningful.
“Voting once every few years does not necessarily restore the full participation (of people) in the day-to-day decision-making that was enjoyed by Africans in the pre-colonial era.
“We must not run the risk of having a facade of democratic government, behind which very undemocratic power is wielded for the benefit of the political elite,†he said.
The event, attended by over 1,500 delegates, including those from Rwanda, Kenya and Syria, is addressing social, political and economic issues that affect the youth.
The matters include unemployment, terrorism, economic empowerment and HIV/AIDS.
DEMOCRATIC reforms do not automatically free a society from corruption and poverty, the Minister of Security, Amama Mbabazi, has said.
Presenting a paper on ‘Democratic reform in Africa and the Arab world’ at the conference yesterday, he warned that the multi-party political system did not guarantee the stability of the states created by colonialism.
“While there has been modest but clear progress along the democratic road both in Africa and the Arab world, we should not be lulled to sleep in celebration of a would be rebirth.
“Our economies are still dependent on the resources and direction of the G8 and other industrialised economies,†the minister said.
He said there was a major challenge of making democracy more meaningful.
“Voting once every few years does not necessarily restore the full participation (of people) in the day-to-day decision-making that was enjoyed by Africans in the pre-colonial era.
“We must not run the risk of having a facade of democratic government, behind which very undemocratic power is wielded for the benefit of the political elite,†he said.
The event, attended by over 1,500 delegates, including those from Rwanda, Kenya and Syria, is addressing social, political and economic issues that affect the youth.
The matters include unemployment, terrorism, economic empowerment and HIV/AIDS.