Kenyan Pundit

Kenyan Pundit identifies the key challenges facing Kenya’s coalition government whose creation has been received with “widespread cynicism, bewilderment, anger and disappointment”. Top on the list of challenges is the government’s lack of credibility:

“The fact that almost half of the 220 member Kenya National Assembly will be in government is astounding, especially if one takes into account the high falutin’ earnest pledges by the three leading presidential candidates in the 2007 elections-Kibaki, Raila and Kalonzo-on how they would all have lean, clean and efficient cabinets.

As one of the many Kenyans who were tear gassed recently for demanding a 24 member cabinet at Uhuru Park recently, I need not regurgitate what I think of the 42 member bloated cabinet.

Unfortunately, unless something dramatic happens over the next few days to reverse it, the reality of an obese (some say obscene) cabinet is a de facto reality.

The Grand Coalition thus has its work cut out for it when it comes to persuading Kenyans that it will somehow justify all those billions of tax payers’ shillings it is robbing from the meagre national coffers.”

In the News
http://www.inthenews.co.za/2008/04/16/under-the-spell-of-a-dark-lord/

In the News argues that President Thabo Mbeki’s increasingly controversial stance on the Zimbabwe crisis is damaging his legacy:

“President Mbeki has a ridiculous sense of loyalty to a man who has tarnished and will continue to tarnish his image and legacy for years to come. One can’t imagine what President Mbeki thought when he said there is no crisis in Zimbabwe when the whole of Africa is watching Zimbabwe. He failed to exercise wisdom and tact thus once again taking the attention away from Zimbabwe and putting it on himself.

President Mbeki has once again failed to take positive leadership on Zimbabwe and he looks like Mugabe’s subordinate. Time and time again President Mbeki looks to be an underling of the Mugabe, who continues to hold the Zimbabwean nation hostage. President Mbeki has tried to build a Kwame Nkrumah like Pan-African legacy but Mugabe has tainted this legacy. All the gains Mbeki made in Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi have been blown away by the never ending Mugabe Tsunami. President Mbeki has to save himself and his legacy and tell Mugabe like it is. Zimbabwe is dying because of Mugabe and his cronies. President Mbeki should not hide behind the culture of respecting elders. He should show Mugabe enough respect to tell him that his renegade government is affecting Southern Africa and not in a good way.”

African Unchained
http://africaunchained.blogspot.com/2008/04/burden-of-cfa.html

Africa Unchained cites an article about the negative effects of the CFA Franc on the economy of Francophone Africa:

“For every growth in France’s GDP, the euro appreciates against the Dollar, thus the CFA franc assumes too high an exchange rate. This puts the brakes on growth in the African economies that are also heavily dependent on commodities produced by Asia and South American countries that have much more flexible currencies. Put simply, a strong euro just kills CFA member economies as they experience declining export prices... A high fixed rate also kills economic growth in member countries, as it’s incompatible with productivity. The level of regional integration among member countries and the two central banks is remarkably low, even further undermining economic growth. Because the economies of Central African countries are heavily dependent on oil, and those of West Africa heavily dependent on other commodities, it is hard to argue for the long-term viability of the CFA unless of course you’re De Gaulle.”

Ndagha
http://ndagha.blogspot.com/2008/04/malawi-women-shun-internet-discussions.html

Ndagha posts an article which originally appeared in the Daily times which analyzes the (non)participation of women in Malawian internet forums:

“Apart from issues of content, some moderators believe that Malawian women cannot actively participate as Internet access is the domain of men only. One moderator claimed this reality “may be a reflection of the gender tilt in Malawi's education. It is biased towards men and this is reflected in mailing list membership.”
[…]
They alluded to “years of patriarchal influences” which Malawi and other countries the world over are known for.

These tendencies “in the Malawi context, may prevent women who could potentially participate in mailing lists with the same vigor, tenacity, boldness and intellect as men. These influences, may be embedded in their sub-conscious, have taught them to stay away from the public space,” argued Nyasanet moderators.”

The Imhotep blog

Scribbles form the Den posts an International Herald Tribune article on the recent political crisis in Cameroon which has led to fears that Cameroon may become another “failed state”:

“The international community could take steps to help prevent a crisis. Unfortunately, promises of preventive measures and "never again" rhetoric regarding Africa rarely translate into action on the ground. I fear that the international community will wait until it is too late to prevent a major conflict in Cameroon - and will then have to spend massive resources in response to a humanitarian crisis.

Today, many people are trying to leave the country. But most of Cameroon's neighboring countries are themselves collapsing states and cannot provide a safe haven.

Unless there is clear political reform that will allow citizens to finally enjoy basic civil liberties - including full freedom of expression, free elections and the rule of law - a crisis is inevitable.

Cameroon is another Central African country where time is running out.”

* Dibussi Tande, a writer and activist from Cameroon, produces the blog Scribbles from the Den

* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org/