Inevitable change

“A war-weary population infused with new hope after the signing of a peace agreement quickly reverts to despair when, instead of seeing tangible progress towards a Government under the rule of law, it sees warlords and gang leaders take power and become laws unto themselves. And solemn commitments to strengthen democracy at home, which all States made in the Millennium Declaration, remain empty words to those who have never voted for their rulers and who see no sign that things are changing.” (Paragraph 130)  

When Annan was reporting, the world had already witnessed similar events happening elsewhere in Africa and the world over.

In Rwanda for example, at least 80 000 lives, mainly Tutsis, perished between April and July 1994. The genocide masterminded by Hutu extremists, finally stopped when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a former Tutsi rebel movement, seized power.

Recently, Kenya plunged into weeks of bloodshed after the much disputed December election results which only stopped when a power sharing agreement was reached between Kibaki and Odinga, brokered by Annan. To this day, Kenyans are yet to enjoy the fruits of the power-sharing deal.

In Zimbabwe much the same happened. March 29 election results were also controversial, leading to an upsurge of politically motivated violence across the country. The period prior to the run-off saw innocent lives being lost at the hands of militias, each party blaming the other. The contentious June 27 run-off, boycotted by the MDC-T party, set the country into disorder with daily price hikes, degrading health services as doctors exiled themselves for better remunerations and the industrial action of teachers as their working conditions worsened.

On September 15, after months of prolonged negotiations, Mugabe, Tsvangirai, and Mutambara signed a power sharing deal in an attempt to rescue the country from deep economic crisis. Zimbabweans are yet to see the fruit of the inclusive government agreed upon.

There is a trend that has proved to go a long way in the resolution of political crises on the continent, that of resorting to power-sharing agreements where there’s political conflict.

Will these deals be realistically implemented with all concerned parties? Will Kenya and Zimbabwe revert to anarchy, as Annan envisaged?

If only the Kenyan and Zimbabwean inclusive governments could put aside their differences and embrace understanding and tolerance. Only dialogue can triumph over political prejudice and bring happiness to all. What Annan feared must not be allowed to happen if we are to stay committed to the Millennium Declaration, hence respecting the signed agreements and implementing them is the only way forward.  

There will be no war-lords and gang leaders in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and elsewhere in Africa for generations to come, as long as the rule of law take its course and Africans are allowed to enter into a new era with the hope of freedom.