THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Sep

14

2020

Personal tribute to uncle George Bizos

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

MAHLODI S MUOFHE UNCLE George, that’s how you preferred me to call you. You, at all material times, reproved when I addressed you as Advocate George Bizos. You took silk; I thought you would be happy at that time, when attempting my luck and called you, Advocate George Bizos SC, Iyo! the rebuke was harder than I anticipated. Our relationship thus remained one of you being my ‘ uncle ‘ and me; your ‘ son ‘. It continued that way until you; the late Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and I met together under one roof. I remember that day when…

Sep

12

2020

By The African Mirror

Remembering Steve Biko, who died 43 years ago today, in police custody

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

MATTHEW GRAHAM, Lecturer in History, University of Dundee WHILE Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Desmond Tutu are rightly venerated for their role in opposing and ending white minority rule in South Africa, another leader of the liberation years has been remarkably overlooked: Bantu Steven Biko, who led the enormously influential Black Consciousness Movement. Four decades after his death in police custody on September 12 1977, he deserves to be recognised as one of the towering heroes of the anti-apartheid struggle. Black Consciousness re-energised black opposition to apartheid and helped draw the world’s attention to the brutality of South Africa’s white…

Sep

12

2020

By The African Mirror

The versatile George Bizos!

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

KHULU MBATHA Standing trial for having left the country illegally and so on, Nelson Mandela used the court’s platform to pronounce on principle and policies that his organisation stood for. After explaining his motives for joining the struggle of the African majority against a white minority oppressor group, Mandela stated: “The African National Congress further believed that all people, irrespective of the national groups to which they may belong, and irrespective of the colour of their skin, all people whose home is South Africa and who believe in the principles of democracy and of equality of men, should be treated…

Sep

11

2020

By The African Mirror

Central African Republic seeks justice for rural victims of sexual violence

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

PACOME PABANJI RESTORING court operations in rural parts of the war-torn Central African Republic is vital to tackling sexual violence and ensuring victims can seek justice, a top government official said, as the coronavirus pandemic fuels gender-based abuse. Rape has been widely used as a weapon of war in the country of 4.6 million, which is still largely controlled by armed groups despite the signing of peace deals in 2019 to end a long civil war, according to the United Nations. Aline Gisèle Pana, minister for women, the family and child protection, said the government's priority was to deploy magistrates…

Sep

11

2020

By The African Mirror

George Bizos: heroic South African human rights lawyer with a macabre duty to represent the dead

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

KEITH GOTTSCHALK, Political Scientist, University of the Western Cape ADVOCATE George Bizos, who has died at the age of 92, stands in the pantheon of South African human rights lawyers and anti-apartheid activists. Throughout his lengthy lifetime, he doggedly used the courts as his chosen terrain to fight back against a police state that blatantly violated the rule of law. His lifelong commitment to human rights left a legacy in South Africa’s constitution and bill of rights. He knew that democracy is not a destination but a lifelong quest: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Bizos was among a…

Sep

08

2020

By The African Mirror

From slavery to colonialism and school rules: a history of myths about black hair

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

HLONIPHA MOKOENA, Associate Professor at the Wits Institute for Social & Economic Research, University of the Witwatersrand “YOUR hair feels like pubic hair.” That was one of the first insults that someone hurled at my hair. She was a junior at my school. She would touch my hair and repeat this sentence to all present. I had to threaten her with violence to get her to stop touching my hair and comparing it to her pubes. This is one of the first dilemmas that black people face: do I let people touch my hair and under what circumstances? The question,…

Sep

08

2020

By The African Mirror

Why Uganda’s ban on open-air campaigns could tilt the 2021 poll in Museveni’s favour

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

GEOFFREY SSENOGA, Lecturer of Mass Communications, Uganda Christian University UGANDA is going to conduct its first digital and mass media campaigns ahead of its 2021 general elections. This comes as the country contemplates holding a “scientific election” wherein social distancing guidelines will be observed. On 16 June 2020, the Uganda Electoral Commission issued a press release banning public rallies for the 2021 political campaigns as part of the country’s COVID-19 containment measures. Campaigns will now be conducted on radio and television, in newspapers and on the internet. This caused an immediate protest especially among opposition-leaning political groups and civil society…

Sep

06

2020

By The African Mirror

We must all unite behind the ANC renewal program

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

D.D MABUZA The recent letter addressed to the membership of the ANC on the 23rd of August 2020 by our President, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, reaffirming the correct anti-corruption positions that we had adopted during both our 53rd and 54th National Conference, is most appropriate. It is a clarion call that correctly calls for the progressive forces of our movement to make a choice of being on the right side of the line that has now been drawn on the sand and for those who opt to define themselves in contrast to the values and ethos of the ANC, to leave.…

Sep

04

2020

By The African Mirror

Africa’s attempts to abandon practice of presidents for life suffer another setback

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

ADEM K. ADEBE, Extraordinary Lecturer and editor of ConstitutionNet, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, University of Pretoria IVORIAN president Alassane Ouattara (78) has finally confirmed he’ll seek a third term in office in October. Within days of this, Guinea’s ruling party asked President Alpha Condé (82) to seek a third term. The actions signal that Africa is a long way from burying the ugly era of presidents for life. The period, which followed immediately after independence and lasted until the end of the 1990s, had a debilitating effect on stability, democracy and socio-economic development on the continent. In…

Oct

01

2020

By The African Mirror

Good governance is the lynchpin for African progress

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

ABDOULIE JANNEH COVID-19 has joined the climate emergency at a time when Africa is facing what Mo Ibrahim calls “a crisis in leadership and governance.” This crisis seems all the worse when we define governance as the delivery of goods and services that citizens legitimately expect their governments to deliver. Citizen’s expectations relate to the promotion and support of human rights and participation, safety and rule of law, socio-economic opportunities and human development. In view of the very mixed progress made so far in meeting these entirely reasonable expectations, the permanent question is how to apply Africa’s abundant wealth in…