DYMYSTIFYING THE PARTITION OF AFRICA

OVERVIEW

There is no even slightly discernable accord among historians and scholars relating to the basic nature as a historical process and the driving forces of the Partition of Africa. All agree that the partition was an extra ordinary flow of European Imperialism. The ability to account for the partition of Africa has been declared an acid test of theories of imperialism and contradictory arguments have been put forward with great intensity. Was it a ‘big bang’, something that European powers undertook abruptly by a premeditated decision, as the familiar illustration of the Map of Africa being drawn in a symposium at Berlin would suggest? or was it somewhat a much more unintentional and slapdash stuff, in which half unenthusiastic powers hauled themselves from one tragedy situation to another, as more recent imperial historiography uphold? Underlying such significant issues is the essential notional and practical question about the scope to and the mode in which the intentions and basis of historical proponents can be taking as comprising the basis of this historical process.

Much might be known about the events of the colonization of Africa but when it comes to the motive behind it, there is no consent of opinion among scholars and historians. Some scholars are of the view that it was driven by pride and prestige. One should take cognizance of the fact that, Germany and Italy, unified, did not have colonial chattels. They then briskly struggled for places in the colonial sun commensurate with their eminence in the community. France envisaged in imperial dominions, recompense for defeat in 1870 and the loss of Alsace and Lorraine. France wanted to demonstrate to the world that she was still a first class nation by acquiring colonies in Africa. One might also argue that the partition was a result of the decoy of markets. Overseas holdings had the latent to furnish raw suits, otherwise unavailable in Europe to feed the Whiteman and his machines. It is equally importance to note that the premeditated reasons and liberalism were other driving forces behind the colonization of Africa. For some the colonization as a result of spontaneous actions dictated by the emergencies in Europe. It is therefore the saddle of this article to explore the several causes that accounts for f this fundamental phase of African history.

The subjugators were primarily driven by anecdotes of Africa’s colossal wealth, bona fide or imaginary, to invade and loot the abundant resources. It is suffice to say that the economic factor was the main drive of the colonization of Africa. I will substantiate my view with that of Uzoigwe (1978: 21) who avow that, the economic motives have always loomed large in the process of empire building.  It is of supreme importance to note that, to dismiss economic motivations as an unimportant factor in the colonization of Africa is as subtle as to argue that these motivations alone were the only justifications for the colonization.

New markets were the invariable of Europe’s captains of industry and merchant princes and it was well that to them that the ears of governments willingly inclined.  The imperialists viewed the colonization as a prudent territorial expansion for the creation of new markets. It is important to accentuate that, Britain passed through the Long Depression of 1873 – 96 which led to a growing poise of trade deficit, with attenuation and escalating protectionist markets. The melancholy was blamed for the hostile tariffs. This therefore meant that to avoid the recurrence of such a depression, Britain had to consider Africa. Africa offered an open market that would garner British trade surplus. The Britons therefore thought that acquisition of markets would therefore nullify the adverse effects of hostile tariffs by creating an open door to world trade in particular thus helping them to nurse the dilemma of economic meltdown. Equally important was the impact of the surfacing of America as a large scale world exporter which caused an alarm in the British exports, and this beyond every rational qualm gave rise to the outcry for new markets. Britain like other European countries had long since begun to run an adverse balance of trade which was increasingly offset by the income from overseas investments. Surplus capital was often more profitable invested overseas, particularly in Africa, where cheap labour, limited competition, and copious raw materials made a great premium possible.

The colonization of Africa also came as a result of the economic state of Europe. Germany united under Prussian rule as a result of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 was seeking new outlets for her energies and new markets for her growing industries. The demand for raw materials unavailable in Europe especially copper, rubber, palm oil, cocoa, diamonds, tea and tin which European consumers had grown habituated to and upon which the European industries had grown utterly dependent on for their economies to remain intact forced the countries to consider Africa for a smooth supply of the much needed resources. Powerful industrial and financial capitalists soon ran out of lucrative areas of investment in their own countries and therefore persuaded their governments to focus their attention on Africa where they could find high profits from their investments, new markets for their products and a safe source of raw materials. That economic motives played a crucial role in the colonization of Africa cannot be denied but a jam-packed understanding of the causes of the colonization requires one to explore other motives as well.

The other theory which has to be considered is the geo-political or strategic theory. Strategic and political considerations seem to have been of principal importance in bringing the colonization of Africa. Some areas were strategically important for maintaining trade routes to Asia or refueling stations for a worldwide navy. The need to shield the sea route to India and the Far East propelled countries such as Britain to pursue colonies. Britain hoping to link Cairo in the North with Cape Town in the South wanted north-south dominion; therefore, all the territory between the two points gained strategic value. Mauritius was taken from the French because she had the best harbor in the south Indian Ocean. Ceylon was also taken from the Dutch because it controlled those straits to China. This was also a result of the desire for stopover ports in eastern and southern coasts of Africa en-route to Asia and the Indian Empire of Britain. The completion of the Suez Canal made Egypt an area of vital interest because it set astride the shortest route to India. It is important to highlight that; Britain might have had significant strategic reasons for protecting the Suez and cape rotes to India but France and other nations were not pushed by these motives.

 It is also important to underscore that, Pride and Prestige also features in the list of the causes of the colonization of Africa. To report back home and throughout Europe that one nation has acquired thousands of square miles of territory and millions of captive population enhanced the prestige of that nation throughout the world. To a victor in the imperial game meant great national pride. Germany for example began to consider having colonies in Africa despite Bismarck’s lack of enthusiasm for the idea because there was a shift of command in the governing elite. Bismarck, the then Chancellor of Germany had no interest in overseas colonies and once compared them to ‘fire furs worn by impoverished Polish nobles who had no shirts underneath.’ His concern laid in the exposed position of Germany and on one occasion, he said, “My map of Africa lies in Europe…” such statements lost their worth and meaning as the Germany governing elite began to view the world as a finite, one which only the strong would predominate. They were not content with allowing other European countries to expend diplomatic energy on African initiatives. Germany’s pride and prestige were at stake; hence one can safely say that, her participation in the colonization of Africa was as a result of the inevitable struggle for world supremacy. Britain, France, Italy and Germany among other powers wanted to be regarded as forces to reckon in world politics.

Some historians have pointed to liberalism as a cause of the colonization of Africa. they say the liberal tradition of Europe emphasized on ‘self improvement’ and the ‘perfectibility of man’ the belief combined with Charles Darwin’s ‘new science’ and warping of the statement, ‘survival of the fittest’ by social Darwinism encouraged the view that, Europe was going down into the ‘Dark Continent’ to raise up and civilize the people. To the Europeans nothing seemed paternalistic or racist; they associated the partition, scramble and colonization of Africa with the liberal view of the perfectibility of man. Eurocentric scholars, among them, Hamerow (1969) argue that the Africans were inherently inferior and needed the assistance and protection of the stronger. However this nurture- nature debate shows an inquisitive blend of the wealth seeking and prestige conscious impulses of the imperialists. The exploits of imperialism created tales of wartime glory that fostered exploitation. This therefore laid at bay the liberalism theory as an invalid explanation of the colonization of Africa. Such chauvinistic ideas are attempts by Eurocentric scholars to cover up the impiety of the partition, scramble for and colonization of Africa.

One can safely conclude that, the partition of Africa was an interaction between structural conditions and personal intentions. These created a snare of essential and ample causes acting on one another. The process was conditioned by structural changes unfolding in European economy and politics. It could have hardly happened without the expansionary economic weight and the amplified political rivalry created by the breakthrough of industrial ventures.

THE UNITED STATES OF AFRICA.... IS IT VIABLE?

ORIGIN OF THE CONCEPT

The United States of Africa remains a continuous premise, a grand reverie esteemed from earliest days of Pan-Africanism. The rhyme entitled ‘Hail United States of Africa’ by Marcus Garvey in 1924 instigated ideas which latter on profoundly predisposed the outset of Pan- African Movement. Later, Kwame Nkrumah the then President of Ghana and Haile Sellassie took the initiative further to form the Organization of African Unity the precursor of the African Union. The Libyan leader Muamar al-Gaddafi made an ardent plea for the immediate establishment of the United States of Africa at regional Summits in June 2007, Guinea and February 2009 in Addis- Ababa, Ethiopia. A number of African Leaders gave a blank cheque to al-Gaddafi’s proposal believing it could end the blight of conflicts in Africa.  One queries if the continent has the aptitude and single exceptionality to implement a centralized government.

In my scrutiny it is not possible to come up with a union government. The issue of culture and communication can be a serious impediment to the formation of the union government. Africa houses Islamic states, there Christian nations and some who believe African Traditional Religion. Amalgamating people with diverse cultural and religious beliefs will be a solemn risk to the solidity of the United States of Africa. In such coregent conditions, I wonder whether it is really viable to forge any form of unity apart from conjectural African solidarity that has typified the activities of the African Union.

There are some countries which are tyrannical in nature and some are military regimes while others are hatchling democracies which would not want to be associated with totalitarianism and authoritarianism. Some countries in Africa have never experienced any form of democracy since the demise of colonial rule and these would prefer to continue with their undemocratic, militaristic and atavistic regimes. Such countries if incorporated in the unity arrangement they would certainly destabilize its value. In any case, who would want to bond with people who have no esteem for human rights and sanctity for human life? In Africa, respecting the sanctity for human life is a aphorism that has since been thrown into the dustbins of stupor.

I will use my beloved country Zimbabwe as an example. The southern African country almost brought down to its lowest ebb by a dilemma of economic comatose as a result of corruption and prowling by the ZANU PF led government. The country’s attempt to recover from the crisis is being halted by the big brother attitude of Robert Mugabe in the Unity Government. If such characters are included in the unity government it would not endure. With the waves of unity governments sweeping across Africa as a result of autocrats who refuse to relinquish power after losing an election. Ii all started with Kenya, then Zimbabwe, Madagascar and very soon Ivory Coast will join the list. Kenya set a bad precedent and this drivel has to stop! With such brand of leaders in Africa, proposing for a union government is a wild goose chase. It is an intricate task to merge the liberal democracy in South Africa with the autocracy in Guinea. It might be difficult to fuse relatively stable countries like Botswana and Namibia with the bedlam in Somalia, Uganda and Sudan. It would be complex for the Union Government to wholly blow the level of civil wars; the situation might merely be transferred to the United States of Africa, such that instead of talking about the civil war in Somalia we will talk about civil war in the eastern part of the United States of Africa. It would be intricate for the ordinary Ndebele people in Zimbabwe who stomach the brunt of the Gukurahundi genocide to be calmed by the new geographical spot.

The African Union and the highly fancied United Nations have botched to resolve conflicts in Africa. The founding fathers of the African Union keen to shield their newly found powers and privileges laded the continent with problems that will always militate against the Union Government. The organization’s reluctance to interfere in the internal affairs of the member states is at the root of much of the civil rivalry in Africa. The political and social instability in the horn of Africa provide the starkest example of how this ‘self serving’ clause in the African Union’s founding charter has been a curse to the continent. Somalia has provided scientist with the perfect data to theorize about a ‘modern government-less state’.

While conflicts are tearing the continent apart, yours truly is aggrieved by the fact that the African union wrings its hands in impotence and at times sublets liability to the United Nations. In fact the African Union behaves like a sweet mama pacifying its aberrant and delinquent children. The African Union has sat in the terraces while African leaders have made politics a lifetime profession. It is sat to note that the African Union do not sympathize with besieged, browbeaten and oppressed general populace of Africa but instead support dictators. The winds of unity governments which are sweeping across Africa for instance in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar and soon it will be Ivory Coast is a sad episode for Africa. A fellow comrade in the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe, Farai Nhende, has this to say about the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe, ““The GPA epitomizes a classic case of democracy being taken to the negotiation table. This pact is the very antithesis of everything that democracy represents and how easily the will of the people can be sacrificed in the name of political expediency”. The aim of the Unity governments is to make everyone a winner instead of having winner and losers. This is not consistent with the unity proposal. The African union should be disturbed by about millions of people who have been forced into a glide life as refugees and internally displaced people, dispossessed of their means of living, human self-respect and hope. Before we start talking about the United States Africa, there is a need to see an African Union that issue ultimatums, barn arms supplies and stamp its clout in the continent.

The wide spread corruption in Africa is a cause for concern. For example in Zimbabwe corruption mostly involves people in positions of public trust such as the police, government officials and high ranking politicians. The elite seek to gain and keep economic fortification at the expense of the general populace. The culture of non-accountability that parades sectors of the economies of most African states will always militate against any form of Unity. Robert I Rothberg, President of the World Peace Forum posits that, “… during the past three decades roughly ninety percent of the Sub-Saharan African leaders have behaved despotically, governed poorly, eliminated their people’s civic and human rights, initially and exacerbated existing civil conflicts, decelerated per-capita economic growth and proved corrupt…” it is therefore crocked thinking to argue that a United States of Africa can emerge when African leaders still have such demonic depiction.

Taking regional assimilation towards continental government as projected by Gaddafi would lead to a scantily negotiated marriage of convenience which would put the union government in a serious risk in the long term. Amalgamation developed economies such as those of Botswana and South Africa with some of the least developed countries in the world. Would Botswana, Namibia and South Africa feel that they have to soldier the financial burden of uniting just as West German did when it united with East German? It would be difficult to come up with a political system of such a government. The high-status post of the President of the United States of Africa will create solemn troubles for the Union Government. Would Robert Mugabe for example acquiesce to say Jacob Zuma and become a measly governor of a province? If we can have disputed presidential election in Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast how then would we accept results of a continental wide presidential ballot? For Africa to come up with the Union government, it must endow with leadership in search for answers to its tribulations. African leaders should comprehend that leadership is about serving to secure and uphold people’s welfare, their collective ethos and protect facets of their socio-cultural norms. It is imperative to underline that, Leaders in the mould of Sir Seretse Khama. René, Ramgoolam, and Nelson Mandela understood their rationale and devoted their vigor to achieve their cause. Africa’s disfigured examples miss the point.

Parting shot: if the United States of Africa is to be attained, the idea has to be shared by all stake holders; these comprise the governments, the private sector (s), the civil society, academia, among others. one the same note African leaders should desist from viewing leadership as a money spinning business venture – a rare opportunity to further one’s nest and bequeath material security to one’s offspring. This is gibberish comrades and will not take Africa anywhere!

A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION

2010 left a credence of history for me, it will dwell in the attics of my brains as does the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of my body… the year was a long stride, at times dreary, at times incredible, a blend of triumphant and failed combats. But I was been driven by resilience and assurance that God will always see me through intricate times. 2010 was a  year when I learnt to comprehend how it feels to be hurt – to feel hurt in its most violent wrenching forms… all I can say is that I met with adversity’s blast and got bowed to the ground by its fury… the 12 months were as hush as prejudiced jury. 2010 taught me a lesson that in life one makes mistakes, falls down but it’s the getting up that counts. Just like in base ball, you will get a few hits, but most likely you will strike out more than you will get on base. The solution lies in refusing to quit, in finding focus, in relaxing, taking a deep breath and giving it a good swing.  In such times my spur came from Philippians 4 verse 13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…” My assurance is that a new-year is unfolding, like a blossom, with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within…

As my own inferno went out, it was rekindled by sparks from several people and this prompted a deep setting cause to think with deep gratitude of those who set ablaze the inferno in me… I might not be able to mention all of you by name, but all I can say is that I am thankful to all of you.

My heartfelt appreciation goes to my family, an eccentric  looking band of characters trudging through life, at times inflicting pain and the solution to soothing it in the instant, loving, laughing, defending and trying to figure out the common trend that bound us all together.  It is a pleasure to thank my all time academic mentor and fellow Manchester United devotee, Mr. Rodgers Dumizulu Manungo whose encouragement and support from the beginning to the end of my first degree and enabled me to develop an understanding of the Human Rights and Peace-building field. I am proud to have been associated with the Child Advocacy Coalition where I had a great time working with a dedicated team to ensure the inclusion of children’s rights in the new constitution of Zimbabwe. The story would not suffice without mention of Harriet Nothabo Ndlovu, Nomaliso Ncube and Bianca Mlambo; I applaud them with delight for making my life easier during my stint at the coalition.

 I had the privilege of monitoring the flawed, elite led and elite manipulated constitution making process under the Matabeleland Civic Society Consortium where life was difficult, at times got susceptible to violence from ZANU PF holldrums who viewed the constitution making process as an arena for partisan struggle for political supremacy because they thought of it as a process of crafting new meta-rules for the political game, rules which will prescribe who has the power. I am grateful to Mziwandile “Thwalimbiza” Ndlovu, Precious Banda and Nothando Christabel Mpofu for heartening me to bear the brunt of the struggle for human rights and sanctity for human life in Zimbabwe. 

I owe my deepest gratitude to my love Nothando Cheryl Sibanda and her younger sister Sibusisiwe Charmaine Sibanda because even at a time when the whole world seemed busy with their own lives, having left me in a lonely trance, I was assured reassured and confident of their undying concern for me. I am also grateful to my friends Suku Ndlovu, Ndabezinhle Tidings Ntonga, Mayibonngwe Darlington Mpofu, Zandile Masuku, Bertha Moyo, Lwazi Hlalani Moyo, Xolani Sthapura Moyo, has been evenly supportive during the year.

My earnest appreciation also goes to Zenzele Ndebele (Radio Dialogue), Dumisani O. Nkomo (Habakkuk Trust), Delta Milayo Ndou (YESAF & Sunday News), Shamisai Esther Gomo and Samkeliso Simapa (CLS), Dumoluhle Mayisa (Bulawayo Agenda) and Precious Banda (NYDT) for the unfailing help and courtesy I received during the year. I am also obliged to all my friends on Face-book for making 2010 worth evoke, you deserve a prolonged applause!!!

Parting short; A fulsome new-year, a fond farewell to the old… to the things that are yet to come and to the reminiscence that you hold…

HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN... THIS TWADDLE MUST STOP!

This article explore the magnitude of some of the most  common and severe forms of violence against women, including murder, rape, sexual assault, physical assault, genital mutilation, and deprivation of fundamental freedoms. The article also outlines the possible way forward in the fight against this cataclysm.

Comrades, this is not an extract from an imaginary tale or one of those conjured fairy-tales that you used to read from the Parade a local magazine published during Zimbabwe’s heydays. This is untainted! One in every three… the austere figure sums up the predicament brazen out on women throughout the world. One in three girls walking home from Mawaba Primary School in Lobengula West, Bulawayo’s high density suburb, will suffer violence directed at her simply because she if female. Of the three women selling vegetables along Lobengula Street  in Bulawayo, will be attacked – most likely by the Municipal Police from the Bulawayo City Council or by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and have her stock impounded and runs for dear life, hurt so sternly that she can no longer provide for her family.

It is of overriding importance to underscore that violence against women has become much a pestilence as HIV/AIDS. Violence against women attacks right to bodily integrity, value, poise and self worth. Victims can be left feeling less than human with shattered pliability and confidence to work themselves out of poverty. As a panelist at one of the workshops in Bulawayo during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, I got a shocking disclosure from commercial sex workers that they get nabbed for loitering as early as 8pm by police officers who now know them by names, instead of taking then to the police station the officers take the women to lodges and demand sex as ransom for loitering. At times when nabbed the commercial sex workers would bribe the officers with cash ranging from $5 to $10.

Some commercial sex workers revealed that they know of their colleagues who have been trafficked and held for the purpose of sex and some were swindled by mere promises of huge amounts of money and acted in pornographic films and some who have been forced into other forms of involuntary servitude. When yours truly was scrutinizing the Thomas Jefferson Law Review of 2001 he leant that provision or obtaining a person for the purpose of a profitable sex act or any form of non consensual sex work is called ‘forced prostitution’ and constitutes violence against women, a violation against women’s right to self determination.  Great piece of legislation, isn’t? I am craving for such laws in my beloved Zimbabwe. Yours truly was also going through Journals of Gender and Laws by AD Jordan and picked the following statement, “we are living in a world in which commercial sex workers are poor women who have limited choices, their acts of selling sexual services to the rich, middle and working class men who have more economic opportunities and power must be viewed as a form of violence against women.” I know pretty well that the issue of commercial sex workers is a controversial, contentious and litigious issue especial in my beloved country, Zimbabwe, but we all have to recognize that they are human beings and need protection, especially those that are forced into this odd profession. Violence against them is a violation against human rights and symbolizes a trend of violence against women; I do not have a soft spot for them but I believe that, surely this claptrap has to stop!

It is of supreme significance to note that women are twice as endangered as activists and as women for their works and as well as their identity. They are attacked by the state and society, not only because they expose violence against women, but also because they expose patriarchal power structures, social and cultural conventions that suppress women, gender discrimination and facilitate gender violence. I have leant that violence against women in Africa remains one of the gravest and most common human rights abuses today. It is a sad realism that billions of dollars are being spent on fighting the war on terror but there is no political determination to fight sexual and political terror against women. I was young by then, if my memory serves me well, I was beginning my primary education in the 90s when I learnt of the universal indignation against racial apartheid in south Africa, but as my mind is engulfed by the reincarnation of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa I shudder to imagine why there is no universal outrage against gender apartheid in Africa today.  

Yours truly is obliged to academics and experts in this field who have made his task an easy stroll in the park by coming up with a number of definitions of violence against women, which I will use in this article. Haise (1991) posits that, “at its most, violence against women includes any acts of force or coercion that gravely jeopardize the life, body, psychological integrity and freedom of women.” The United Nations General Assembly defines violence against women as, “any act of gender based violence that is likely to result in physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts as coercion, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.” Conwell (1996) puts it this way, “… the term violence against women has been used to describe a wide range of acts including murder, rape, sexual assault, emotional abuse, battering, stalking, prostitution, genital mutilation, sexual harassment and pornography.” Watts (1994) is of the view that, “… violence against women include a host of harmful behaviors that are directed at women and girls because of their sex, including wife abuse, sexual assault, dowry related murder, marital rape, selective malnourishment of female children and forced prostitution”

My study of conflict in Africa has taught me that violence against women target specific groups with a victim’s gender as the primary motive. During conflict, in-flight and in refugee camps women and girls are exceedingly susceptible to sexual violence, sexual maltreatment and exploitation. As the community structures disintegrate and violence escalates, there are few measures in place to guarantee safety and security for women. In the war-torn parts of Africa, rape has widely been used as a weapon of war whenever armed conflicts arise; it is used as a weapon to terrorize and humiliate a particular community and to achieve a particular political end. In such situations, gender interests, with other parts of a woman’s identity, ethnicity and religion as well as social class and patriarchal attachment are the prime targets. The rape of a woman is translated into an assault upon the community through the accent placed on every culture on women’s sexual integrity. The ignominy of rape humiliates the family and those associated with the survivor. People who rape women especially in armed conflict overtly link their acts of sexual violence to the broader sexual degradation. It is imperative to note that in the upshot of such abuse the harm done to the individual is often compounded by the perceived hurt to the community.

I will use the example from my beloved country, Zimbabwe, the Gukurahundi epoch in the 1980s saw thousands of women individually and gang raped. Rape was sometimes followed by sexual mutilation, including mutilation of the virginal and pelvic area with bayonets, gun barrels, boiling water and at times acid. These crimes were frequently part of a pattern in which mostly Ndebele women were raped after they had witnessed torture and killing of their relatives and the destruction and looting of their homes. I was a toddler by then, my grandmother always tell me whenever we discuss the genocide, she was a teacher at Danangombe Primary school in Midlands, on that fateful afternoon, she said,  ‘the dogs of war’ arrived. They frog marched all the teachers whom they referred to as ‘enemies of the state’; to an assembly point where they were asked to lie on their stomachs… let me not continue with the story. I am told that in some areas ‘the dogs of war’ would pin women to the ground, tear off their clothes and rape them.

The genocide in the tiny city of the central African country of Rwanda was one of the most rigorous slaughter campaigns in human history. One million people were killed in 100 days which means that about 10 000 people were killed in a day and about 533 people were killed per hour. Women were slaughtered and held for personal sexual service, the militia would force women to submit sexually with threats that they would be killed if they refused to comply. The sexual violence during the genocide was perpetrated by members of the villainous Hutu militia known as Inter Rahamwe, by other civilians, soldiers of the Rwandan Armed Forces and the Presidential Guard.  This is a deplorable fashion in Africa’s war torn countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, the conflict in Darfur, and in Uganda where threats of violence against women remain very high particularly in the North where young girls and women have been abducted by the Lord Resistance Army rebels to serve as wives and slaves for combatants. Girls and women are taken into the bush where they are indoctrinated into the ways of Joseph Kony the Lord Resistance Army leader and self acclaimed prophet. As I was going through the Amnesty International Report of 2007 I noted with immense annoyance that in Uganda women were allocated from line ups, selected by commanders or given the chance to choose their men by picking up shirts from a pile on the ground. Joseph Kony, an ordained Seventh - day Adventist elder, once claimed that he drilled his soldiers not to kill people or rape women on Sabbath but when the Sabbath is over they have to continue with the struggle. God forbid!

Enough about armed conflict and violence against women lets me move to women as victims of gender. When I first heard about what my late grandfather referred to as ‘gender equality drivel’ I thought women were just overzealous, I am penitent about that. A fellow Comrade in the struggle democracy and good governance, let me call him Dlolo, at one workshop organized by Women’s coalition argued that, “if God wanted women to be empowered, he would have empowered then through creation, the fact that God had to remove my rib to form a woman means that we were never, never meant to be on the same level.”  I would like to applaud with delight, my sister and fellow comrade in the struggle, a wordsmith, Delta Milayo Ndou whose writings have stirred me to change my stance concerning the issue of gender equality and emancipation of women. In one of her writings she posits that, “… my premise has always been clear that women are people too and that human beings are born equal and that the genitalia they posses should not be a basis upon which discrimination can be tolerated in any given society.”  For the benefit of my fellow Comrade Dlolo and other people who also think that gender means women and that women were meant to play second fiddle to their male counterparts I will quote Kweba (2000) who argue that, gender refers to those characteristics that are socially defined. It is people who define certain characteristics as being masculine or feminine, identify certain activities as being appropriate for men or women in a specific society. Kweba further asserts that gender characteristics are based on social and political relationship and are anchored at home or in family relationships. I have leant that society’s top down structural organization have created inequalities across class and gender lines. Women are put on the lowest structure as they are denied most of their rights and fundamental freedoms. It is a sad veracity that  women are marginalized as they live with men at the top influencing the itinerary social order should take. Women are denied most if not all opportunities to augment their positions by the male attitude of ‘stay where you are’.  

Societies in Africa are often described and dominated by patriarchal models, practices and ideals. It is a fact that patriarchy and socio-economic changes have benefited men at the expense of women. Both customary law and some socio economic and political change have put women in disadvantageous and subordinate positions. Moreover the possibility for girls and women change discriminatory patriarchal laws remains limited because their participation in active politics low.  I had the privilege of observing the COPAC led constitution making process in Zimbabwe in 2010 and at one outreach meeting in Insiza district, a stronghold of ZANU PF, to my utmost disbelief, only one woman contributed, and as a way of silencing women the Chief’s Aide sat in the middle of women. In Mberengwa West Constituency (Midlands) at Vubwe Secondary School a woman was told to sit down when she attempted to contribute at an outreach meeting, the headman said, “akhula mfazi okhuluma amadoda ekhona!” Meaning there is no woman who can contribute at dialogue in the presence of men. There were a number of talking points which requisite the participation of women, for example, there was a talking point which read “Do you think there should be reserved seats for women?” few or no women contributed much in such areas. This is a sad embodiment of the belief that men are the mouthpiece of women.

A fellow comrade attended a seminar on ‘The Portrayal of Women in mass Media Language’ and learnt that most of the obnoxious terms have a female sloping in which parts of women’s anatomies are mentioned overtly. In Zimbabwe for example, the abusive language is used by certain facets of the society like vendors and street kids. Recently I was walking with a colleague along Basch Street (Egodini) in Bulawayo; she was wearing a mini skirt. Men started whistling in our direction; suddenly it was a big group mainly of vendors and omnibus operators. They began advancing to the lady who was later stripped naked in full view of the public, thanks to one of the vendor who offered her cloth for the lady to cover herself.  Such incidents have increasingly become a common aspect of South Africa were women are abused by taxi drives for wearing miniskirts. Such practices have caused a lot of affliction and degradation to women who experience it, because few women have the courage to fight back.

Yes I have seen it happening in my country, women who are employed as farm workers are habitually denied wages which would ensure then a decent living and are vulnerable to other human rights abuses. The ZANU PF party has permitted discriminatory distribution of maize seeds in both rural and urban areas areas as part of its stratagem to retain its political support base since the emergence of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Over the past years, Zimbabwe African National Union, Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) politicians have used maize sold through the state-owned Grain Marketing Board (GMB) as a tool to silence alleged opponents. In order to buy maize and maize seeds from the GMB, needy households particularly in rural areas are registered at the local level. The registration process is conducted by councilors who are, in the majority of cases, members of ZANU-PF. These councilors exclude names of perceived and known MDC supporters, reportedly stating that the "government should not be feeding its enemies." Women human rights defenders have been labeled MDC supporters and are also discriminated against in the sale of GMB maize.

Women are also arrested during peaceful demonstrations and detained some with children while some will be pregnant. These women are not allowed to change the nappies or freely breast feed their children and some are exposed to worst conditions like overcrowded, filthy cells and very cold conditions for a period ranging from a couple of hours to days before being taken to court or are released. Some women would have left their children at home who need to be breastfed.
When I was making a cursory perusal through the Convention on the Rights of the Child I learnt that it requires that: "In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration."  Yes I took it as it is. My contemplation was also captured by the following statement, “… for the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of his or her parents." (Article 3) I risk ending up quoting the entire convention, but this one is fundamental, “… states have to ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child." (Article 9). Brilliant piece of legislation isn’t? But how many countries have ratified and domesticated these laws? Very few, I wobble to imagine why!

conceding that women most of the time have major responsibilities for children, the United Nation Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, for that reason recommended that states should "ensure that the woman offender is treated fairly and equally during arrest, trial, sentence and imprisonment, particular attention being paid to the special problems which women offenders encounter, such as pregnancy and child care". (Article 47) the United Nations Human Rights Committee has also noted that Pregnant women who are deprived of their liberty should receive humane treatment and respect for their intrinsic dignity at all times and in particular during the birth and while caring for their newborn children." Perpetrators of violence against women violate this international laws and nothing is done to ensure that impunity for violence against women is abridged.

It is also imperative to note that, women are also targeted by traffickers and recruited into sex work for example dancing in strip clubs, performing in pornographic films and other forms of spontaneous servitude. Women are recruited by traffickers through the use of coercion, trickery and bondage.

 I have been mull over what can be done to ensure that this blight of sadism is exterminated.

The United Nations Secretary General admitted that violence against women have reached horrifying and pandemic proportions especially in societies attempting to recover from conflict. The Secretary General then launched a campaign to end violence against women in armed conflicts and political violence. in one of his speeches Mr Ban-ki- Moon posits that, “… clearly we all have to do more to prevent human rights violations against women and girls in situations of armed conflicts, do more to punish the perpetrators and end impunity for war crime violations.

I have heard of and seen people in positions of public trust getting away with cases of violence against   women my country, Zimbabwe.  I think that as a nation and as a continent and perhaps the world over we need to bear in mind that whether the perpetrator is a member of a political party, or a prominent businessman, a community leader, whether the violence is officially endorsed by the powers that be or condoned by culture and custom, the state cannot duck its responsibility to protect women and girls. it is of supreme importance for nations to note that, It is  the responsibility of the state to safeguard women’s freedom of choice, not restrict it. Governments and religious leaders have a duty to create a safe milieu in which women can live without the threat of violence or duress.

With my partial familiarity with the responsibilities of governments I noted that, states have an compulsion to hold the perpetrators liable and provide justice and remedies to the victims. The failure to meet these obligations is deplorable. When the state fails to hold the perpetrators and society accountable or deliberately condones violence against women, impunity will encourage further abuses and also gives the message that violence against women is tolerable and normal. The result is the refutation of justice to the individual victims or survivors as well as the reinforcements of the prevailing gender inequality. Every African has a duty to bear and prolong a political and social environment where cruelty and prejudice against women is not tolerated, where friends, family members, neighbors, men and women arbitrate to prevent perpetrators to go unpunished.

We have to admit although not so dogmatically that culture has done a substantial scale of harm to women, patriarchal influence militate against women especially those in rural areas. There is therefore a need to reject specific legal, cultural or religious practices by which women are systematically discriminated against, excluded from political participation and public life, segregated in their daily lives, raped in armed conflicts, beaten in their homes. Women are shorn of equal divorce and inheritance rights, forced to marry, assaulted for not being in compliance with gender norms and sold into slavery or forced labour.

It is regrettable that in some facets of the Africa society there are people who  view culture as permanent, what one can refer to as an irreducible heart of race, that if ‘tainted’ will robotically imply Africa’s demise.  These people have to accept that the word view from which their ‘so called’ culture sprang is transient, so what holds their culture from adjustment? Comrades, let me be precise, I strongly believe that is a need to dismantle cultural norms which argues that there are no universal human rights and the rights are culture specific and culturally determined because these are still a redoubtable and mordant challenge to women’s rights to equality and dignity in all facets of their lives.

There is also a need to fight against the de-humanization and marginalization of women, to promote equal rights and human dignity. All Africans should unite in solidarity to end traditions and laws that harm women. It is a fight for freedom to be fully and wholly human and equal without excuse or acquiescence. 

Some of the laws that we have particularly in Africa trample of the fundamental freedoms of women and children. Hence modern laws should be enforced to shield women from negative or demeaning cultural practices.

I have realized especially in my region, Southern Africa and in my country, Zimbabwe that women are not adequately represented in prominent positions in the government. In Zimbabwe the Inclusive Government (which is not inclusive after all), women are not adequately represented the same can be said about her neighbors Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Leotho. As a result, Africans in particular and the world in general should execute policies that spell out what percentages of women should be in decision making positions in the public and private sectors. There are few Africa countries that have done well in this regard for example, South Africa, Uganda and Rwanda where a sizeable number of women are in the Houses of Assembly and government offices. Other African countries still have a long way to go. I like familiarizing with the law, so when I was practicing this pastime of mine I came across Article 11.1 of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development which states that, “Member states shall put in place measures to ensure that women have equal representation and participation in key decision making in conflict resolution and peace-building processes by 2015…”  to authenticate my point I will extort Article 11.3 which reads, “ member states shall ensure women’s participation in post conflict peace-building processes particularly in security sector reform, demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration programmes as well as democratization and governance processes including constitutional reviews and electoral reforms.” SADC member states, which include my beloved Zimbabwe, are still miles away from implementing the protocol’s requirements.

Parting shot: violence against women, is an example of the quintessence of the beliefs that women are expected to adhere to narrow standards set by culture and are defined as the property of men. This is rubbish and it surely has to stop!

A DETONATION FROM HISTORY - 2010

WHAT THEY SAID IN 2010

“It is as clear as pikestaff that ZANU PF is creating the conditions for the total breakdown of the Inclusive Government. It is clear to us that ZANU PF is making a case for the establishment of irreconcilable differences among the parties leading to a total breakdown of this relationship… our message to ZANU PF is that we will not be baited by these nocturnal acts of self destruction. However we will not allow ourselves to be bullied by a coterie of men and women that have never put Zimbabwe first.”

Hon. Tendai Biti

(MDC (T) Secretary General and Minister of Finance in the Inclusive Government)

Is it not equally surprising that Morgan Tsvangirai’s arrests have earned him a confetti of awards and yet my Google search shows not a single award to Joshua Nkomo, it is therefore clear that whilst white capital now has issues with Mugabe, primarily over access to resources they now seek to facilitate a transition that fits within the same framework where power can only be handed to a Shona leader.”

Priscilla Misihairambwi – Mushonga

(Deputy Secretary General of the MDC M)

 “The GPA epitomizes a classic case of democracy being taken to the negotiation table. This pact is the very antithesis of everything that democracy represents and how easily the will of the people can be sacrificed in the name of political expediency”

Farai Nhende - A utopian based in Harare

“The process must not be abandoned although knowing quiet well that it is flawed and exclusive… we cannot avoid a constitution, we need a constitution.”

Hon. Lovemore Moyo

(Speaker of Parliament, sharing his views concerning the Constitution Making Process)

“The timing of the constitution outreach meetings was wrong. People are still hurting from the violence of 2008. It would have been better if there had been national healing and reconciliation first.”

Ms. Ntombizakhe Moyo

(Projects Officer - Zimbabwe Christian Alliance

“… A negotiated settlement would be better than the flawed output from the outreach despite the fact that so much time energy and resources have been channeled into the programmme…”

Bekithemba Nyathi - Bulawayo Provincial Youth Chairman MDC (T))

(Commenting on the constitution making process)

“Towards election time construction workers will be busy at the site. Maybe it is a way of buying votes from us because they know that we need a university in Matabeleland. We also needs graduates in this region, our children should learn at proper universities not makeshifts”

Sibonakaliso Mpala - Lupane Resident

 (Commenting about construction of Lupane State University)

“All projects in the country are nationalized, our universities and now our water project but the same is not happening in Mashonaland. Bindura, Chinhoyi and Masvingo Universities are named after the respective regions… why nationalize Matabeleland Projects?”

Patricia Tshabalal (Political Activist)

(Commenting about construction of Lupane State University)

“The statue was nameless; a statue should have a name so that generations to come can know whose statue it is. But contrary to that, Nkomo’s statue had no name.”

Pathisa Nyathi (Historian)

(Commenting about the statue of Dr. Joshua M. Nkomo, the Late Vice President of Zimbabwe)

 “Why were North Koreans used to create the statue while Zimbabweans are known to be good sculptors the world over?” Zimbabweans should be used to sculptor their fellow Zimbabweans' statues not foreigners.”

Professor Norma Kriger (University of Cape Town)

(Commenting about the statue of Dr. Joshua M. Nkomo, the Late Vice President of Zimbabwe)

“The MDC (T) has shown lack of capacity in the GNU. If they have not been swallowed by ZANU PF out rightly, then at least they have been circumscribed. The MDC (T) has lost the leverage that it had with the people and may soon be writing their obituary.”

Ibbo Mandaza

(A renowned Academic and Publisher)

“People don't know how the GNU is going to end, but free and fair elections will be the litmus test for whether Zimbabwe can go beyond stabilization and get through to proper reconstruction.”

Knox Chitiyo

(Head of the Africa Programme at Russi, UK,      commenting about progress in the GNU in Zimbabwe)

“From the point of view of women who have been raped, whose property has been taken away, whose houses have been burnt, they would say the GNU is a failure. They have not in any way had the crimes against them acknowledged. They have seen the perpetrators going free.”

Elinor Sisulu

(Human Rights Activist, South Africa. Commenting about progress in GNU in Zimbabwe)

“Having a number of people contesting for a position in the party is not destructive, but it is a way of strengthening the party as we go for the congress. It is not a crime for me as an eligible member to also say I will stand for the presidency of the party. There is nothing wrong about that…”

Paul Themba Nyathi

(Commenting about the reports of sharp differences between MDC -M leader Author Mutambara and Secretary, General Welshman Ncube)

“The whole trial was full of contradictions and inconsistencies which the magistrate could have picked to make a just decision. I am still at pains to find out whose interest she was trying to serve in view of the gaps and loopholes which were not plugged off in the trial…”

Shuah Mudiwa

(Mutare West MP, after his release from prison recently)

The GPA has no legitimacy, it has no constitutional being, you know these guys have no power to subpoena, they have no judiciary powers, they can’t even enforce anything, these are just three individuals who are going around with a so called mandate to instigate and instill a sense of national healing.”

Rejoice Ngwenya, commenting on Zimbabwe’s National Healing Programme