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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 11:51:10
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I have just been listening to a BBC program that attempts to expose the undemocratic nature of the Gambia's opposition leaders. For example, according to Femi Peters,the UDP has not conducted a congress where Lawyer Darboe's leadership of the party could be contested since 1997. That means Darboe has been in power just about as long as Jammeh... The same is true of Hamat Bah and Waa Juwara. Sidia Jatta of PDOIS, who has contested as his party's presidential candidate since its founding in the 1980s, has even stayed in power longer than Jammeh...
This phenomenon is perhaps widespread in Africa, but if we are seriously interested in:
1. Presidential term limits
2. True leadership that is derived from the consent and the mandate of the people,
then this situation must change...
What do you think? |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 12:13:20
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Terangba,
I wish you all the best and will look out for your research when completed. We need breaking the ice on such issues.
Kayjatta´s observation is very interesting, hence is a thin line between “tribalising” and “tribalism”, care needs be taken not to throw the baby with the birth water.
A good reading Georges Niangoran – Bouah worked assiduously toward Africanizing national education, academia, and public culture in Côte d'Ivoire. As part of this venture, his research projects, including his study of “drummology,” can be regarded as a quest for “chthonic” science, that is, an anthropology that uncovers and implements the deep tenets of African-Ivorian culture... |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
Edited by - Janko on 10 Sep 2009 12:27:29 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 14:14:26
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quote:
Originally posted by kayjatta
This phenomenon is perhaps widespread in Africa, but if we are seriously interested in:
1. Presidential term limits
2. True leadership that is derived from the consent and the mandate of the people,
then this situation must change...
What do you think?
These are some of the problems with the democratic process. Is changing the government more urgent than the need to correct discrepancies within our fragile democracy? Would changing the government automatically set all wrongs right?
If we do not reflect over these questions we would be treading the same old road to the same old town. How we find the new road to the new town lies in how we deal with the discrepancies. |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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Momodou
Denmark
11723 Posts |
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terangba
Egypt
225 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 19:27:50
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| Thanks Janko and Kay, I will read your recomended references |
God gave men dominion over the beasts and not over his fellow men unless they submit of their own free will. - Napoleon |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 19:53:15
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| Thanks Momodou for the direct link, uplifting that The Bantaba is on the right tract and in tune. |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 19:56:35
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| Great piece Terangba. Looking forward to the rest. |
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 20:06:03
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Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy
Kay,
I have been thinking about ways and means in which Gambians can break the cycle of strangulation that few have in our political process. It has been a circle in which few people take control of the political process; consolidate themselves in that process, and perpetuate a system of political monopolization in which only a few get elected to public office. They stay elected in these public offices repeatedly in every election cycle until an unforeseen circumstance dictate otherwise.
The above has been the political legacy of the Gambia, through successive periods of governance for over 45 years since gaining independence; and the country can claim to have only two elected presidents since the republic was founded. . A first republic that lasted for over 30 years; and a second republic that has just celebrated its 15 years in power. In order to break this cycle of power being concentrated in a few hands, a new approach should be envisioned. Power is relational; it should be exercised by those who govern and also by those who are being governed. It should be a mutual rsponsibility that should be shared by these two entities.
The objective of the above, "Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy", should be first and foremost to bring all stakeholders: the civic groups, the professional groups, the human rights groups and all other interest persuasion groups, to participate actively in the building and consolidation of a true democratic culture in the Gambia.
The primary goal of "The Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy" should be to foster understanding and cooperation between all the groups mentioned, both inside the country and outside of it, with a view to nurture a strong democratic dispensation and ingrain a strong desire for active participation in the civil and political discourses. The creation of such an entity should evolve an enduring and delicate balance between all the forces in our democracy.
To this end, "The Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy" should commit itself to do the following:
a) to hold periodic conventions around national issues of immense importance, to which all the groups mentioned above are invited; in these conventions a consensus should be forged around such national issues, and a resolution formulated that will guide a national approach to solving issues of conflict both in our politics and in our governance atmosphere.
b) to encourage people in the various groups mentioned above to participate fully in the political process, by seeking their nomination and supporting their candidacy to run for public office; ranging from council elections, parliamentary elections to presidential elections.
"The Citizens For Active Participation In Our Democracy" would endeavor to raise funds and contribute to the funding of the candidature of nominees to such elections.
The most significant aspect of the above goal is to bring parity in the political process; and remove the process from being distinctively a political party affair, and make it a more encompassing political phenomenon that embraces the best and the brightest in our society. This can also change the negative perceptions of politics in our culture, which dissuades a large segment of the society from participating, particularly the intellectual and educated class, thereby reducing the nature and essence of our politics to the much talked about politics of deception, sycophancy and patronage.
c) to encourage the setting up, and the consolidation of grassroots movements in all parts of the country as a response to issues of conflict, and of interest, that concerns people in their communities; in their villages and in their country. A deliberate effort should be made to link all the grassroots movements around a common objective and a common goal, and organize their collective endeavors towards a unified national agenda.
Much has been said about changing and transforming our society, but this can only be achieved if we create a vehicle for its realization, and facilitate the building of organizational structures and grassroots movements that would evoke a strong national response, and elicit a strong patriotic fervor to take our civil and political responsibilities very seriously. This is one way in which the negative effects of apathy, both social and political, in the democratic life of our society could be reversed.
Kay, the above are some of the thoughts that I have started to develop;and would like to share it for whatever it is worth. May be someone out there may find value in it.
Rene
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terangba
Egypt
225 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2009 : 21:30:49
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| This is very sound, it is a watershed from what we are used to in the cyber community. by the way what does Sankalanka mean? |
God gave men dominion over the beasts and not over his fellow men unless they submit of their own free will. - Napoleon |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
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Momodou
Denmark
11723 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2009 : 10:43:32
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No Kay, its just the audio interview I posted.  You can press on the play buton to listen to the BBC interview from Network Africa on Democracy within the Opposition. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2009 : 10:50:41
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| Okay, I got it Momodou. Thanks for that ... |
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| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
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