Folks, Here's an article I found at <<www.africanews.org>> that really hits home. It is good to know that fellow Africans are stepping up to make their leaders accountable for their deeds. It is about time the common people realize the powers vested in them by their various constitutions and how they can engage those powers to improve responsibility in the leadership. Enjoy. ====================================================================== Africa's leaders cheat public - citizens meet The Monitor (Kampala) July 19, 2000 By Charlotte Kawesa In Arusha Kampala - Constitutional ammendments in Africa have largely sought to increase state power at the expense of public interest, a regional conference on Citizens, Communities and Constitutionalism in Arusha, Tanzania, has heard. Sharing their regions' experiences, delegates from western, southern, northern and eastern Africa yesterday decried the way African leaders have, over the years, ammended constitutions to render the judiciary and legislature useless. The conference, taking place at Arusha International Conference Centre, is organised by Kituo Cha Katiba (Kampala) in conjuction with the East African Community (EAC) and sponsored by the Ford Foundation. Dr. Nyangabyaki Bazara, executive director of the Centre for Basic Research in Kampala, who narated the East African experience, cited, anong others, structural adjustment programmes, dependence on foreign loans and grants, and globalisation, as factors blocking the realisation of constitutionalism in East Africa, as they push governments to pursue non-priority interests. Bazara also said activities of civil society in Uganda cannot have meaningful democratic opening because they are not linked to emancipatory politics in the form of political parties. Outspoken multipartyist and Gulu municipality MP, Nobert Mao, while contributing to the debate, criticised the Movement government in Uganda for stiffling political parties, while it operates as a party itself. Chituo Cha Katiba chairperson, Lady Justice Solomy Bbosa, said Monday that controvercial and archaic constitutional and legal provisions have hampered constitutional development in East Africa. "The politicians have shamelessly exploited these provisions to restrict and in some cases bar their opponents from effectively participating in the governance of their countries, including the right to mobilize citizens and communities for competing political views," Bbosa said. As a result, she added, intimidations, arrests, detention and death occur in all East African countries. Bbosa said parliament has been used to pass controversial laws without serious attempts to debate them or their repercussions on the population. EAC secretary general, Ambassador Francis Muthaura, while opened the conference, Monday. Renowned political scientist and professor at Columbia University, Mahmood Mamdani, traced Africa's dilemma to the political isntituions of colonial rule. He said remains of the colonial state in Africa that are collapsing. The three-day conference, which ends today (Wednesday), is aimed at developing the capacity of stakeholders to influence the active participation of citizens in democratic and good governance. It is also aimed at empowering citizens to hold governments accountable and responsive to their needs and the protection of their rights. Over 100 delegates from grassroots communities, activists, academia, parliaments, NGOs, the judiciary and human rights commissions are attending the conference. Kituo Cha Katiba is an independent pan-regional political organisation with a mission of promoting multi-inter disciplinaty communication, dialogue and action on constitutional making and democratic governance in the East African region, with headquarters in Kampala. ====================================================================== Abdoulie A. Jallow Toll-free number: 1-888-392-4832(Excite2) Personal extension for v/mail/fax: 291-368-1519 _______________________________________________________ Say Bye to Slow Internet! http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------