The peaceful transition of power in South Africa is not the top story here, after all many African countries have managed to pull off the Democratic agenda without plucking each others eyes out. For instance, Ghana is one such country, albeit stuck in one of the relatively unstable regions on the African continent. On Saturday night, thanks to CSPAN and CNN International, I listened to newly sworn-in South African President Jacob Zuma take the oath of office, in a very civil ceremony and Nelson Mandela looking on from a seemingly fragile seat. Of course, it would be presumptuous for any one to take Jacob Zuma’s promises to heart, but equally pessimistic to decry that as propaganda talk with no intent to carry out any item in his manifesto(I hadn’t heard that word in years). I was particularly impressed (and I am seldom impressed by politicians in general) by his respectful tribute to arch-rival Thabo Mbeki, the ANC, and the political factions that would rather see him dead than lead the country.
For the record, Jacob Zuma is not Nelson Mandela, and I am not referring to his self-proclaimed polygamist stance. He will not have the same international credibility and unconditional support that Mandela enjoyed, and that makes him ‘just another president’ in Africa, rather than the larger than life figure he would have hoped to elicit. The African agenda is a tough sell, and a ‘superstar’ leader would have gone a long way, at least to pitch the sale.
When you talk of South Africa, corruption and mismanagement are just two of the leading charges for the government, Mandela’s included. It is fair to ascertain then, that if South Africa is an accurate microcosm of the state of African politics, the continent as a whole has a long way to go. Of course, Africa have had its fair share of the bashing and ridicule amidst the famines in Chad and Ethiopia, civil wars In Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda, the Darfur crisis, Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe and even Somali Pirates. The list is obviously much longer, but you get the point.
Jacob Zuma takes office from a dignified and reconciliatory stance, and I know I am jumping the gun here, but I applaud anyone for avoiding the divisive remarks and in-your-face speeches.
I am not too sure what he meant by the “values” of the Mandela era, but it is somewhat refreshing to see an African politician somewhat genuinely acknowledging the work of his predecessor. Jacob Zuma is no Barack Obama. He is a star in South Africa, but I will easily mistake him for my Geico Insurance agent any day in Wal-Mart. He won’t have the luxury of a world cheering him on, and his images on every website or T-Shirt, but his task is no less important in reshaping South Africa and the African continent.
Who cares about South Africa politics? Well everyone should. Ask the Chinese, and they will tell you a thing or two about natural resources and oil oozing out of Africa. Darfur is still in the conversation, so are the many unstable regions that require endless supplies of foreign aid. The Africa Union is still unsure of its role, and the spotlight forever remains on people like Gaddafi, Mugabe and the status-quo that has kept Africa out of the globalization limelight. On the fuzzier side, next Summer, all of us will be heading to South Africa for the first ever World Cup on African soil. The point is, South African politics and progress is crucial to the African agenda in more ways that one.The last time I saw Jacob Zuma, he was singing his trademark anthem ‘Umshini Wam’ which translates into ‘Bring me my machine gun’ and we can only hope that his revolutionary days are behind him. I am one of the few social and political observers who assert that South Africa is still an accurate barometer to measuring African development.
If Jacob Zuma’s rise to presidency (with all his colorful background) is any indication of the progress on the continent, I have to give credit where credit is due. Sure, he is not the only one responsible for fixing Africa’s mess, but he is solely responsible for re-branding his portion of the continent, - from the South that is.
Optimism runs through my veins, just as blood run through yours, - and certainly hope that Jacob Zuma knows that one of the hallmarks of Nelson Mandela was “people first”, not stashing bank accounts, luxury yachts, and golden mansions.
Just my random thought.
