October 2011
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Vol 10 October 2011 2011 Liberian General Election CEO’s Corner: By Lindokuhle Khumalo Advancement of African and Justice Mkhabela Leadership Page 6 Dr Matlotleng Matlou—Chief Executive Office of the Africa South Africa’s Foreign Institute of South Africa Policy in the Zuma Gov- ernment: or the past five years the first tee. This is an African driven and funded By Tseliso Thipanyane week of October has been anx- initiative, using 23 data providers and F iously awaited by many Africans over 40 000 raw data items; giving it Page 7 and our global partners. For this is when greater acceptability across the conti- the Mo Ibrahim Index is released as well nent. The index presently covers 86 indi- as the announcement of the winner of cators (having started at 58 and fluctu- the Mo Ibrahim Prize (worth ated up to 88) across the four categories The Road to COP 17 US$5million) for the Advancement of of safety and rule of law, participation African Leadership (to a head of govern- and human rights, sustainable economic By Nomasonto Magano ment or state for outstanding achieve- opportunity, and human development, ments). For the years 2009 and 2010 these categories have 14 sub-categories. Page 9 there was no winner. In 2011 former Many observers argue that indexes can president Pedro Pires of Cape Verde was be wrong and do not tell the whole pic- declared the winner by the Prize Com- ture; indeed this is partially true. How- mittee made up of prominent Africans ever, they can be a useful tool and pe- Muammar Gaddafi and and others, chaired by Salim Salim for- rusing various regional or global indexes the Regime Change. mer prime minister of Tanzania, and sec- they almost always reflect rankings of retary general of the Organisation of countries and regions more or less accu- African Unity. rately; for example, those of the African By Otsile Malebaco In 2007 and 2008 the Kennedy School Development Bank, Transparency Inter- Page 12 of Government, Harvard University in national, United Nations World Eco- the USA, led the process of developing nomic Forum, World Bank, etc. The aver- the index, then handed over the project age for the continent being 50, with So- to a consortia of African academic and malia the lowest at 8 (it has been at war GIS Analyses: The non-governmental organisations since 1991), the highest regional average Potential of Renewable (CODESRIA, CDO Ghana, IREEP Benin and was Southern Africa at 58 and the lowest Resources in Africa including board members of the Mo Ibra- Central Africa at 39 (the most unstable him Foundation, amongst others) form- and conflict ridden region). ing the technical and advisory commit- By Mpho Mutavhatsindi Continues on page 3 Page 18 Editorial By Otsile Malebaco here are three ingredients in want to produce. Intelligence is what the good life: learning, earn- Africa has and the motivation is what ‘T ing and yearning’. The quote we are working on. by Christopher Morley sum-up Africa in In this issue, the build up to COP 17 October. written by Nomasonto Magano with We have seen, heard and read of three Books to be launched at the con- admirable governing lessons for nations ference on page 9. Looking back at the and the continent. Learning, earning seminars AISA hosted by Adv Tseliso and yearning can be used in achieving a Thipanyane page 7, Mmatshilo Motse In this issue goal successfully. Success refers to page and Dr Sylvester Maphosa. goals, missions or objectives achieved In addition, the views and analysis through hard work. Africans are yearn- of Africa, starting with the 2011 Libe- Celebrating Africa’s Hero- ing for peace and stability which we are rian General Election page 6, Muammar ines: Nobel Prize Laure- 4 working on through diplomacy and Gaddafi and the Regime Change page ates from Liberia individual contributions. Evidently two 12 and GIS Analyses: The Potential of African women that are contributing to Renewable Resources in Africa page 18. Book Launch – Coopera- this is the Liberian President Ellen John- tive Diplomacy, Regional son Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee, for Africans are on track to succeed! Stability and National 5 their activism for peace. Currently, Af- Interests: The Nile River rica is learning to practice good leader- and Riparian States. ship ethos. Looking at Libyan conflict, the Libyans are yearning for a country Forthcoming Publications with liberal democracy, it is unfortu- nate of the killings for the civilians. to be launched at COP17 10 Africa will definitely earn world ad- African She Elephant miration as a key role player as we are Leadership: Seminar 11 yearning and learning. ‘Life's Secret Formula for Achievement and Success’ From the Archives 14 is as follows: Yf+ Yt +Yd + Ya = YR. YR x t = Your Making peace in the Future+/. Your focus + Your decisions + midst of violence: local 17 Your time + Your actions =Your Results. Your Results x time = YOUR FUTURE +/-. peace-building in South It is important to know the result you Kivu Africa Elections Update – October 2011 20 Africa Institute of South Africa Vision: ‘An Indispensable African voice on African Affairs’ Page 2 Continues from page 1 mit this in November 2011, for consid- eration by Cabinet. Long term plans are Sudan is still treated as one country in useful to the extent that they outline spite of South Sudan attaining independ- strengths, weaknesses, opportunities ence on 9 July 2011. Hopefully next year and threats and therefore reveal visions it will be treated separately. The use of and intentions. However, plans cannot maps to illustrate the information in its implement themselves and this is where index makes the Mo Ibrahim Foundation South Africa’s greatest challenges lie. report easily readable and understand- Since 1994 there have been numerous able. The maps showing the various re- plans by developed government and sults are included in our newsletter. sometimes together with social partners In 2010 South Africa came fifth (after – business, civil society and labour – but Mauritius, Cape Verde, Botswana and the levels of implementation have been Seychelles) scoring 71,5 per cent. It re- variable and disappointing in relation to tained its position behind the same the nine challenges above and many countries as for the past four years, but more. went down to 0,5 per cent to 71 this Consequently, the warning infra of year (safety and rule of law drags it the NPC is chilling and hopefully should down), with Mauritius at 82. As men- rock many out of their complacency; tioned previously Mauritius, Cape Verde, many who believe and want this country Botswana and Seychelles lead the pack and they may be relatively small coun- to indeed fulfil its constitutional princi- tries in population size, but they also ples and immense potential must stand have exemplary governance and socio- up and be counted. It states that economic development terms. There are ‘Elements of these indicators are already many African countries with similar visible in South Africa, though their populations which continue to do poorly. strength and prevalence is uneven and Of course one can argue that the Mo differs from sector to sector. If they Ibrahim Index got it wrong in 2010, just like many other observers taken by sur- could become more prevalent the coun- prise by the Arab Spring, in relation to try’s progress could be stalled, its gains North Africa. It is interesting that this reversed and even foundational aspects region is significantly marked down in of democracy unravelled. If these threats 2011 on participation and human rights. are not tackled the probability of decline However, Tunisia and Egypt are numbers will increase.’ Many African countries 9 and 10 in spite of the upheavals they are growing at an average of 5-6 per have faced since December 2010. The Mo Ibrahim Index findings mirror cent annually, even if off low bases. those of the National Planning Commis- South Africa is hovering between 3 to 3,5 sion’s Diagnostic Review, issued in June per cent and there are predictions that 2011, which recognises nine major chal- Nigeria and Egypt will have overtaken it lenges as holding back South Africa’s by 2025. If little is done to drastically development and fuelling the vicious deal with the challenges outlined by the cycle of poverty and inequality. These are unemployment, poor educational NPC many other countries will speed outcomes, resource intense economy, past South Africa. Could the axing of non divided communities, crumbling infra- -performing and ‘corrupt’ ministers, sus- structure, inefficient public service, cor- pension of the police commissioner and ruption, spatial Apartheid and high dis- appointment of a judicial inquiry by ease burden. These findings are not new President Zuma this month, be a small and have been articulated in some cases light at the end of the tunnel or is this a before 1994 and consistently since then, by numerous local and international ex- band-aid? Time will tell! perts and institutions. The NPC’s man- date is to develop a plan for South Africa covering the period up to 2030 and sub- Page 3 Celebrating Africa’s Heroines: Nobel Prize Laureates from Liberia By Brenda Modisaotsile Ellen Johnston Sirleaf, Africa’s first suaded women to dress in all white in elected woman president started her demonstration of peace and ending n explaining the reasons behind position as a president in 2006, making war. One report mentions an incident in awarding two African women, women rights her priority. She sanc- particular where in the middle of inter- I namely Liberian president Ellen tioned an expansive rape law which was nationally sanctioned peace talks in Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee, a passed immediately after her win at the Ghana in 2003, Gbowee grew enraged peace activist from Liberia on the 7th of polls to protect sexual and gender- at the sight of warlords living in comfort October 2011, the Nobel Peace Prize, based violence.