A NEWSLETTER ON DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA
USAID Bureau for Africa, Office of Sustainable Development Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 1996 Democratization in Africa: A Preliminary Assessment by Marion E. Doro
iscussions of tbe democratization process in Africa national consensus about the extent of those powers and Lend to focus on specific examples and are oversha liberties that enable groups to negotiate and make bargains Ddowed by the worst case scenarios sucb as Liberia, with one another, to resolve differences, and to arrive at an Somalia, and Burundi, or a ltcmatively by the relatively suc acceptable and equitable distribution of rewards. cessful cases of South Africa and Botswana, each or which These principles are manifested in a variety of fonns represents exceptional circumstances. Less attention is di such as presidential or parliamentary systems, and the pro rected at some recent trends that are not quantiftable but cesses that are t e driving forces of these institutions include deserve our attention as preIi mi nary indications of the reasons multiparty systems that reflect different interests, free elec Africans pUJ-suc the idea of democracy, and the variety of tions, free speech, and tlie ri ght to organize in support ofor in meanings they attach to its various mani feslalioos. Otherwise, opposition to the current government. we may misread some of the current political patterns of Since independence Africans have experienced hvo ma development in Africa and fail to realize that we may be jor shockwaves that ha\'e been felt across the continent. The "present at the creation" ofdemocrn cy on various parts of the fi rst set consisted of a series of military coups in the mid- continent. 1960s, followed by one-party systems and personalistic rt1le, As a first step we should review our own definition of exemplified by Jomo Kenyatta's "accountable democracy. For most Western political analysts democracy is authoritarianism" or re1>ressive regimes on the orderofMiI ton a condition based on a set of principles that Limit government Obote's two regimes in Uganda. During the 1970s and 1980s power and prolect indjvidual rights and liberties, which have most regimes were marked by human rights violations, cor- routinized, and refined over time. Jt requires a been tested, continued on page 5
Lessons Learned on Consolidating Democracy in Africa by Dana Ott emocracy has recently made historic advances in The conference, which was cosponsored by USAlD's Africa, yet many challenges remain that threaten its Africa Bureau and the Global Bureau's Center for Democ Dconsolidation. ldentifying how USATD in partnership racy and Governance, offered a unique opportunity for with Africans can effectively develop democracy and gover USAID practit>oners and U.S. academics and their counter nance (DG) programs that respond to these challenges was a parts from academia and non-goverrunental organizations focus of discussions at tlH!: recent USA! D con forence ''Con (NGOs) in Africa to assess progress in democratic gover solidating Democracy: Lessons We Are Leaming from Lhe nance since the inception of USAID's Democracy Initiative Results of USA.ID Democratic Governance Programs in Af in 1990. Given that more than 20 USAJD missions in Africa rica," held April 23-25, in Johannesburg, South Africa. now have programs focusing on some aspect of democracy and governance, the conference provided a forum for the exchange of knowledge and information about strategies and INSIDE THIS ISSUE programs for democratization in Africa, including lessons Radio is a Powerful Tool for Democratization ..... 3 learned about program planning and implementation. From the b:ginning of the conference, a lively discussion WILDAF Fosters Advocacy for Women's Rights 4 centered around the concept of "consol idati.ng democracy." Internet Resources ...... 6 Richard Joseph of the Massachusells Institute ofTechnology Conferences in Brief ...... 7 cautioned against overoptjmistic evaluations of the consoli Publications ...... 8 dation of democratic regimes in Africa, arguing that "trends continued on page 2 2 African Voices Summer 1996
Consolidating Democracy their historical origins," said Emmanuel described delays in licensing private continued from page 1 Gyimah-Boadi ofAmeric an University. radio starions and the Jack of critical While arguing that many positive de analysis of issues by the media as two in democratic transition in Africa must velopments have occurred in Africa, ongoing issues for the independent be understood in terms of tbe broader such as the return to constitutional rule press. Another media representative ar trends in Africa." E-le emphasLzed that in many countries, and completion <>f gued thaL Jaws dating from the colonial many of the democratic transitions that second-round election cycles, Gyimah period were being used direct!)' to stifle have occurred in Africa thus fa r are Boadi acknowledged the fragil ity <>f the independent media, in combination highly reversible, and that greater em such developments. He noted that while with the thl'eat of suspension of publi ,1 phasis should be placed on sustaining improvements in accountabi lity have cation or detention of the journalists, those transi tlotis to democracy through occurred, parliaments remain hampered while pressme was being placed indi fow· main strategies. by political and fi nancial domination rectly on 1hese publications through by regimes. Furlher, although a vibrant pressure on advertisers and organiza press has emerged in parts of A fri c.a, its tions that support the media. efforts are hampered by material and Ma rina Ottaway of Georgetown "'Efforts to promote professional lim itations, on the one Uni\'ersity argued that the democratic democracy must reflect hand, and by the use of an antipress transition process in Africa today may the understanding that legal regime on the other, including the be more constrained than at indepen use of intimidation. dence, as many of these societies have democratization is a Gyimah-Boadi emphasized several experienced decl ines in economic and revolutionary change in critical issues in the consolidation of social benefits since that time. She noted the power relations in a democracy in Africa: that the decline is particularly acute in civil society, which decreases the prob society* • The impact of the underlying eco ability ofsuccessf ul transformation and Marina Ottaway nomic crises in ma11y countries wh.ich have origins predating demo continued on page 6 cratic transformations- may influ ence the success of those transfo1ma African Voices is published • Identify the challenges in specific tions. countries, such as military opportun quarterly by the Africa Bureau ism, ethnic conflict, uneven alloca • The lack of consensus over a br<>ad Information Center, operated by outline of economic policy, which is the Academy for Educational tion of resources, etc., and focus on Development under contract to the those cha Il enges to try and provide further complicated in tbe context of U.S. Agency for International the system with "breathing space." elections and the consequent diffi Development IUSAID), and is part culty of selling economic reform to of the Research and Reference • ldentify the 1·esources that countries the public .. Services project of USAID' s Center have- political leaders, tradi tional for Development Information and institutions, economic opportunities • The persistence of patrimonial rule Evaluation. with high employment capacity-to de&pite economic and political liber alizati on. Editors: Patricia Mantey assist in consolidating democracy. John Engels • Level the pol itical playing field by Jn concett wit.b these observations, African Voices provides a forum challenging manipulative uses of po several representatives of Africa n me dia and NGOs offered tJ1cir insights on for dialogue on democratization in litical power, such as changing the Africa. The opinions expressed do rules of the political game to dis obstacles that remained to the consoli not necessarily reflect USAID qualify potential opponents. dation of democracy in Africa. Some policies. Comments, letters, spoke ofthe li ngering insecurities in the articles, and announcements are • Recognize the danger of democracy relationship between elected govern welcome. Send them to: as a con.eept becoming devalued by ments and NG Os. For example, a repre The Editors, Africen Voices "show democracies" that many A fri sentative from an African NGO said can counb·ies are now constructing; Africa Bureau Information Center that conducting civic edt1cation pro USAID, SA· 18, Room 203-J there is a great risk tbat Africans will grams often provokes a backlash from Washington, D.C. 20523-1820 come to view democracy as a nega the government, which feels threatened Telephone: 703-312-7191 tive development iJ these countries by such activities. Fax: 703-312-7199 do not become true democracies. USA Tn many transition countries, barri Internet: [email protected] "Many of tlie obstacles to t:he con ers still remain to the provision ofalter solidation of democracy in Africa may native sources of information for citi RU'.'~" Smia:~ not be amenable to easy so lutions, given zens. An African media representative African Voices Summsr 1996 3
Radio is Becoming a Powerful Tool for Democratization By Zoey Breslar
1rough radio even the most re mote ropulations can learn about their legal and political rights, keep current on political processes, fi nd out about election procedures and can didaLes, and participate in discussions about their government. As a result of the changing democratic climate in Af rica in the 1990s, more governments are passing legisla1ion to allow for more independent management of radio sta tions, increasing not only the potential for freedom of infonnation and expres sion, but al so the opportunities for us ing radio as an instrument to promote democratic values. USAlD, along with many other in ternational donor agencies, has found radio to be an effective development Repairing radios in Mozambique tool in promoting their objectives in hea Ith, agriculture, education, and more Broadcast Corporation to sponsor Cfjn USALD is not the only U.S. gov recently, democracy. Radio has proven didate debates on the radio for the May ernment agency working with radio. lo be one of the best ways to reach a 1994 parliamentary elections, prov:d The U.S. Jn formation Agency has been broad ra nge of the African population. ing a useful forum for voters to learn promoting democracy in Africa for Although there is an active and open a bout the issues and make more .n many years through i ts Voice of press in many Afr ican countries, low formed choices. NO i was involved in America broadcasts and its work with literacy rates and lack of infrastructure similar media activities in Mozambique joumalis1s and radio mangers. Recently, limit effecti\'e use and distribution of during the 1994 elections, which in USIA provided a media expc1t to con printed media in many areas. Radio, cluded a civic/voter education campaign duct seminars in Mali for all journalists however, allows for tlie transmittal of on nationwide radio to create awa::e to assure equal access Lo the media for information in a variety of languages, ness of the importance of the national candidates in this year's municipal elec and its content can be tailored to the elcccioos and motivate the public to tions. And in Uganda, USIA has worked targeted population. Moreover, radios exercise their right to vote. with USAJD to develop local radio are common household items through Radio plays and soap operas have spots to explain 1hecountry's new con out Africa, and the invention of the become a popular way to apply derr.o stitution to the public. crank rad io, which elim inates the need cratic princi pies to real-I ife scenarios, Using a sector approach simjlar to for batteries, should further increase making messages more effectjve in that of USIA, the European Community their prevalence. · the context o f rural and family life. Jn and Canada have provided communjca A number of USAID Missions in Mozambique, for example, the Inter tions hardware and funded schools of Africa are integrating radio activities national Organization for Yligration's journalism. At a meeting in December into their democracy programmhlg. Jn program Lo support demobilized sol 1995, Western donors discussed tbe im Mali, where there are 56 radio stations diers, which is co-funded by USA ID, portance of radio as a development tool, on the air, one oftbe Mission's strategic is using radio to broadcast civic edu and as a result, will be funding radio for objectives includes the use of commu cation programs as part of its effort to development programming and targeting nity radio as part of its strategy to im reintegrate soldiers back into society. specific sectors. The Canadians, for ex prove the dissemination and use of in A series of mini-novellas have been ample, are targeting assistance to rural formation to enhance social, economic, developed for radio to educate the radio stations and conducting training for and democratic development. In general public about the daily ob journalism school graduates in Africa on Malawi, USA ID fun ded the National stacles, difficulties, and successes democratic themes in the media. for International faced by demobilized soldiers as they Democratic Insti tute continued on page 4 Affairs (NOi) to work with the Malawi adapt to civilian life. 4 African Voices Summer 1996
I Organizations
WiLDAF Fosters Advocacy for Women's Rights
ince 1990, WiLDAF, \Vomenin designing simple education materiaJs, manuals for both lawyers and legal rights lhe Law in Democracy and and assisting with lobbying, mobili advo::.acy groups, and posters and pam S /\ frica, bas provided training and zation, and networking strategies; phlets giving information on women's assista11ce for lega 1lileracy, law reform rights and development, as well as a • exchanging and coordinating activi quarterly newslet1er WiLDAF News. in itiatives, and human rights monitor Ln g, ties with African and other interna n on human For addilio11al i11formation. con and facilitated regional actlo tional human and women's rights net righls and women's ri ghts issues. tact: WiLDAF, P.O Box 4622, Harare, works and groups. WiLDAF is an African network based z ;mbabwe: fe/ephone: 263-4-751105, in Harare, Zimbabwe, with more than WiLDA F trains member organiza fox:262-4-733670, email: WilDA F 150 member organizations and 300 tions work ing at the local and national @Ma11go.z111. individual members throughout Africa. levels on how Lo reform laws affecting "The notion of women working women and how to ensure greater com collaboratively around tbe world is fairly munity participation in thei r legal re Radio and Democracy new," said Florence Butegwa, the out fo1m eITorts. Members learn law re going prcsidenLofWiLDAF. "U is only form strategies, advocacy skills, how to con tinued from page 3 since the mid-1980s that women's rights build an effective constituency, and how as human rights has emerged as an is to clearly communicate the need fo r The power ofradio to spread infor sue." She emphasized, however, Lhat changes in laws. Emphasis is placed oo mation can also result in negative out women's rights should not be viewed as "demistifying the law" and teaching comes. The negaci ve power of radio in a special interest issue, but rather should women how to use existing laws to pro Africa was demonstrated by the role of be considered as a part or all human tect their rights as well as how to im "hate radio" in fomenting genocide in rights issues. prove existing laws. Rwanda. rn response, Voice of America "What brings us all together," said "The initial foc us," said Butegwa, initialed Kirundi and Kinyarwanda lan Butcgwa, "is Lhat women's rights are "was for women to view rights as reac guage broadcasts as an antidote to in key, whatever we work on." tive and ask for recourse, but il is more fl am matory ethnic hatred on the air WiLDAF's network is dedicated important to improve the law and to waves. To deter the negative use of to promoting and strengthening strate create a better awareness of rights." radio in Angola, USIA and USAID have gies th at link law and development and worked closely to train broadcast jour . ' improve the status of women in Africa. naljsts to use radio for positive political foanna Foster, WiLDAF's new presi means such as conflict resolution. In dent, emphasized the importance or re Burundi, the U.S. organizatfon Scarc:h spect for· human rights and its impact on for Common Ground has received sup all aspects of development. "Develop po11 from USAlD to produce radio pro ment without human rights," she said, grams to counter the divisive effect of "is not sustain able." hate radio, in an effo11 to reduce polar Wi LDA P's overall goal is to pro ization and promote dialogue and rec mote the effective use of legal strate onciliation between factions. gies by women in Africa for oational, Rad io wi ll remain an essential community, and se lf-developmenL means of communication in Africa for Their objectives include: An Emergency Response System the foreseeable future, whether fo r de has been established to use in the case velopment information, news, educa • faci litating communication among of a serious abuse or threatened viola tion, or entertainment purposes. Even network member to enable them to tion ofwomen's rights. WiLDAP's net with the onset ofnew technologies such 's experiences; learn from one anolher work of organizations and individuals as fu ll Internet connecti vity, rad io wil l • strengthening legal rights programs ca n quickly organize a campaign to continue to be a crucial part of donor for women at the local, regional, and spread awareness of an abuse and send communication and democracy strate national levels; a message call ing for solidarity or to gies throughout the continent protest an action. Zoey Breslar is a research associ • providing assistance and training to WiLDAf produces a variety ofle ate 1vilh USA ID 's Research and Refer groups for the development and im ence Services Pl'oject. provement of legal liter-Jcy programs, gal rights education materials including African Voices Summer 1996 5
Prerminary Assessment serve to enlighten and infom1 the elec tion, and serving as neutral umpires continued from page 1 torate. during elections. However, they are of Possibly of greater importance for ten criticized for not being on hand ruption, economic decline, and external the evolution of the democratization early enough to observe government intervention in financial affairs. The process, however, is the opposition 's tactics such as "poverty alleviation," second shockwave-the devastating ef reaction to defeat. If the elections con which opposition parlics regard as ma fect that followed these regimes-cre sist of several phases and the opposi nipulation, or for fai ling to understand ated patterns of discontent that served tion loses in the early stages of the the country·s politica l culture. as models of avoidance and rejection, process. the opposition sometimes re Another factm conb·ibuting to de which led to demands for natjonal con sorts to boycotts because it lacks confi mocratization is the decline of authori ferences in Francophone countries ini dence in the system, or fears defeat and tarian leaders, either through electoral tia lly, where the early coups occurred. loss of race. In such cases, the opposi defeat, as was the case in Malawi when Just as military leaders could ob tion loses or minimizes its opportunity Hastings Banda was replaced by Bakili serve and imitate their cohorts in otlicr to engage in legislative opposition as a Mulu:t.i and the United Democratic Afric~m states in the 1960s, so emerg means of holding tlic government ac front, or the death of C6tc d'lvoire's ing independent centers of power in countable, and risks marginalization or president, Felix lloupbouct-Boigny, in African civil society--students, church disappearing from the political scene, 1993, when Henri K. Bedie assumed groups, unions, women's organiza power but ultimately achieved the presi tions- learned from their counterparts deOC)' through the 1995 elections. in the early 1990s. Their search for Also of great importance to the remedies against arbitrary government It rs not clear whether future or democratization is the emer was characterized by demands for ac efforts to create good gence of a new generation of leaders countability and deeply felt rejection of governance through whose political memories begin with past political behavior. The common independence rather than amicolonial denominator that united them was a popular participation ism, and whose education better pre search for remedies agai11St arbitrary and structures of trans pares them to cope with the complex government. parency will lead to problems ofmodernity and technology. Recent trends in African political ln some cases these new leaders resent behavior are essentially efforts to cre democratic systems. the extent to which their elders have ate good govern.ance through popular personally profited from independence pa11icipatio11 and structures oftranspar and failed to meet nationalist promises ency. Whi le the specHic examples are thus reducing opponunhies for acruev to end ignorance, poverty, and disease. not necessarily indicative of policies ingaccountability and transparency. Ex However, when an aging or ailing lead that all African states will pursue, they amples of this reaction occun-ed in re~ ership is faced with a divided opposi are suggestive ofa political climate that cent elections in Tanzania, Ethiopia, tion, the entrenched party will maintain rejects Afropessimism and promotes Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Al the same its dom inancc, although its sLructure will reform. time, tbc opposition's acceptance of the be prone to atrophy unless it absorbs One of the most significant trends election outcome serves to legitimate the leaders of the next generation. is the demand for elections as the major the process. As the independent Tanza lt is not clear whether effortl; to instrument for selecting executives and nia Election Monitoring Commilleeoon create good governance through popu legislators in order to hold them ac cluded in its drafi report on the October lar participation and structures of trans countable. Political leaders believe that 1995 election: "Most political actors parency will lead to democratic sys elections legitimate their authority in have resigned themselves to the situa tems. Nevertheless, we arc present at ways that previous mi litary leaders, who tion, accepti ng the results as a fai l the creation of something new in Af usurped power, never attained. A key accompli .... thc results have been legiti dca. It remains to be seen if this is the factor in elections is tlle role of the mated by the absence of adversarial genesis ofdemocracy or simply another opposition and the extent to which it is militancy." cycle ofAfrican politics, when tbe sym free to campaign, and the nature of its The use of international election bol is taken for the reality and proce participation in the process. Freedom to monitors has helped African adminis dures of democracy are regarded as its campaign depends on factors such as a trations develop election procedures, substance. Much depends on whether free press, adequate funds and mobil but there has been widespread criticism past history is remedied or simply re ity, and public reactions to opposition and doubt that monitors can effectively jected. policies. Instances of government ha judge ·whether elections are free and One of the greatest hazards Afri rassmenl and obstruction, as in Ethio fair. They have served important func can leaders face as they move forward pia or Kenya, are matched by numerous tions such as training elections offi continued on page 8 instances of effective campaigns that cials, advising on methods of reglslra- 6 African Voices Summsr 1996
Consolidating Democracy complex process of democratic de Internet Resources continued from page 2 velopment, and adopt short- to me ,...... ,.- . . d ium -tc rm indicators that define consolidation. "Efforts to promote de "suooess" as movement in the right Democratization in Africa mocracy must reflect the understanding direction. South of the Sahara: that democralization is a revolutionary Professor John 1larbe son, fonnerly Bibliography change in the power relations in a soci USACO's DG advisor for Eastern and Contains a bibliography of re ety," said Ottaway, "and one lllat ofte;i Southern Africa, said that two areas in sources related to democratization in contradicts the interests of those in which USAlD has been particularly ef Africa and is organized by region and power." For this reason, she said, greater fective are supporting national elections country. The inforrnatlon is from Third attention should be given to supporting and constitutional development. He World Democralizatio1r: A ParJ/y An- "counlervaili11g forces" in the society emphasized that building on those suc 1101ated Bibliography ofRece111 Litera that al'e strong enough to oppose the cesses will require attention lo several lure, by Svend Erik Lindberg- Hasen, power of lhe slate to prevent a prema areas: Copenhagen: Centre for Developmem ture closing of the transition process. • The need Research. Specifically, large-scale civil society to broaden and deepen de centralization http://www.ids.ac.uk/eldis/ organiz.alions, or alliances o f smaller of power, incl uding more ggov/af ri. html organizations, can provide a counter civic education and more civil balance to the state's coercive power, society. Africa: Newspaper Services on as was the case in South Africa. • The need for greater linkages be the Internet. Conference participants identified tween sectors, such as democracy and Contains links lo Africa newspa many of the lessons that USAID has economics, to facilitate the process pers available on the Internet. Jcarued about supporti ng democracy and of state building. http://www.mediainfo.com/ governance llrog.rams in Africa, whkh • The need to make institutional ephome/npaper/nphtm/e include: papers/e-papers. africa. htm strengthening a p riority, including • A critical component of the resul1s political party and election systems. Election Notes of USJ\JO DG programs is the state Greater emphasis is also needed on Contains dai ly updates on election of political commitment in a particu the separation of party from govern· activity around the world, returns from lar country, especially among tbe ment. leaders of the institutions it is seek recent elections, maps, as well as links As the conference concluded, a con ing to reform. USAlD should develop to archived election results and other sensus emerged that progress is being strategies and programs based on political news and information. made in encouraging greater democra political assessments, and continue lo http://www.klipsan.com/ tization in Africa, but that multiple chal monitor political trends in thosecotu1- elecnews.htm lenges remain, including the fragility of tries. the current transitions, the effects of Parliamentary Elections Around • The development of countervailing economic strain on fledgling democra the World power centers, which are also will cies, and the need to recognize that the A collection of country fi les on ing to positively engage governments, dramatic transformations ofa few years parliamentary election results and par is crucial to the process of democratic ago have been replaced by incremental ties from all regions of the world, in consolidation. USAID should con· advances toward the consolidation of cluding international parliaments. sider the entire range ofgroups within democratic political regimes. The task http://www.universal.nllusers/ civil society, not only those in the DG for policymakers and practitioners is to derksen/election/home.html sector, as candidates for capacity- and suppor1 gradual changes as they occur, coalition-building assistance. wliile simultaneously guarding against Institute on Governance UOGl backsliding from dcmocratk progress The sjte was crea1ed to broaden • USAID should seek ways to increase the capacity of governments to bet in Africa. awareness ofthe Canadian-based IOG's Dana 011, is a research anafyst activities as weU as lo provide an op ter coordinate politicaJ and economic reforms, e.g. through increased trans with USA/D's Africa Bureau lnformo portunity foracademics, government of lion A sum 11101y report parency in the economic refoan pro Center. abo11f ficials, researchers, and politicians to the confe be cess and greater attention to the tim rence will available i11 the share knowledge related to governance. fall. For additional i11for111alion con http://innfoweb.magi.com/ ing of reforms and the institutional capacity to implement them. tact USAID, Center/or Democracy and -igvn/ Govema11ce, Room 5258 NS, Washing • USA IO should develop qualitative as ton, D.C. 20523. well as quantitative indicators of the African Voices Summer 1996 7
officially launched by the Honorable Group of Zambia, was the inauguration Conferences in Brief Amos Wako, attorney gene1-al of Kenya. of T AF's Women in Politics (GW[P) Copies c.ao be purchased through Ini project in Afri ca. GWIP is the center tiatives Limited, P.O. Box 69313, piece of USALD's Participation and Linking the Nairobi, Kenya. Legal Ri ghts Initiative, announced at the FoLJrth World Conference on Environment and Women held in Beijing, China, in Sep Global Women in tember 1995. USAID's Global Bureau's Good Governance Center for Democracy and Govc111ance Politics Program is implementing the political participa 1e Nairobi-based African Cen tion side of th is initiative lo incl' ease the tre for Technology Studies, with Launched in Africa role of women in the political process. T:support from USAID' s Regional During the workshop, a conceptual East Africa Office and the Biodiversity e opportu11ity to share political framework was presented for the pro Support Program, hosted an interna xperiences and ideas and de cess of integrating ;,.vomen and women· s tional conference on Environmental velop network$ brought to get her concerns into the political process, Governance in Africa, March 25-26, in 26 women leaders in Lusaka, Zambia, which i11cluded four elements: aware Nairobi, Kenya. The conference brought May 12-18, forn regiona I workshop on ness raisfog, advocacy, electoral poli together more than 40 researchers and women in politics. The participants, who tics, and leadership development. Lead environmental activists from southem were from l 6 African and three Asian ership development was defined as in and eastern African countries. and Latia American countries, shared volving not only identifying women can Conference speakers addressed a expe1iences imd strategies about increas didates for office and helping them rnn variety of topics, including: Constitu ing women's pa1t icipalion as voters, ad winning campaigns, but also providing tional Change and Environmental Man vocates, and political leaders. They also support services for women once agement in Kenya; the State, Civil So received training in using e-mail and elecled, including strategic and legisla ciety, and Naturnl Resources Conflict Lnternet technology to facilitate net tive skills training. Management: Experiences from Ethio working, research, and informallon shar All participants left the conference pia; LocaJ Governance Institutions and ing so they could continue the work with draft national and regional action Biodiversit)' Management in Malawi; begun at the workshop after returning plans and a commitment to use their the Campfire Program in Zimbabwe: home. newly acquired Internet abilities co Institutional lrutovation and I mpli ca The workshop, which was Jteld by maintain personal tics, share resources, tions for Environmental Governance; The Asia Foundation (TAF), in con and develop new programs in their coun and Land Tenure, Gender, and Envi junction with the African American In tries based on the strategies, models, ronm ent: Issues in ConstituLional Rc stitute and che National Women's Lobby and ideas presented at the workshop. fonn in South Africa. Parlicipants were in general agree ment that more needs to be done by African govemmcnts to support and help strengLhen comm unity-based natural resource management, and that there should be less reliance on state-centric command and control approaches. Par ticipants alw considered it a pos.i live development that more and more Afri can constitutions include sec lions in sup porl of the environment and sustainable development The conference also provided a venue for the launchi.ng of the book Jn Land We Trust: Environmer1/, Private Pl'Operly and Conslilurioual Change, a compilation of essays addressing vari ous aspects of law and the role of cus tomary and state-sanctioned property rights in promoting sustainable resource management in Kenya. The book was Zambia workshop paracipants leal'11 Internet skills 8 African VoicBs Summer 1996
Preliminary Assessment ~- From Human Wrongs t o Human continued from page 5 • Publications on Rights - part rv : The First All-Afri Democratization can Human Rights Moot Court in the democrarizalion process is that Competition, Pretoria, South Africa, they will recreate the "great expecta July 1995. Available from the Centre tions" syndrome that their founders fos Who Rul es the Airwaves? Broad for Human Rights, Faculty ofLaw, Uni tered in the post-independence era. In casting in Africa, Article 19/Tndex on versity of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South view of the current internal as well as Censorship, 1995. Available from Ar Africa. (The next Moot Court competi external economic conditions it is rea ticle 19, Lancaster House. 33 Islington tion will be held in Morocco, Septem sonable to question whether those ex lligh Street, London NI 9LH, United ber 28-0ctober 2, 1996. Conlact the pectations can be met. ll is easy to argue Kingdom. ($15.00) Centre for Human Rights for informa that Afiiean states must be responsible tion.) for themselves, but modernity and tech Guidelines for Election Broadcast nology move events with such speed ing in Transitional Democracies, Governance, Democracy, and Co n that African states are deprived of the by Sandra Coliver and Patrick Mcrloe, ditionality: What Role for NGOs?, historical and evolutionary opportuni 1994. Also available from Article 19. edited by Andrew Clayton, 1994. Avail ties that enabled Western political sys ($15.00) able from Pact Publications 777 UN tems to routinize and refine democratic Plaza, New York, New York 10017. procedures. But this is something inter Ethics and Accountability in Afri· ($ L2 .00} nal ional donors can help remedy b"y can Public Services, edited by Dele supporting education, health. and other Olowu and S. Rasheed, 1995. Avail Economic Reform Today, quarterly tools that promote socioeconomic de able from Hogarth Representation, journal or the Center for International velopment and contribute to political Burchington Road, London N8 8HS, Private Enterprise, 1615 11 Street NW, stability. If we are present at the cre United Kingdom. (£10.50) Washi ngton, DC 20062-2000, or at ation of democracy, perhaps the ques
African Voices Africa Bureau Information Center USAJD, SA-18, Room 203-J Washington, D.C. 20523-1820 USA