A NEW AFRICAN DEMOCRACY?

The recent elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe hold a valuable lesson. From the events that unfolded in the two elections, with massive vote rigging and state sponsored violence resulting in chaos and bloodshed, leading to mediated talks geared toward eventual power sharing, it seems a new 'African democratic interpretation' may be manifesting itself. For the last two decades Africans have lost their lives fighting for democratic change in the hope of creating fair political environments that undoubtedly have proven to be critical to successful and prosperous societies. What do these recent events mean for democracy in Africa as we know it?

WHAT WAY OUT OF POVERTY?

"If you are poor, you are not likely to live long,". These were comments made by Nelson Mandela at his village house in Eastern Cape province for a birthday interview. He went on to mention that "there are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty". This way of thinking has largely been manifested in the relationships between Africa and the West. African governments and private organizations routinely demand hand outs in the form of Aid and Debt Forgiveness, suggesting these are the most effective ways to alleviate poverty. Are resources finite? Can the end of extreme poverty only come with the end of extreme wealth?

WHAT DOES AFRICA OWE ZIMBABWE?

Robert Mugabe faces the prospect of even more pressure to dialogue with the opposition MDC today as the G8 environment ministers meeting gets under way in Kobe, Japan. Although not an environmental issue, the recent Zimbabwe election crisis has drawn Mugabe in to the meeting agenda. More recently, the AU summit meeting in Egypt concluded with no clear agreement on how to deal with Zimbabwe now and in the future. Assuming the G8 summit concludes in the same way that the AU meeting did, with no clear resolution, what other steps can Africa take to save Zimbabwe?