Liberian Journalists still hounded

Police chief, Chris Massaquoi

By ralph geeplay

Liberian journalists today are still facing the heavy hand of the law from the Liberian government in an era when press freedom is a heavily touted word in post war Liberia. The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) recently was forced to decry the manner in which a journalist was battered without due process, and incarcerated while another was languishing in jail.

In a statement it released to the public to express its displeasure the union said Liberia’s Police Inspector General affected an order on “Friday, October 12, 2012 after the journalist allegedly took his photograph on the ground of the Temple of Justice on Capitol Hill.” The Temple of Justice housed the Liberian Supreme Court.

Madcap Malema goes to Zimbabwe

ralph geeplay

Julius Malema

                     
Julius Malema, the madcap South African politician who is always in the news was in Zimbabwe this week, preaching the pro poor rhetoric and racial politics that saw him ostracized from the ruling African National Congress this year. Malema was in Harare to attend the wedding of the Zanu-pf Youth League president. In Malema’s delegation was the ANC Secretary General Sindiso Magaqa who was also suspended recently. Malema has been mad with the ANC for quite a while since his expulsion, with the current nationwide strikes in the country providing an opportunity as unhappy South Africans see their living standards decline since the ANC come to power. Reports say, he is exploiting the situation to his advantage.

Glory Days

Bai Tamia Johnson Moore was born in Dimeh, Liberia in 1916. Moore is perhaps Liberia's best known writer of the 20th century. Moore experimented with various genre of of writing during his life time including folklore, poetry, essay, crime, and the novel. Commonly called Bai T. Moore across Liberia, he is best remembered for the novelette "Murder in the Cassava Patch (1968), which was followed by  The Money Doubler (1976) and the well received poetry book, Ebony Dust (1962), which was republished in 2001. He remains an inspiration to many Liberian writers even today. Moore was also a public servant at the time of his death in 1988, at the Liberia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Glory Days which appears below was published in 1976, in the Ebony Dust. 

Africa Somalia's effort deserves plaudit

AU troops in Somalia

By: ralph geeplay

The African Union recent military offensive in Somalia, if anything, which saw troops taking full control of the Somali port city of Kismayo must be praised. By capturing the most important iron grip of the al-Shabaab Islamist group, and virtually beating them on the battlefield in Somalia, African has put a feather in the cap. It is a significant achievement for a continent that is always looking for international mediation and foreign boots to solve its problems. It is now known that the group is on the back foot and no longer formidable as they once were because of the extra ordinary military cooperation between the AU and Somali troops. It is moments like these that should make all Africans proud. But thanks must also go to the United States for providing training and military support to the African led effort.

Can Zuma reform the African Union?

By: ralph geeplay

South Africa's delegation celebrates in Addis Ababa as D. Zuma is elected

Ten years after its creation, this year the African union (AU) took a bold step, and chose a woman to lead the continental body in what was a mile stone and a much contested electioneering process that saw South Africa Home Affairs Minister elected to the continental top post. Dlamini Zuma has her hands full: the African Union is not a governmental bureau, as her past experiences suggest, and the level of work that needs to be done on the continent as far leadership and vision are concern are huge. Again, vision and leadership has been lacking since 1963 when the fore runner, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which the AU replaced came into effect, but many believe Madame Dlamini Zuma has the credentials and the requisite attitude to make the AU relevant.

Why Johnson Sirleaf is Wrong

By: ralph geeplay

Peace Laureate President Sirleaf

Introduction: The Liberian Government is yet to act on the much heralded Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, often cited by international experts and meant to addressed the nation's reconciliation process. For reasons best known to the Unity Party led government, the report has been shelved and the chairman of the Commission have fled the country claiming threats to his life from the powers that be. Cllr. Verdier claims can not be taken lightly, Sirleaf own aide that once headed the procurement commission was gunned down in the country, and those who murdered him in cold blood are yet to be brought to justice. In June 2008, this writer raised issues with Sirleaf that her actions or inaction to ignore the commission were atypical to the political peace Liberia sought in the aftermath of war [most of the major actors including Sirleaf would later appear before the TRC].  But back then, her refusal to meet the TRC  almost left it on one leg, and today, the simmering effects of violence, discontent, and trauma from a war weary people is still evident in the Liberian society, with perpetrators and victims living side by side while warlords responsible for gruesome crimes are serving in her government, while Liberia's borders see armed gangs determined to profit from war. It is being re-posted with minor edits.

How China's Approach Beats the West's in Africa

Introduction: Stephan Richter in this piece puts forward compelling arguments you can hardly dispute. China's increasing involvement on the continent is analysed and Richter hit the right punches and delivered a well written article that is easy to read, yet brilliant.
                                                   
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent 10-day tour across Africa represented a strategic caving-in of sorts. In many of the places she visited, the Chinese had gotten there first. In fact, China is everywhere in Africa these days, both exploiting the continent's vast natural riches and pursuing infrastructure projects long promised but never quite delivered by the West.