This is Zimbabwe (http://zimpundit.blogspot.com/2006/03/arm-cache-political-faux-pas.html) comments on the latest conspiracy theory that the Harare government is “falling apart”. This time it is the release of one of the eight arrested on suspicion of plotting to kill Mugabe. “MDC's Brian James, a treasurer for the party's Manicaland structure was released yesterday, but gagged from spewing details about how porous the investigation still is.” The investigators are busy weaving more spin on the assassination plot:

“…alleging that the suspects planned to pour oil on the highway connecting Harare and Mutare shortly before Mugabe was to drive on the road on his way to his birthday celebration in the Eastern town. This would, the cops allege, cause the presidential motorcade to slip which would kill the president.”

Adefunke on Adefunke (http://adefunke.blogspot.com/2006/03/blogging-perhaps-in-my-mother-tong…) discovers a blog in Yoruba and writes on the exciting possibility of blogging in her mother tongue, Yoruba, and recalls her great excitement at finding Yoruba google:

“I remember the first time I used Yoruba Google, I saw the link in the bottom of an email I got from a friend and rushed right over in my browser. Of course I immediately IM’ed PC (my 'Partner' in 'Criminal') and we had a lengthy discussion about the site and its usefulness. Once the initial wow effect wore off, it became obvious that Yoruba Google for now would be a bit limited in the help it could render to anyone wishing to do more than search for common Yoruba words on the Internet.”

Jangbalajugbu – Homeland Stories - (http://www.edwardpopoola.com/blog/?p=60) comments on the two week closure of his university, Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife, in the middle of term exams. The closure was deemed necessary, supposedly to avert developing the unrest amongst students that had started as a result of one Muslim student breaking up the watching of pornographic videos in the student hall.

“Things degenerated from being an ordinary explanation into a big fight. The fight continued till early in the morning and the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Rogers Makanjuola had to intervene. He spent hours trying to settle the grudges. With the fear that the fight could escalate, the university authorities decided to close down the school…Students are to leave the University before 4pm on Sunday. Mobile policemen have already been positioned at the University gate to ensure that students comply with the instruction. By the time you read this, I should be out of the campus too. So sad.”

Agarthon Rwasi (http://agathonrwasa.blogspot.com/2006/03/tanzania-leads-pr-offensive-on…) a blog devoted to exposing the war crimes of Burundi’s FNL leader Agarthon Rwasi, comments on the Tanzanian government’s support of Rwasi in providing him with the platform to speak and promote his agenda.

“A few days ago Rwasa held a press conference in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Once again, no attempt was made by the Tanzanian authorities to arrest him over his involvement in the August 2004 Gatumba massacre, and the hundreds of other atrocities for which he is responsible. Once again, the FNL leader made hollow promises about a purported willingness to end the killings and seek the path of peace. And again, Reuters and other news agencies have failed to make any mention of the FNL's ongoing atrocities, presenting Rwasa simply as a political leader.”

Redeem Ethiopia (http://redeemethiopia.blogspot.com/2006/03/ethiopias-oil-curse.html) comments on the commencement of oil exploration in Ethiopia, warning of the developing “marriage of convenience developing between the present illegitimate Ethiopian government and Asian oil interests”. He makes comparisons between this discovery, the discovery and curse oil has brought to Nigeria and the situation in the Sudan where the power of oil is located in a few elite unscrupulous leaders.

“The Ethiopian government is still a few years away from raking in oil revenues to the extent where it can decline international financial support thus neutralizing the efforts of the democracy oriented Ethiopian Diaspora and other concerned governments that are urging it to stop the bloodshed and leave power.”

“The comparison with Sudan is not being made in vain. Bashir and Meles’ close friendship is a long sighted partnership in pursuit of a common goal – namely the extortion of national wealth for the benefit of a few with the protection of global powers that find this arrangement only too convenient from the perspective of controlling these weak governments. China’s protection of Bashir’s government in the UN Security Council as well as in various other international political mediums is being carried out in the interest of fueling China’s tremendous economic growth but has left the majority of Sudanese punished beyond reprieve.”

Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2006/03/193_immigrants_.html) reports on the recent deaths of West African migrants hoping to reach Europe via the Canaries. Some 48 men died just off the coast of Mauritania which has now become the new staging port for migrants as Morocco closes off it’s borders. The numbers of migrants reaching Spain has gone up by a staggering 200% in the past 12 months despite the risk of death and the unknown. According to Spanish newspaper El Pais there are presently some 10,000 people waiting to make the crossing from Mauritania to Grand Canaria and Tarifa in Andalucia on the Spanish mainland.

Le Blog du Congolais (http://congomania.afrikblog.com/archives/2006/03/14/1520610.html) calls on possible presidential candidate Mr Tshisekedi to run in the forthcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He writes that there is only 9 days left to register and hopes Tshisekedi will do so for the sake of the country.

“À vous Monsieur qui représentez tant d’espoirs pour tout un peuple, et à tous vos conseillés, je vous pose cette question que nous sommes, udépeistes et non membres de l’UDPS, congolais résidents et congolais de la diaspora, nombreux à poser : Monsieur Tshisekedi, alors que la Nation vous attend, vous, qu’attendez-vous donc » (the nation waits on you – but for what do you wait?)

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

* Please send comments to [email protected]

The phenomenon of blogging has exploded globally, with the new medium being hailed for its ability to democratise the global conversation. But that doesn’t mean the blogosphere doesn’t reflect existing prejudices within society. Sokari Ekine explores the more sinister side of the blogoshpere, focusing specifically on the abuse of women.

Last weekend the number of blogs topped the 30 million mark, according to the UK Guardian technology section. In it’s leader entitled “In Praise of the Blogosphere” it suggested that blogging “is graduating from being a minority sport to a mainstream activity”. It listed three factors that had led to this huge spate in the growth of blogs: the ease of setting one up; the functionality of blogs that has grown to include video and audio clips plus a wide range of social networking features, particularly the use of “tags” for sharing music, bookmarks, books and photos; and most importantly that “they are becoming politically and socially important as like-minded people around the world share thoughts and pictures and call decision-makers to task”.

The article, like most on blogging, presents a scene of harmony and freedom of speech as the economic and technological barriers to publishing are removed, enabling the democratic grassroots media (New Media Musing) to speak out as they choose.

Other articles on the blogosphere are written in a similar vein, using phrases like “citizens media revolution” (Our Media) “social media”, “grassroots media”, “mavericks of the online world” and so on. Having blogged for two years I cherish the technology that enables me to say what I like and how I like. I do not have to consider editorial constraints or advertising interests. The only standards I have to adhere to are my own. I am free as the wind to speak as I wish.

But there is a dark side to the blogosphere. As Rebecca Blood writes:

“The weblog's greatest strength - its uncensored, unmediated, uncontrolled voice - is also its greatest weakness…”

She argues that the editorial and adverting constraints on the mainstream media ensure that ethical standards are maintained. However, the lack of constraints on blogs, which at the same time make them so vibrant, compromises their integrity and therefore their value.

But blogging is not just about writing. It is also about the interaction between the writer and the readers. The writer is exhibiting their ego and the reader is engaging in overt voyeurism. We bloggers know when someone has been to our blogs, how long they spend there and what they read. After all that is why we are writing. We created our online identities so others would take a look and watch and try to discover through our words who we are and what we think.

The African blogosphere is one sphere that has seen a huge growth of new blogs in the past 6 months. For example in Nigeria the number of blogs has trebled in the last 9 months and each month new blogs are being created. The majority of African bloggers are still men, although the number of women is slowly increasing. African blogs tend to fall into three loose categories. First, journals or diary blogs, topic specific blogs such as technology or music blogs, and current affairs and political blogs with commentary.

The African blogosphere is no more homogenous than Africa itself. Each blogosphere tends to have it’s own characteristic such as more conversations between bloggers or less topic specific blogs and more commentary and so on. For example the Nigerian blogosphere tends to be equally divided between all three blog types but with more women writing journal and diary type blogs than men. Some countries are not as developed as others. The Ethiopian blogosphere, though relatively quite small, is very active and dominated by political commentary blogs. Kenya is the largest, followed closely by Nigeria.

Recently Nigeria in particular, has become the sight of much intolerance expressed through homophobia and misogyny. The abuse of women has been particularly disturbing. Comments have been left on womens’ blogs and posts, written using misogynist language against women and lesbians.

This is not to say that there is anything objectionable about someone expressing opinions against homosexuality whether via a comment or through a post on a blog. However these are not simply rational comments. The comments and posts are personalised and the language used is derogatory and misogynist, such as “lesbos need a dick whipping”, “bitches” and “menopausal bitches”. In some instances individual women have been stalked and intimidated even as far as names being revealed. Whilst individuals are entitled to their opinions, when the conversation degenerates into offensive hate speech advocating violence against women and homosexuals, this is not acceptable.

Because people see the blogosphere as a space where they can express themselves freely and often anonymously, they feel they do not have to adhere to the constraints in speech that they would in the non-cyber world. These issues become more apparent as the number of blogs grow and as people from different backgrounds and countries are brought together in one huge global blogosphere. At any one time there are thousands of conversations taking place.

People who would not normally have contact with each other whether because of geographical space or just personal preference now have the possibility of sharing conversations. The blogosphere reflects the non-cyber world in that the lack of shared values, ideological consensus and cultural differences amongst people can and does result in conflicts and confrontations between groups and individuals on their blogs. Thus the dichotomies of gender – male and female; sexual preference be it heterosexual and homosexual; geographical location; Africa the homeland and Africa the Diaspora; African and non-African - all have the possibility of being exacerbated because except in the case of gender these pairs are not often thrown together within the same space.

With specific reference to Nigeria and other African countries, women are being abused when they do not conform to certain types of behaviour. The emerging female voice on the Nigerian blogosphere is often in contrast to the prescribed gender roles in Nigeria that do not threaten existing patriarchal systems. Women can and do use their blogs to “speak” out against male oppression in ways they may not do in their daily lives. Blogging anonymously they feel free to express their aspirations for a different Nigeria where women are not subservient to male domination. Many men find this problematic and feel they are loosing control and power over women. Their response is to use misogynist and homophobic language to berate and intimidate the women who speak out.

Women in the Diaspora are exposed to a more sexually open environment and one where sexism and homophobia are not so socially acceptable. This is a further challenge for men in the “homeland” who may resent and fear this freedom because it may influence “their” women at home. It is common to berate those living abroad as having lost their cultural traditions and become soiled by western society which is viewed as being morally inferior. As I mentioned earlier the blogosphere provides people with the opportunity to develop an exaggerated ego and to engage in voyeurism.

The sexual nature of the comments left by some men on blogs indicate the sexualisation of this voyeurism. Young men are able to feed each other’s ego and sexuality by egging one another on as they publicly engage in “male” chat about women, much of which includes the use of misogynist language. Some women also participate in these “conversations”, cheering the men on as they act out their “machoness” and collude in the abuse of their sisters.

It needs to be said that the numbers of men engaging in abusive behaviour is relatively small. In fact a number of male bloggers have themselves been very outspoken against the abuse of women, whether in the blogosphere or in the non-cyber world, but there are still many who though not participating in abuse are silent. Despite the abuse, women are determined to continue blogging, to expose misogyny where it exists, and to find ways of supporting each other just as they have always done and continue to do so offline.

The sheer number of blogs and the global nature of the blogosphere allows for the potential exchange of ideas, empathy and tolerance across the numerous dichotomies that exist in an increasingly complex and changing world. For Africa, the rapidly developing blogosphere provides the possibility of bringing about a much-needed alternative and progressive voice and cross continent collaboration through a citizen’s media. It is important that these possibilities are not side tracked or diminished by a few destructive non-progressive elements. African bloggers of today are pioneers and as such it is the duty of all of us to create a blogging environment where women are free to express themselves without fear.

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

* Please send comments to [email protected]

Sources:

Guardian Technology:

Transparency International (TI) has called on Cameroonian parliamentarians to assert their anti-corruption mandate and implement Article 66 of the Constitution of Cameroon on asset declaration for public officials. The application of this legal instrument is crucial as a series of precedent-setting corruption and embezzlement cases have recently been launched against a number of high-ranking Cameroon officials.

President Kibaki launched an awareness campaign driven by the National Anti-Corruption Steering Committee last week. The agency, which seeks to change Kenyans' attitudes towards corruption, was launched in 2004 but has only recently embarked on public activities. SUNDAY NATION interviewed its executive director, Mr Polycarp Ochilo.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has released a report showing an overall improvement in governance last year in 27 African countries surveyed, but said corruption was still pervasive in almost all of them. The report, the first of two to be issued after a three-year survey, stressed that major challenges remained. The second report is due in 2007. ECA's Africa Governance Report 2005 surveyed experts and households in the 27 countries and aimed at measuring citizens' perception of the state of governance in every country. The research showed major improvements in political governance indicators compared to a decade ago. Many countries now have multiparty regimes with varying degrees of stability, acceptance and legitimacy.

African Union mediators in the Nigerian capital Abuja have proposed putting rival forces in Sudan's Darfur conflict behind buffer zones after ceasefire agreements have been repeatedly ignored. The warring sides first signed a ceasefire accord in the Chadian capital N'djamena in April 2004. But nearly two years on, mediators said on Sunday that that agreement lacks sufficient details to be effective and a new proposal - dubbed the "Enhanced Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement" - has been drafted and presented to the warring sides. "The [draft] agreement specifies that the forces of the government and the two movements withdraw their forces to clearly identified areas, with buffer zones between them," mediators said in a statement, according to Alertnet.

Despite claims that the Angolan government has opened a dialogue to bring peaceful resolution to the conflict in Cabinda, their counterparts in the enclave have yet to be invited to the table. The Angolan armed forces chief of staff, general Agostinho Nelumba 'Sanjar', told Ecclesia, a local Catholic radio station, on Monday (March 13) that "the government has opened a dialogue and, in the near future, the problem will be resolved".

An international coalition of researchers and campaigners against tax evasion in poor countries who gathered recently in Bamako, Mali have pressed the panic button over the extent to which multinational corporations and wealthy individuals are evading tax in the name of offshore business. Tax Justice Network (TJN), an international NGO working for social justice in poor countries estimates through its own research that a staggering $11.5 trillion has been siphoned 'offshore' by wealthy individuals, held in tax havens, where they are shielded from contributing to government revenues.

Heavyweight politicians and other notable Nigerians, yesterday (March 10), stoutly rose against Thursday's decision by the Constitution Review Committee on the 1999 Constitution to extend the two-year tenure of executive office holders at the federal and state levels. The Committee, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu had given elected officers at those levels the opportunity of holding office for three terms of four years each.

On August 3, 2005, a Colonel of the Mauritanian army and close collaborator of former Mauritanian President, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, carried out a bloodless coup d'etat - the most recent in Africa's history. Before this day, General Maaouya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya had been ruling the vast West African country for close to 22 years. The Post's David Akana met the Mauritanian Interim Leader - Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Val in the Presidential palace in the capital Nouakchott recently. The latter fielded questions on why he staged the coup, his government's plans, the beginning of petroleum exploitation in his country and the relations between Mauritania and the African Union.

No country in Africa has suffered more at the hands of foreign powers than the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congo is in many ways a microcosm of the entire African continent. As it was raped and pillaged and abused by foreigners, so was the rest of the continent. As it continues to be raped and pillaged and abused by foreigners, so is the rest of the continent. Its vast resources, both existing and potential, also mirror those of the continent as a whole. In a sense, when we read about the Congo, we are reading about ourselves. When the Congolese are ridiculed and abused, all of us on this continent are ridiculed and abused.

Despite their historical past, Africans cannot be absolved of their own responsibility to themselves and their children, said United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Annan said it was easy to blame ills on the past and on outsiders - the depredations of imperialism and the slave trade, the imbalance of power and wealth in a flagrantly unjust world. "But that cannot absolve us, the Africans of today, from our own responsibility to ourselves and to our children.”

Boni Yayi, a former banker making a maiden bid for political office, has won the first round of Benin’s presidential elections, according to provisional results released on Monday. Yayi, who ran for the 5 March poll as an independent candidate backed by a coalition of groups and parties, won 35.6 percent of the vote, the National Election Commission (CENA) said late on Monday after counting 96.39 percent of the votes.

Newly elected Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will address the US Congress on Wednesday in what will be a crucial opportunity to secure funds to rebuild a country left battered by war. Underlining the close historic link between Liberia and the United States, Sirleaf will be the first African leader to address a joint meeting of the US Senate and House of Representatives since South African President Nelson Mandela more than a decade ago. As Africa’s first female president, Sirleaf may grab extra media attention for the plight of Liberia.
Related Link
* Sirleaf reveals new government

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation granted its former Director General, Gerry Munyama, an interest-free loan of N$100 000 during his employment there, it has emerged, writes Lindsay Dentlinger in The Namibian. This is one of a number of revelations on the inner workings of the NBC - detailed in the Auditor General's report for the 2003-04 financial year and tabled in the National Assembly last week. The report highlights the NBC's precarious financial position and questions whether the broadcaster can be deemed operational.

The UN's top human rights forum began what could be its final session ever, but the gathering was suspended immediately to give governments time to reach a deal on its replacement. Peruvian Ambassador Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros brought down his gavel to end the meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission after just four minutes of purely procedural statements. On Friday, Rodriguez Cuadros and member governments of the 53-nation commission agreed to put their annual six-week session on ice for a week because all 191 members of the UN General Assembly had still been unable to reach consensus on setting up a new UN Human Rights Council.

Eight people, including an opposition MP, have been charged in Zimbabwe over an alleged plot to assassinate President Robert Mugabe. The accused were arrested last week after an arms cache was allegedly discovered at the home of one of them. Four of those charged are reportedly police officers. Zimbabwe authorities say the group planned to ambush Mr Mugabe after his 82nd birthday party, which took place last month.

Lawyers say they have shut down court proceedings across Nigeria, claiming their boycott is a complete success. The Nigerian Bar Association says the protest is over the "failure of the government to comply with court orders and the violation of human rights". President Lanke Odogiyon said disregard for the rule of law was reminiscent of Nigeria under the military. He said the only case in the capital, Abuja, was the government failing to get a court order to stop the strike. The Bar Association says most of its 50,000 membership followed the call on the first day of the two-day boycott and stayed away.

This paper explores the effect of education on understandings of and support for democratic government in Malawi - paying particular attention to the consequences of primary schooling, which remains the modal experience of Malawian voters. The study indicates that primary schooling promotes citizen endorsement of democracy and rejection of non-democratic alternatives even when it has taken place under authoritarian rule, without explicit civic education. It finds that the educated not only support democracy but they have a better understanding of why they are supporting it.

The DVD of the movie "The Making of a President", concerning the Malawi elections 2004, is now available through Minibus Media. Apart from including subtitles in English, German and Portuguese the DVD also contains additional features such as the profile of all presidential candidates as well as a trailer. The documentary was produced by Minibus Media in collaboration with Civil Liberties Committee.