A carnival mood enveloped Somalia's capital city of Mogadishu as the speaker of the Somali Transitional Federal parliament, Mr Sharif Hassan Aden, alongside 80 MPs were welcomed with pomp and glory on arrival from Nairobi. Business premises were closed as thousands of Somali people thronged the 18 km stretch from the Danile airstrip to the town centre.

The resignation of Kenya's anti-graft boss raised concerns inside and outside the government on Monday as observers lamented the loss of a beacon of integrity in the country's fight against corruption. John Githongo quit as presidential anti-graft advisor effective Monday but gave no reason for his decision, saying only he "was no longer able to continue serving the government of Kenya". Friends said he had become increasingly frustrated with a lack of government cooperation.

Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika quit the ruling party on Saturday after his crackdown on corruption in the impoverished southern African country sparked a political rift with factions loyal to his predecessor. Wa Mutharika, who last month accused United Democratic Front (UDF) party chairman and former Malawi President Bakili Muluzi of plotting with party officials to kill him, chose national anti-corruption day to announce his resignation from the party.

I notice many efforts African heads of states put towards the betterment of the continent and one feels most obliged at the foresight and vision. The spirit is excellent and cannot be faulted at all.

I feel though that what Africa lacks is that political will to sincerely eliminate her burdens. There has to be collective will to permit leadership circulation.

For as long as the Africa Union cannot create fear for abuse of authority in her member states there will always be those leaders who do not care for their national development. It must be remembered that some of the most insightful thoughts and contribution to the former OAU were contributed by men like Seseko Mabutu. Mabutu was an American agent well known to many African scholars and leaders, a dictator of renounced record, and yet still he played a useful role in shaping the future of Africa. Does that render African institutions credible at all and does that show leadership of integrity at all on the continent? What fails us as a people is not lack of intelligence nor ability to perform but lack of political sincerity to evaluate each other and put a realistic standard to be followed by all as we compete with the world at large and not only among ourselves in poverty.

Let me look at the issue of HIV/AIDS and TB on the continent. The continent has both herbs and skills which could, if harnessed and collectively used with better rewards for creativity, have long taken Africa out of the dark ages but instead Africa goes deeper and deeper into dark ages from both financial dependence and cultural hegemony of solicited imperialism. From 1999 Africa has been making very good resolutions on paper that have failed to work practically. The strong resistance from those who have taken political power from colonial masters has been a greater cause of set back than it has been a blessing to Africa.

Africa committed itself to try and spend 15% of her GDP on medical improvements so that her people will not suffer. The salaries nurses are paid are the poorest in the world even though their dedication is equalled to none. The lack of motivation firstly from political leadership will not see Africa come out of its current impasse without a big price to pay in human loss of life.

Since 1999 and every respective year Africa heads of states have met and among other things they have talked and resolved on the African condition with very minor progress made. Why? The following are partly the reasons:
- Lack of proper and strict accountability for donor funds and not having tangible set goals for what has to be done with funds.
- Too much political interference
- Sometimes the seeking for donor funds is caused by the greed of those in power.

Every African country has suffered from the self inflicted exodus of skilled personnel. Africa's human resources are a pride to other nations in the world and not to Africa because of poor African political leadership and subsequent decisions at national levels. Its all very good to talk of resolutions but when there is no political will to see those decisions followed to the letter Africa cannot be blind to its own down fall for too long. Where resources have been put to good use there has been substantial improvements in health standards of living even though some nations still suffer from wanton unaccountability of resources which have often found their way into accounts of ministers and presidents. Thank you to President Kibaki of Kenya for having engineered the genesis of African financial recuperation by instituting leadership declaration of wealth.

Let me end with comments on Zimbabwe as my home state. When one considers health facilities in the context of what was there in 1980, there is a serious degeneration in services standards, personnel availability and dishonesty in implementing funds to medical programs. Zimbabwe has receieved sizable donations through numerous NGOs who have as a result only received a thank-you of banishment from the country. HIV/AIDS has grown with too much rhetoric coming from the government of the day.

Mugabe could have long left power to some capable person if he trusted what he has done in the last twenty years. Even when all these human degradations are taking place in Zimbabwe, at every forum of the Africa Union the same Robert Mugabe is ululated and receives aclaim from African leadership without any questions. It's embarrasing what Africa make us go through honestly. It will take the British and the French once again to give us decency in managing our own affairs by recolonizing us while we cry foul.

Good resolutions came out of Abuja once again in January 24-31 in 2005, and I bet no better than those of 1999 but the African condition has barely begun to change. Talking of debt forgiveness is just to soften it for the guys who have made money out of using our governemnts as collateral for thier personal gains while in power. Africa needs to establish a leadership accountability court. African needs to take control of its own destiny now.

Finally Africa should stand behind the SADC Protocol on Free and Fair Elections and work to follow principles so that dictators can be reduced.

I just wanted to say that I'm glad to see that an organization is doing something for African women's rights! The evil that is going on in the Sudan, DRC (Congo), and other places in Africa against women causes me sadness and action! I've written to the Sudanese government twice, written to the Congo once, and now I have started to place my letters concerning women's rights on our website, in the "article" section. is the web address. I feel so bad being a man of African descent and knowing that other men in Africa that are African(and Arabs too) are mistreating our mothers and sisters. Please know that we African men didn't treat our women like this 6,000 years ago, not even 800 years ago. Please keep up the good work! And I hope that this petition drive is a big success! I feel that there will come a day when we African men and women will treat each other with equal social standings and respect!

Reaction to President Armando Guebuza's inaugural speech this week has mostly been positive, with Mozambicans agreeing that poverty, corruption and crime are the key challenges facing the country. "It was a good speech, and was in line with what he said in his campaign - what we hope now is that this is not only a speech," Lorenco Jossias, editor of the Independent Zambezia newspaper, told IRIN last Thursday.

A critical lack of resources is jeopardising Malawi's efforts to achieve its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, according to a joint report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the government. The assessment showed that while progress had been made in reducing child mortality and improving access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, the country lagged behind on all the other development targets.

Chad's prime minister Moussa Faki has resigned after a series of strikes by unpaid civil servants and signs of increasing tensions with President Idriss Deby, diplomats and parliamentarians said on Friday. Faki, who comes from the same influential Zagawa tribe as the president, was appointed prime minister in June 2003. He stood down last Thursday and was replaced by Pascal Yoadimnadji, a former agriculture minister, state radio said.

Parliament has begun debate on the report on the Government White Paper on the constitutional review process with some MPs asking the President to state his position on whether he wants a third term. The White Paper, released in September 2004, contains the Government’s position on the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Commission. One of the proposals in the White Paper is that Parliament should decide on the issue of lifting the presidential term limits, which would make Museveni eligible to stand for a third term.

The British ambassador to Kenya launched a fresh attack on President Mwai Kibaki's government on Wednesday, saying tentative anti-graft efforts failed to stop the "massive looting" of public funds. Edward Clay, High Commissioner to Kenya, added in a speech that foreign associates of the previous government of former President Daniel arap Moi were working with Kibaki's officials to steal funds through crooked procurement ventures.

Every month rich country leaders delay a deal on debt cancellation, the poor pay with their lives. Last month, rich countries agreed to suspend the debt repayments of the countries devastated by the Tsunami for 12 months. Under the intense media spotlight, it was clear that rich countries could not continue to give aid with one hand only to take it back with the other hand through debt repayments. Through this step, they recognised that saving lives is more important than repaying debt. On Friday 4th February 2005 the Finance Ministers of the G7 will meet in London. These seven men have the power to make a decision which would end the crippling debt burden of the poorest countries. G7 leaders have made warm speeches about the importance of solving the debt problem. This is according to a joint ActionAid, CAFOD and Oxfam paper released ahead of the meeting.

Ugandan state television and radio have started live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings. It means MPs have been smartening up their act for the camerasIt means MPs are likely to be under much greater public scrutiny ahead of elections scheduled for next year. The next few months should also provide some lively viewing as the MP's are due to vote on many changes to the constitution including the controversial issue of whether to lift term limits on the presidency.

Zimbabwe's main opposition party has announced it will field candidates in parliamentary elections next month "with a heavy heart". The polls would not be free and fair, said the Movement for Democratic Change. "We participate under protest." The MDC had wanted the 31 March elections to be put back so that more reforms could be passed.

* EDITORIAL: Following the peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M), the challenge will now be to ensure that human rights are moved to the forefront of peace implementation efforts, argues Denise Lifton.
* COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: Has the World Social Forum been hijacked? Andile Mngxitama from the www.wewrite.org editorial collective takes a critical look at what’s going on in Porto Alegre.
* LETTERS: The debate on whether the slaves have left the masters house continues.
* HUMAN RIGHTS: Erica Neiglick, from Kenyan child rights organization The Cradle, writes about a legal challenge to the discriminatory Children’s Act.
* WOMEN AND GENDER: African women have been the hardest hit by market liberalization, research from the African Labour Research Network says.
* ENVIRONMENT: Multi National Corporations often trip over themselves to appear biodiversity friendly. Emmanuel O. Nuesiri’s research shows that often this is little more than greenwash.
* LAND AND LAND RIGHTS: Raj Patel writes about a December conference on agrarian reform where rural-based social movements from around the world set up a school for democratic struggle against neoliberal agrarian policy.
* MEDIA AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: An International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) team that visited Tunisia in preparation for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) due for November has “found serious cause for continuing concern about the current state of freedom of expression and of civil liberties”.
* NEWS FROM THE DIASPORA: Philip Emeagwali is scared that an entire generation of African children are growing up brainwashed by Hollywood. “We need to tell our children our own stories from our own perspective,” he writes.
* BOOKS AND ARTS: A new book shows how African proverbs can be motivation for personal and organizational transformation.

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* Sign the petition for women's rights: http://www.pambazuka.org/petition

* Stay awake: Get Pambazuka News alerts: http://www.pambazuka.org/petition/alerts.php

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Land and water are essential for development. Land use has major impacts on the quality and quantity of water resources and the availability of water determines possible land uses. An integrated approach to land and water is essential. Land tenure and water rights are the major mechanisms that determine resource use and management. However, existing systems do not always work together to support development.

Armando Guebuza was sworn in as Mozambique's new president on Wednesday, in an inauguration generally seen as ushering in a fresh, reformist agenda for the country. Fernando Goncalves, editor-in chief of Savana, an independently weekly, told IRIN he was cautiously optimistic that Guebuza could deliver. "We will judge him by his actions, but what we can say at the moment is, it is a good sign that he has identified corruption as a major problem in Mozambique."

The United Nations said on Wednesday that it had secured enough money to pay the school fees of nearly 4,000 former Liberian combatants who were expelled from secondary schools last month because there was no money left in the rehabiliation fund to pay for their tuition. Charles Achodo, a policy advisor of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), told reporters that all those ex-fighters who had been asked to leave school should be back in the classroom by the end of next week.

Said to be one of the ten most expensive cars in the world, the Maybach 62 is sleek, glamorous and – some might argue – a little out of place in a country where two thirds of the population lives below the poverty line. But if that country is Swaziland – and the person behind the wheel, so to speak, is King Mswati the Third – this argument would not stand in the way of him signing on the dotted line. The Maybach, produced by the German-American car manufacturer Daimler-Chrysler, has become the latest addition to the royal fleet – and Mswati took his first spin in the vehicle last week.

A delegation from the International Confederation of Free Trade Union-affiliated Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) which arrived in Zimbabwe on Wednesday was immediately expelled by the country's immigration authorities. The planned 48-hour visit was intended to bring together COSATU representatives with their colleagues from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), also an ICFTU affiliate. The purpose of the visit, led by COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, was to discuss issues confronting workers in Zimbabwe and in the region in general.
LINK
- The Cosatu delegation and the March elections
http://www.sacp.org.za/umsebenzi/online/2005/RADEGE.htm

African leaders at the end of the two-day African Union summit in Abuja, Nigeria, approved the development of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plan to bring "quality" generic drugs to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and polio across the continent, the AngolaPress reports. The plan will aid the production of the reduced-cost drugs in coordination with support from international groups to stem the spread of the diseases.