Youths must take charge of their destiny
DEMOCRACY in Africa is fast dying at the hands of autocrats. Elections in Africa are mere rituals totally devoid of any adherence to democratic principles.
The recently held Ugandan election is a typical example of the assault and raping of democracy in a modern-day world. The election was a farce.
Allow me to congratulate, though grudginly, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for winning re-election after harassing, murdering, imprisoning, torturing, silencing opponents through shutting down the internet and embarking on widespread voter fraud.
I am surprised the so-called African Union just watched an election being snatched from Bobi Wine under the guise of protecting the African revolutionary ethos.
When the likes of Kenneth Kaunda, Julius Mwalimu Nyerere, Kamuzu Banda, Sam Nujoma just to mention a few fought in the liberation struggles, they were very young and got support from the communities in their respective countries.
They did not go to war to fight their own kith and keen like what we are witnessing today from countries like Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Before elections Museveni murdered, imprisoned opponents, shut down the internet, arrested Kyagulanyi's polling agents and now keeps him under house arrest while raiding NUP offices and going after anyone suspected of having any evidence of the rigging. Where is the rule of law in such circumstances?
This is political persecution at its highest degree. There are no charges laid against him and he is essentially in military custody, even though he is a civilian.
The house arrest of Wine is also a violation of the UN Convention Against Torture which Museveni himself ratified in 1986. This is barbaric and must not be tolerated. Africa needs new leaders.
The house arrest of the opposition clearly shows that some African leaders have resorted to using political muscles to solve internal issues affecting their respective countries. The people of this country witnessed such abuse when President Emmerson Mnangagwa used the military on August 1 2018.
Young African opposition leaders such as Julius Malema, Wine and Nelson Chamisa desperately need help and support from the continent and all progressive countries across the globe as they represent the crop of new leadership in Africa that can take it forward.
We see a lot of young African leaders being denied an opportunity which was given to yesteryear leaders of taking charge of their respective countries.
I don't see AU, Southern African Development Community and Economic Community of West African States reforming themselves. It is the duty of young Africans civil society to unite and aggressively push for such reforms.