Opinion / Columnist
Lessons for Africa from Trump election victory
20 Jan 2017 at 10:18hrs | Views
After the November 2016 United States of America presidential elections, the American establishment that was fronted by the losing presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Mrs Hillary Clinton, has demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt to outsiders that it fears and holds on fast to intense disgust of the presidential election victory of Donald Trump, the USA's president-elect.
The American establishment fears and hates the Trump presidential election victory to the extent that it has become justifiable and pressing for the world, and Africa in particular, before confirmation of Mr Trump on January the 20th as the USA's 45th president, to draw some critical lessons from the USA as a 'paragon' of democracy.
Africa should learn that the unmistakeable and emphatic fear and disgust of Trump`s presidency currently being displayed by the American establishment adds to the list of the pushing reasons why the United Nations should have been reformed yesterday.
If the anti-Trump presidential election win demonstrations that swept across some parts of America had gone beyond control, who would have intervened except a reformed United Nations?
(This is not to say that the anti-Trump inauguration disturbances might not occur between now and January the 20th if a 5 January New York Times opinion piece accurately reflects the ''outrage" felt by the USA establishment and the agencies it has been controlling for years now:
'' The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th USA president is just two weeks away, so now is the time to begin making plans to send him the strongest signal that your opposition to the presidency he foreshadows will not be pouting and passive, but active and animated. Now is the time to begin making your plans for the anti-inauguration.")
It should be unthinkable to both promoters of peace and even war-mongers that a veto-wielding power of the United Nations such as the USA and its vaunted stature in global affairs should be seen as seeming not to respect its own presidential election result.But now it is justifiably thinkable.
Africa should learn that there is little or absolutely nothing to be learnt about democracy from the USA and its agencies that unleash shrill voices purportedly to school Africans in upholding democratic principles before, during and after the holding of national elections; the USA, after all, does not practise what it tells others about democracy.
One could be excused for hoping that the American non-governmental organisations that play democratic saints during the holding of African national elections have compiled interesting reports before, during and after the Trump presidential election win.
If Africa sent, on invitation, its team of election observers to the United States of America, now is the time for it to release, or circulate more ardently, the African Union's report to let the people know the team's observations: were the USA elections free and fair? Did the American voters express their will freely without the exertion of foreign interference? Was the AU invited as an election observer?!
In Africa, even the rats and cockroches, know that the USA, in one way or the other, loves to be the final arbiter of whether or not African national elections were free and fair, whether or not the voters freely expressed their will. Never mind the fairness of the arbiter where the election results go against the American interests.
Sadly, some African countries still wait for the United States to directly endorse their national elections as democratic for election results to be final and acceptable, and for the new government to be regarded as legitimate. Yet it is stubbornly clear that there is absolutely nothing special to be learnt from the USA about democracy in light of want is unfolding in America as Trump nears confirmation as the 45th USA president on January the 20th.
If the American establishment fronted by Hillary Clinton during the USA presidential election could express such deep hatred and " outrage" against the electoral win of one of their own, Donald Trump, would an Iraq, or Libya, stand a chance?
It becomes clear to observers that the ruthless potency of the force that drove the USA to depose or distabilize democratically elected governments around the world was grossly underestimated before partly because it was often hidden behind democratic drivel and abject lies.
Africa, through the African Union, should urgently review and design mechanisms to counter foreign interference, in all its subtle forms, in its electoral systems as defined by the member country's constitutional positions.
Urgency in reviewing, designing and putting in place informed mechanisms to counter foreign interference before, during and after future presidential elections in Africa, any election to fill any public office for that matter, should, in the context of vision 2063, be driven by the palpable realisation that even the United States of America, the 'paragon' of democracy, does not condone any form of foreign interference in the operation of its sovereign electoral system.
Although no concrete evidence was produced to support the accusation of Russian interference in the USA presidential elections, the 'hacking' talk itself involving Washington and Moscow, inadvertently demonstrates to Africa the importance of holding national elections without any foreign interference.
Africa should stand up and fight against foreign interference in the running of its national elections and candidates defeated in national elections when they have conceded defeat, which is an honourable act in itself, should conduct themseves after the announcement in a manner that clearly gives peace and development a chance.
It does not matter whether one is in the US or Africa, media reports should never be taken as Divine verses, especially before, during and after the holding of national elections.The media could be used for sinister ends too.
One hopes that since we are now in the 21st century, the Americans will not subvert Donald Trump's presidency thereby turning themselves into their own enemies, or terrorists; they should respect themselves and those who respect them by accepting the result of their own electoral system.
Dancase. B. Gideon is a freelance writer based in Harare
The American establishment fears and hates the Trump presidential election victory to the extent that it has become justifiable and pressing for the world, and Africa in particular, before confirmation of Mr Trump on January the 20th as the USA's 45th president, to draw some critical lessons from the USA as a 'paragon' of democracy.
Africa should learn that the unmistakeable and emphatic fear and disgust of Trump`s presidency currently being displayed by the American establishment adds to the list of the pushing reasons why the United Nations should have been reformed yesterday.
If the anti-Trump presidential election win demonstrations that swept across some parts of America had gone beyond control, who would have intervened except a reformed United Nations?
(This is not to say that the anti-Trump inauguration disturbances might not occur between now and January the 20th if a 5 January New York Times opinion piece accurately reflects the ''outrage" felt by the USA establishment and the agencies it has been controlling for years now:
'' The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th USA president is just two weeks away, so now is the time to begin making plans to send him the strongest signal that your opposition to the presidency he foreshadows will not be pouting and passive, but active and animated. Now is the time to begin making your plans for the anti-inauguration.")
It should be unthinkable to both promoters of peace and even war-mongers that a veto-wielding power of the United Nations such as the USA and its vaunted stature in global affairs should be seen as seeming not to respect its own presidential election result.But now it is justifiably thinkable.
Africa should learn that there is little or absolutely nothing to be learnt about democracy from the USA and its agencies that unleash shrill voices purportedly to school Africans in upholding democratic principles before, during and after the holding of national elections; the USA, after all, does not practise what it tells others about democracy.
One could be excused for hoping that the American non-governmental organisations that play democratic saints during the holding of African national elections have compiled interesting reports before, during and after the Trump presidential election win.
If Africa sent, on invitation, its team of election observers to the United States of America, now is the time for it to release, or circulate more ardently, the African Union's report to let the people know the team's observations: were the USA elections free and fair? Did the American voters express their will freely without the exertion of foreign interference? Was the AU invited as an election observer?!
Sadly, some African countries still wait for the United States to directly endorse their national elections as democratic for election results to be final and acceptable, and for the new government to be regarded as legitimate. Yet it is stubbornly clear that there is absolutely nothing special to be learnt from the USA about democracy in light of want is unfolding in America as Trump nears confirmation as the 45th USA president on January the 20th.
If the American establishment fronted by Hillary Clinton during the USA presidential election could express such deep hatred and " outrage" against the electoral win of one of their own, Donald Trump, would an Iraq, or Libya, stand a chance?
It becomes clear to observers that the ruthless potency of the force that drove the USA to depose or distabilize democratically elected governments around the world was grossly underestimated before partly because it was often hidden behind democratic drivel and abject lies.
Africa, through the African Union, should urgently review and design mechanisms to counter foreign interference, in all its subtle forms, in its electoral systems as defined by the member country's constitutional positions.
Urgency in reviewing, designing and putting in place informed mechanisms to counter foreign interference before, during and after future presidential elections in Africa, any election to fill any public office for that matter, should, in the context of vision 2063, be driven by the palpable realisation that even the United States of America, the 'paragon' of democracy, does not condone any form of foreign interference in the operation of its sovereign electoral system.
Although no concrete evidence was produced to support the accusation of Russian interference in the USA presidential elections, the 'hacking' talk itself involving Washington and Moscow, inadvertently demonstrates to Africa the importance of holding national elections without any foreign interference.
Africa should stand up and fight against foreign interference in the running of its national elections and candidates defeated in national elections when they have conceded defeat, which is an honourable act in itself, should conduct themseves after the announcement in a manner that clearly gives peace and development a chance.
It does not matter whether one is in the US or Africa, media reports should never be taken as Divine verses, especially before, during and after the holding of national elections.The media could be used for sinister ends too.
One hopes that since we are now in the 21st century, the Americans will not subvert Donald Trump's presidency thereby turning themselves into their own enemies, or terrorists; they should respect themselves and those who respect them by accepting the result of their own electoral system.
Dancase. B. Gideon is a freelance writer based in Harare
Source - Dancase. B. Gideon
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