Terrorism and Pawns

RENAMO, UNITA, Super ZAPU, Boko Haram, Al Shabab: what's in a name? A terrorist by any other name would destroy just as many lives. We have been here before. Innocent people killed and economies derailed for years (and taking even longer to recover) by the actions of "rebel" groups fighting a proxy war far from the real theatre of conflict. Let's be clear, in many cases, the reactions of the local authorities have in been disproportionate and even reckless. We have seen that in Israel's operation in Lebanon in 2006 and Zimbabwe's Gukhurahundi. In Zimbabwe's case, you may need to read the full series of http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2013/09/06/gukurahundi-and-apartheid-sa/ to get the context of the conflict. The same contextual approach to what assails Somali must be applied even beyond the context cited in this link: http://thinkafricapress.com/somalia/piracy-and-somalia-view-puntland

I despair at the superficial analysis that I see in some sections of the press who then help to shape popular opinion and subsequently do a disservice to the public. One thing is certain, an information hungry public constantly fed bad "events" news moves from one horror story to the next reacting emotionally with shock and horror at times and with a shrugged numbness at others depending on the ranking of the event on the Richter equivalent of the spectacular scale. The public does not have the time, nor the will in instances, to connect the dots and we, therefore, put a plaster on a cancerous pimple instead of addressing the root cause of the problem.

The world has changed. Africa must change with it and since the demise of the Gaddafi regime, I have sensed a greater and more deliberate effort by the AU to move in a direction that suggests we will no longer be taken advantage of, nor be used to fight proxy wars. It is incumbent upon the AU, regional groupings, individual governments and every day citizens to start pushing for a greater awareness and (re)action on the way the world of geopolitics works and how it can affect a mother, business person, child on a Saturday morning shopping outing in a mall with devastating consequences. The Kenya episode has been replicated in a hotel in Mumbai, a pub in Uganda, churches in Nigeria, the eastern DRC and many other places where the only crime of the innocent victims is to be caught in the crossfire while they go about their normal lives. Apart from these losses of human life, I for one, do not want to worry about whether I can fly to a country on business or pleasure and which airline is safest. Getting the best air fare available should be my only concern.

It is unacceptable.

The first port of call is UN Security Council reform for it is from there, many a time in our recent history, that abuse of the UN has led to grave consequences for civilians the world over. Gone are the days when you hear about a war in far off countries between two belligerent foes. Today, those wars are fought in your neighbourhood when you do not even know whence the feud started. We must demand that this stops and signal our very strong disapproval of the chess games of a few merchants of death in a few powerful capital cities far from our shores. As Dag Hammaskjold said, "Never for the sake of peace and quiet, deny your own experience and convictions." You might be in the next conflict zone.

So I spent an incredible enriching evening two nights ago in King Williams Town. My travelling companion for this particular trip, Simphiwe, ran in to Nkosinathi Biko at the airport while I made my way to the terminal. The next thing I knew, we had a dinner date about 60km from East London.

As the GPS got more confused, we came across a large building round about 7pm and I said to Simpihiwe, it must be around here somewhere near that shopping mall. Well, the "mall" turned out to the the Steve Biko Centre, smack in the middle of a township and I thought, "whoa!"

What followed was a magical evening. Nkosinathi met us at the entrance and proposed a guided tour of the facilities. I was suitably humbled and privileged.

Before we could begin, we met a group of young people who had just finished rehearsing a production in one of the facilities at the centre. A young lady gathered the guts to ask whether Simphiwe would sing with her and she obliged willingly and with grace. A magical moment, enriching in its simplicity and purity followed. Superstar meets township with no airs and graces.

We then went off on the tour and that is when I discovered Nkosinathi. Modest, humble and yet with the deepest sense of self, comfort in one's skin and centred. His knowlegde and thought process is as massive as the place. It is imposing, the facilities impressive and the vision enduring. I saw an arena for theatrical productions, an amphitheatre with great acoustics, children's library, adult library, periodicals section, conference section, kitchen and restaurant (doff hat) and an admin section. The permanent exhibition is as good as anything I have seen elsewhere. Certainly a wealth of enrichment. Context is key.

Then followed (I am cutting a long story short) an excellent dinner conversation. We treated subjects ranging from the meaning of Mbeki, Zuma, Mandela, Zille, Gadaafi and, of course, Robert Mugabe in the context of Black Consciousness. I listened, spoke and shared. I came away enriched beyond words.

Before we knew it, it was midnight and we had to drive back to East London for other assignments the following day. I will be donating a book, from my father's collection, and I will be encouraging as many people to visit as possible. There is great work being done there and I can only but support it. Bravo Nkosinathi. Your father is proud of you. We are proud and we will support your work in our own modest ways. There is work to be done: "A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what ships were built for."