African kings root for traditional modes of govern

[Oshun_Auset]

African kings root for traditional modes of governance


Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - A Ghanaian monarch Tuesday
requested the African Union (AU) to consider giving African
traditional leaders a seat in its regular meetings to discuss
development issues of the continent.

Addressing the fourth African Development Forum (ADF IV),
convening here, His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,
Asantehene of Ghana, also appealed to African nations to
critically look for convergencies in the traditional and modern
systems of governance.

"Remember that as traditional rulers, our contract with our
people is forever and not for the next election," said the
Asantehene, who was given a standing ovation after highlighting
aspects of traditional leadership performance in various parts of
the continent.

He said the old stereotype of a chief as an ignorant native
leader, susceptible to manipulation by unscrupulous foreign
traders or self-seeking politicians was no longer valid.

"It is unfortunate that in some parts of Africa, we have lost the
entire traditional forms of leadership, which were organised
around a social contract between the people and their kings and
chiefs," he said.

The Forum, being held under the theme "Governance for a
Progressing Africa," Tuesday examined traditional modes of
governance in order to evaluate the aspects of indigenous
leadership that were in accord with basic tenets of modern
democratic values or have adapted to contemporary political
realities.

The Asantehene of Ghana observed that a number of developments
over the years, mainly political, have led to a situation in
which societies in Africa have lost faith in their traditional
systems of government.

He said African societies were led to assume that the only way
forward "is to embrace without question or argument the theories
and forms of government that have been developed in Western
Europe and North America."

Addressing the same session King Kgosi Leruo Tshekedi Molotlegi
of Bafokeng in South Africa said traditional modes of governance
were not the same thing as tribal politics.

"The bottom line is that there is no mode of selection, including
the most free-and-fair election that can guarantee that the
person in office will have integrity, compassion and the best
interests of his constituents at heart," he said.

Asserting there were numerous ways he was personally held
accountable by his constituents, King Kgosi Leruo said
accountability in office should be the only way to measure and
monitor the integrity of a person holding public office.

The processes by which traditional leaders were chosen throughout
Africa, he said, may not conform to the Western democratic ideal,
"but that doesn't mean that accountability is absent from the
process, or that the electoral system necessarily works better in
practice."

"What's troubling is the extent to which we seem to assume that
models borrowed from Western countries are the best, or even the
only route to the progress we seek."

King Kgosi Leruo suggested that Africans tackle the challenge of
promoting participation, greater prosperity and basic human
security "by thinking outside the box and embracing the
possibility that Africa need not simply consume the 'Washington
consensus' of economic reforms that exacerbate the disparity
between rich and poor."

He challenged African governments to support and partner with
traditional structures instead of seeking to degrade such
institutions through policy and rhetoric.

"If we want to be true to Africa, we should be eclectic,
embracing the tenets of democracy and weaving them together with
the indigenous institutions that Africans respect and believe in.

"Viewed as full and creative partners in Africa's progress,
traditional communities offer and represent a great deal that is
inspiring, progressive and worthy of emulation," the king added.

Kgosi Leruo is an architect interested in contemporary design and
a businessman overseeing a large minerals-based corporation that
competes on a global stage.


Copyright © 2004 PANA

[Africanprince]

I don't trust these kings today especially with the infiltration of whites into our politics. I will kill myself if the King of Swaziland was ruling my country because I will have to live with this fools rule until he died which could be 40 years.

NO THANK YA!!

I think Kings should have take part in uniting and helping there people out.

[Oshun_Auset]

I agree. The PEOPLE should decide their own future IMO.

[iyah360]

"The bottom line is that there is no mode of selection, including
the most free-and-fair election that can guarantee that the
person in office will have integrity, compassion and the best
interests of his constituents at heart," he said.

This is extremely true. As long as government is kept open to the sway of fraternal influences and special interests, the results will always end in corruption.

The west is selling the idea of democracy to the world - but what is it really? It is a form of government which runs at the BEHEST of private heads of monied interests in fraternal bond calling the shots!