|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| US Expected to Change Tactics in Zimbabwe Crisis |
| Constructive engagement key for Africa as Obama takes charge |
|
Gibbs Dube (gibbsdube)  |
 Email Article
 Print Article
|
|
|
|
Published 2008-11-06 17:26 (KST) |
|
|
|
Washington, DC -- The United States government is expected to change tactics in resolving the Zimbabwe crisis and other issues affecting the African continent following the election of the first black American president, Barack Obama.
"Obama is likely to take a strong interest in African conflicts and other issues as he brings to the presidency a world view that he has lived other cultures. He is expected to have a more focused interest in Africa than President George Bush in tackling issues like the Zimbabwe crisis," said Steve McDonald, a senior programme officer of the Wilson Center, a Washington think tank devoted to international affairs.
 |
TODAY'S TOP STORIES |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
FROM THE SECTION |
|
|
|
|
| He said although Bush should be commended for showing interest in various issues in Africa such as HIV/AIDS, poverty alleviation and conflict, he may have achieved remarkable result if he consulted African leaders.
"Obama is expected to change his strategies in dealing with most African conflicts and chances are high that he will consult widely when tackling these issues. I can imagine a situation where he will one day chair a meeting convened by leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community to chat the way forward in resolving conflicts and other problems," said McDonald. "In situations like Zimbabwe where the former president of South Africa Thabo Mbeki has failed in his mediation efforts, that is when a leader like Obama may come up with a consultative strategy to help in resolving the conflict. I think he will have the right people to do such consultations worldwide and I know some of the people that he is targeting for such diplomatic initiatives."
He noted that while leaders like the late Zambian president Levi Mwanawasa had taken a direct lead in resolving the Zimbabwe crisis, the American government should have done a lot in engaging SADC leaders in resolving the conflict.
"We were always seen to be on the sidelines and giving moral support in resolving conflicts in countries like Zimbabwe, Sudan, Chad, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the time when there is need for very serious consultations with African leaders in order to resolve these conflicts. I am not saying that the USA will abandon all its domestic issues and focus on African problems and solutions," he said.
Although the president-elect would in the short term be expected to address domestic issues in America such as the economic meltdown and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Africans are eagerly waiting to see what the son of a Kenyan father would do for the continent, ravaged by famine, poverty, conflicts and HIV/AIDS.
There is hope among Africans that he would make an impact in Africa.
"I think Obama's win is a victory for all Americans but as a son of Africa I hope his concerns about America's negative international image will translate into more constructive engagements with African leaders," said South African citizen, Eaton Prince, a Fulbright fellow at the University of Maryland College Park and lecturer at Rhodes University.
His colleague, Grace Githaiga of Kenya, was a bit apprehensive about Obama's impact. "While I am very excited about his election, I am aware that he is the USA president and that will not lead to a lot of changes in Kenya. Personally, I don't expect a lot of change in my life but the best thing he has done is to put Kenya into the world map."
For African Americans, the election of Obama has brought hope of a united nation based on someone's abilities and not skin colour.
"This is a tremendous moment for the celebration of the election of the first black president of America. Although he may not immediately bring to an end racial discrimination in some parts of the USA, his presence will be felt in terms of racial issues. I never dreamt that one day we will have a black president. This is a great honour for all Americans," said Professor Ronald Walters, director of the African American Leadership Institute, distinguished leadership scholar at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership, and professor in government and politics at the University of Maryland.
Professor Walters who was also the deputy campaign manager of Reverend Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in 1984, a board member of the Black Leadership Forum and National Coalition of Black Civic Participation, said Obama would certainly change the way people view racial issues.
"This unique election has a lasting effect in changing racial attitudes. Obama may not effectively deal with the issue of race while at the White House and so I think we should be cautious on this matter. We are not yet in the post-racial America but there are high expectations that things would change in this country," he said.
|
|
 |
|
| Gibbs Dube is a journalist from Zimbabwe. |
|
|
©2008 OhmyNews
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
How worried are you about the H1N1 influenza virus? |
|
 |
| * Vote to see the result. |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RSS
Del.icio.us
Digg 
reddit
Y! MyWeb
Comments Note: Kindly refrain from personal attacks and profanity.
.jpg)
