Coming to London as a Mozambican journalist made me realise how much African countries still have to grow in order to achieve something that approaches a democratic model! Don’t get me wrong: Mozambique has achieved a lot more than most countries on the continent have - almost 15 years of peace, multiparty democracy, free elections, and so on.
But, well, I’ve been here for four days, and I’ve already had a chance to speak to two MPs (Clare Short and Hugh Bayley) and to ask them direct questions about sensitive issues like aid and the motivations behind it. And on Wednesday evening I watched a TV programme in which London's mayor Ken Livingstone submitted himself to questioning from his citizens – some of them were furious about issues like the crime rate and put him in a rather unpleasant situation but he did his part very bravely, leaving no question unanswered.
This openness from politicians and their awareness that they actually have to be accountable for what they do is something that African leaders still have to learn: we’re the ones voting for you and getting you seated on that comfortable chair and driving that expensive car so please stop using the power we give you to say “I’m big and important and do not have to explain anything to you, even if I mess up your life with my lousy politics!”
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I really enjoyed reading the stories on the G8 and the people attending on this website. For African journalists I think it must be an amazing experience. The quality and direct approach of the writing is refreshing. Well done. You continue to make our continent proud.
Posted by: Beauregard Tromp | Monday, 11 July 2005 at 12:55