At the invitation of the Africa Liberal Network President, Dr Mamadou Lamine Ba, the members of the Executive Committee met in Dakar, Senegal between 13-15 March 2009. The delegates reviewed the action plan submitted in Dar es Salaam in August 2008, and discussed a number of issues relating to the network and its future activities, including its finances and membership.
The delegates pledged to strengthen the foundations of the ALN by developing a common position paper on gender issues, namely the role of liberal women in African Politics. ALN Vice-President for West Africa, Mme Yava Kaba Fofana of the RDR in Cote d’Ivoire, was nominated to lead this process in tandem with the ALN Co-ordinator, Nick Branson.
The Executive Committee also attended a campaign rally held by Dr Lamine Ba, who is currently standing for the mayorship of Parcelles Assainies, the largest commune d’arrondissement in Dakar. The delegates wished the ALN President the best of luck in his campaign, and pledged to increase their activity during election periods in member countries.

Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille on Saturday unveiled the party’s new logo saying the party is launching a new vision for South Africa to make the country’s dream a living reality.
Zille said the re-launch of the party came with a new approach of campaigning for elections and a new determination to address the injustices and transcend the racial divisions of our country’s past.
Speaking at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg, Zille said the change is aimed at attracting people who share the party’s values, but who have not historically supported the DA.
She said the country would see a new DA emerge which would be more diverse, more reflective of South Africa’s rich racial, linguistic and cultural heritage and more committed to providing excellence and equity in public service than ever before.
“We can overcome our past; we can turn South Africa into a safe, prosperous, free society in which everyone has a fair shot at achieving their dreams, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth.”
Zille went on to clarify what would stay the same within the party and what would change.
She said that the party’s vision of an open opportunity society for all, founded on the bedrock of its core values would remain the same, as would its championing of rights and freedoms of every person, enshrined in a Constitution.
“We have always stood for equal and ever-expanding opportunity. Not for some, but for all. We still do,” she said.
“We have always believed in the dignity and equality of each and every person, and promoted the language, culture and heritage of all the rainbow people, and we still do.”
The party had always fought for the security of the children, women and men of our country, who deserved to live without fear of criminals and still did, as well as remaining committed to clean government, exposing corruption and championing tolerance, excellence and personal responsibility.
“Here’s what’s new,” she said, “The DA is a party of government.”
“We are in government in Cape Town and in many other municipalities and we aim to be in government in various provinces after next year’s election.”
“We are determined to be in government in cities and towns across South Africa in 2011 and we will be part of national government in the near future.”
Where the DA was in opposition, it would continue to provide the critical oversight and policy alternatives which everyone expected of it, and the country required of it.
“But our purpose is not to be an opposition party; it is to be a party of government, and so, from now on, the DA no longer offers opposition and nothing else.”
“From today, we offer the people of South Africa a government that really can deliver a better future: a future in which every person is free, where everyone has access to life-changing opportunities, where growth and prosperity are shared by all, where every child is protected and safe, where each and every language and culture is respected and protected,” Zille said.
“That is our dream; that is our promise; that is what we offer and will deliver to the rainbow people.”
This new vision was reflected in the policy proposals which were currently being rolled out, covering every area of public life in South Africa.
“Only the DA has a comprehensive policy alternative to the challenges our country faces. Because underlying our offer is real substance – comprehensively researched and carefully considered.”
“It’s our sights and spirits, it signals hope and it’s grounded in our love for diversity.”
“The DA loves South Africa.”
“We love our rainbow people in all their glorious diversity -they are our inspiration and our hope.”
“We love the Constitution, which binds us to one another after so much division and despair.”
“The DA will not let down the land we love- we will never give up our dream for the rainbow people.”

Michael Sata had said he would not accept defeat. Zambia’s opposition party has written to the electoral commission demanding a verification of the results of last week’s presidential elections. Opposition leader Michael Sata narrowly lost the vote to President Rupiah Banda, but has claimed that the election was rigged. African regional election observers have said the poll was free and fair. Mr Banda had been serving as the interim replacement for President Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August.
Mr Banda’s swearing-in ceremony was held just two hours after election officials said he had won by 40.1% to Mr Sata’s 38.1%. The leader of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) said his priority was to fight poverty, and that he hoped to turn Zambia into an investment hub.
But Mr Sata has rejected the result, saying a “bunch of thieves” had stolen the vote.
Rupiah Banda was rapidly sworn in on Sunday
The party has written to the electoral commission to ask for a verification of how the votes were tallied, and says it will also go to court to demand a full recount.
“Knowing how corrupt the [electoral commission] are, I do not think we are going to get much from them,” Mr Sata told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme.
“That’s why we now want to involve the courts of law.”
He claimed that the number of votes announced in one district was higher than the total population of that district.
Security was tight for the election. Late on Saturday evening, riot police fired tear gas at Mr Sata’s supporters when they set fire to market stalls and threw stones in a crowded Lusaka slum.
Mr Banda will serve until 2011, when Mr Mwanawasa’s term would have ended.

« Nous devons empêcher un autre Darfour, »   A exprime Dr. Lamine Ba, President du Reseau Liberal Africain, sur la situation actuelle en RDC.
Appréciant le déploiement d’aide de l’ONU à la République Démocratique du Congo (DRC), Dr. Lamine BA a exprimé tout son soutien à l’initiative onusienne : « il n’y a pas de doute que l’ONU doit avoir le mandat et la capacité à empêcher la poursuite de l’escalade au Congo. La dégradation dans cette partie de l’Afrique Centrale est suffisamment grave car les violations contre les Droits humains fondamentaux les plus élémentaires y sont récurrentes. L’ONU doit mettre davantage de moyens à la disposition de ses troupes qui sont en place (la MONUC). Pour nous libéraux d’Afrique et du reste du monde, c’est notre responsabilité de nous opposer à la violation des Droits de l’Homme ; cela figure dans notre Chartre fondamentale le Manifeste d’Oxford en 1947 déjà ».
Le Cessez le feu qui a été convenu par les belligérants nous semble encore trop précaire parce qu’il n’a pu empêcher la poursuite des meurtres viols et pillages dans la zone. Les agences d’aide internationales parlent même de catastrophe humanitaire.
Voilà pourquoi, selon le Dr Lamine BA : « C’est notre devoir et aussi notre responsabilité, en tant que Libéraux, de mobiliser toute notre énergie et notre intelligence pour mettre aux atrocités et travailler à trouver des solutions au nom des principes démocratiques auxquels nous croyons. Nous libéraux avons été des adversaires de la violence et de l’arbitraire ; nous le sommes davantage pour le cas de la RDC. Nous bannissons sans ambages la violence sous toutes ses formes et devons empêcher un autre Darfour au nom de l’Humanisme qui fonde notre philosophie politique. »
Le RLA est actuellement bien représentée en RDC avec un membre de plein droit (ANADER) a qui nous leur devons conseil et assistance ainsi qu’au peuple congolais tout entier.
3 November 2008

« Nous devons empêcher un autre Darfour, » A exprime Dr. Lamine Ba, President du Reseau Liberal Africain, sur la situation actuelle en RDC.
Appréciant le déploiement d’aide de l’ONU à la République Démocratique du Congo (DRC), Dr. Lamine BA a exprimé tout son soutien à l’initiative onusienne : « il n’y a pas de doute que l’ONU doit avoir le mandat et la capacité à empêcher la poursuite de l’escalade au Congo. La dégradation dans cette partie de l’Afrique Centrale est suffisamment grave car les violations contre les Droits humains fondamentaux les plus élémentaires y sont récurrentes. L’ONU doit mettre davantage de moyens à la disposition de ses troupes qui sont en place (la MONUC). Pour nous libéraux d’Afrique et du reste du monde, c’est notre responsabilité de nous opposer à la violation des Droits de l’Homme ; cela figure dans notre Chartre fondamentale le Manifeste d’Oxford en 1947 déjà ».
Le Cessez le feu qui a été convenu par les belligérants nous semble encore trop précaire parce qu’il n’a pu empêcher la poursuite des meurtres viols et pillages dans la zone. Les agences d’aide internationales parlent même de catastrophe humanitaire.
Voilà pourquoi, selon le Dr Lamine BA : « C’est notre devoir et aussi notre responsabilité, en tant que Libéraux, de mobiliser toute notre énergie et notre intelligence pour mettre aux atrocités et travailler à trouver des solutions au nom des principes démocratiques auxquels nous croyons. Nous libéraux avons été des adversaires de la violence et de l’arbitraire ; nous le sommes davantage pour le cas de la RDC. Nous bannissons sans ambages la violence sous toutes ses formes et devons empêcher un autre Darfour au nom de l’Humanisme qui fonde notre philosophie politique. »
Le RLA est actuellement bien représentée en RDC avec un membre de plein droit (ANADER) a qui nous leur devons conseil et assistance ainsi qu’au peuple congolais tout entier.
3 November 2008

Zambians are going to the polls to elect a new president to replace Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August after suffering a stroke. The two main contenders in the poll are acting president Rupiah Banda and opposition leader Michael Sata. Police are on high alert for what is expected to be a close vote.
The country’s army commander, Gen Isaac Chisuzi, warned that anyone who tried to incite violence would be dealt with by the army.
In their final rallies on Wednesday, both candidates named economic progress as their top goal.
Mr Banda, a 71-year-old former diplomat who served as vice-president to Mr Mwanawasa, heads the governing Movement For Multi-Party Democracy. He promised to follow in the footsteps of the former leader.
Mr Sata, who leads the opposition Patriotic Front, called on his supporters to sleep outside polling booths to prevent vote rigging. He has vowed to transform Zambia within 90 days of taking office by forcing foreign firms to hand over 25% stakes to local investors.
There are two other candidates: Hakainde Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development and retired army general Godfrey Miyande, of the Heritage Party.
The winner of the election will serve until 2011 – when Mr Mwanawasa’s term would have ended.

The UN says it is deeply concerned about the plight of tens of thousands of people fleeing a rebel advance on Goma in eastern DR Congo. Police are trying to arrest retreating soldiers blamed for causing chaotic scenes in the Congolese city, which was calm but tense early on Thursday.
Oxfam and other aid agencies said they had decided to evacuate international staff from Goma. The UN Security Council urged the rebel leader to implement his ceasefire. An emergency session of the council also expressed alarm over cross-border firing between DR Congo and Rwanda. Many of the population that have fled are staying in vacant schools, in churches and outside Unicef’s Jaya Murthy.
Tutsi rebel CNDP leader Laurent Nkunda, whose forces are just outside Goma, declared a ceasefire on Wednesday night and urged others to do the same.
The Security Council took no action on a request from the country’s mission head, Alan Doss, for temporary reinforcements but said some of its peacekeepers could be redeployed from elsewhere in DR Congo to back up those in Goma.
The UN children’s agency Unicef said the latest bout of fighting had resulted in a “very bad” humanitarian situation. “We’re talking tens of thousands of people who have fled towards Goma and thousands more who are fleeing north to a town called Kane Byunga,” Unicef’s Jaya Murthy told the BBC’s World Today programme.  “Many of the population that have fled are staying in vacant schools, in churches and outside.”
Oxfam said national staff had been advised to stay at home, but it was hoping to resume humanitarian work for more than 65,000 people in Goma’s camps soon.
Overnight, Goma resident Tawite Anthony told the BBC that there were “uncontrolled soldiers who were looting all over the city”. He said he had seen the dead body of one man who had apparently been shot by the police while trying to break into a shop. Some people were fleeing to Rwanda, he said. “Everybody’s afraid of the wars. They are fearing what will happen next.”
The BBC’s Thomas Fessy in Goma said the atmosphere was calm but tense after a night of gunfire and looting. He said he had seen a body with bullet wounds, but was still unclear how many people had been killed or injured overnight.
Thousands of displaced people have been fleeing
Earlier UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate end to the fighting, which he said was creating a “humanitarian catastrophe”. Mr Ban said he deplored the deliberate targeting of civilians and their use as human shields and said UN peacekeepers were “doing everything possible to protect civilians and fulfil their mandate in untenable circumstances”.
Correspondents say the 17,000-strong UN force in DR Congo – the world’s largest – is stretched to breaking point.
Gen Nkunda told the BBC the goal of his forces was to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide.
A peace deal was signed in Goma between the government and various rebel groups at the end of January.
Although he signed the deal, Gen Nkunda has refused to disarm while Rwandan Hutu rebels still operate in the area.
The AP news agency reported Mr Nkunda as saying on Thursday that he wanted direct negotiations with the government about security and his objections to a $5bn (£3.1bn) deal that gives China access to the region’s mineral resources.
Some observers say that the fighting in eastern DR Congo is really over control of resources.
Meanwhile, US assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer said she had no evidence that Rwanda was directly involved in the fighting.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Rosemary Museminali was due to meet Congo’s President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa on Thursday, AFP news agency reported.

HUNDREDS of refugees continued to troop into Kisoro district in western Uganda yesterday, fleeing heavy fighting in eastern Congo between rebels and the Congolese armed forces backed by UN peacekeepers.
Ejected from their village of Rugarama, the refugees, many loaded with basic luggage on their heads and with babies strapped to their backs, trekked through the night to the Ugandan side of the border, UN agencies said.
The refugees, most of whom are women and children, are temporarily staying at Busanza on the border. Yesterday they said Rugarama, about 17km from Uganda, had fallen into the hands of Laurent Nkunda’s rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People.
“Just a short while ago I saw about 600 refugees walking into this place and they say many more are on the way here,” UNHCR external relations officer Roberta Russo said in a telephone interview from Kisoro yesterday. “Presently we are talking of over 5,000 refugees.”
For the second successive day yesterday, UN peacekeepers used attack helicopters to try and halt a seemingly relentless rebel advance in eastern Congo.
The UN’s largest peacekeeping mission, MONUC, stepped up direct intervention in the conflict as tens of thousands of civilians were displaced by the fighting which surged early on Wednesday as Nkunda’s troops geared up for an assault on Goma.
The clashes centred on Kibumba around 30km north of Goma, where the UN aircraft fired on rebel positions, stalling their advance on the regional capital, and forcing them to retreat to higher ground.
A top aide to Nkunda told AFP the rebels would take Goma, whose population has been swelled by refugees from the fighting, within three days, despite having their progress slowed by the UN attack.
Government forces are blocking roads to Goma from the north, but pulled out in disarray from a second flashpoint further north. The UN was the only force protecting the key administrative town of Rutshuru, after government forces fled the fighting there, Col Samba Tall told AFP.
On the Ugandan side, exhausted refugees trudged into Kisoro at about 1:00pm, adding onto another 4,000 who fled into the country last week.
Russo said the situation was grave and that UNHCR was contemplating setting up camp in Kisoro to monitor the situation. “The refugees don’t want to go to the transit site. They prefer staying in the villages along the border as they want to be close to their homes in the DRC

Welcome to the October issue of the ALN newsletter.
First of all, I would like to reiterate my thanks to all the leaders and delegates of African liberal parties who put their trust in me and elected me President of the Africa Liberal Network during the ALN General Assembly meeting held on the 4th of August in Dar Es Salam. I can only assure them that I will do my best to make our Network more efficient, more responsive to the needs of its members, and one with a stronger voice on the African continent.
The ALN strives to promote democracy and the rule of law in Africa, never an easy task, as democracy is a goal to which we continously strive. Our continent has the potential to be the next biggest market in world economy by the middle of the 21th century. We have a wealth of natural resources, determined people, and a young dynamic population. All that is missing is true representative democracy and know-how. This is where we seek the support and solidarity of our European partners and friends.
We are grateful for the continued support of Liberal International who for the past 5 years has held its Congress twice on the African continent (Dakar 2003, Marrakech 2005) and is hoping to host its next Congress in Africa again in 2009. This shows clearly that liberals from around the world share our concern and hope for the future of our continent.
Kind regards
Dr Mamadou Lamine Bâ
ALN President
•    South Africa: Transition in South Africa, opportunity for the DA
•    Seychelles: Hard times re-shape the political landscape in Paradise
•    Zambia: UPND nominates Hakainde Hichilema as presidential candidate
•    Malawi: UDF presidential candidate enjoys heavy backing
•    South Africa: A programme of action for President Kgalema Motlanthe
•    DRC: ANADER welcomes resignation of PM Antoine Gisenga
•    Burkina Faso: ADF-RDA to hold congress in November
•    ALN elects new President and adopts constitutional amendments
•    ALN 2008-09 election calendar
South Africa: Transition in South Africa, opportunity for the DA
Jonathan Moakes, Executive Director, Resources & Development
Democratic Alliance, South Africa
The recent month has been a time of great drama and change in South Africa. Over the past few weeks, South Africans have witnessed the most historically significant chain of events in our nascent democracy since the first democratic elections and Nelson Mandela’s subsequent inauguration in 1994.
The dismissal of ANC President Jacob Zuma’s corruption case, the subsequent forced resignation of Thabo Mbeki as the nation’s president and the resultant swearing in of Kgalema Motlanthe as his replacement have awoken many South Africans from their apathetic slumber. These unsettling events have certainly destabilised the country, and caused a great number of citizens to exhibit significant uncertainty and express grave doubts about its future. However, there can be no doubt that the same events have generated great excitement among many South Africans and have galvanised citizens of all races to take an active interest in politics.
It is in this climate of transition, concern about the future and renewed political engagement that one finds a wide avenue of opportunity for the Democratic Alliance. The need for a strong, vibrant, committed opposition, underpinned by liberal principles has never been clearer. With the next general elections barely six months away, the prospects of South Africa’s official opposition making significant inroads into the ANC’s majority are good. Furthermore, to quote Helen Zille, the leader of the Democratic Alliance, the “realignment of South Africa’s politics has begun.”
On 12 September 2008 in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, Judge Chris Nicholson delivered his verdict that the decision of South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority to prosecute Jacob Zuma on corruption and fraud charges was invalid and therefore should be set aside. Apart from Zuma’s “victory”, the dominant feature of the judgment (seized upon with glee by Zuma’s supporters) was the Judge’s inference that Thabo Mbeki and certain cabinet ministers used instruments of state to pursue factional battles within the African National Congress (ANC). On the basis of this inference, the Zuma faction dominated National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC took the decision a week later to “recall” Thabo Mbeki from his “deployment” as President of the country, the ultimate settling of a political score. A day later (Sunday 21 September 2008), Thabo Mbeki resigned as President.
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Seychelles: Hard times re-shape the political landscape in Paradise
Roger Mancienne, Secretary General
Seychelles National party
The SNP stands to gain as the ruling party is forced to adopt an IMF supported programme of economic reforms
The political battleground is being redefined for the next few years as the Seychelles Government, with the help of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), lays out reform measures that spell hardship for the population. The opposition Seychelles National Party (SNP), which has long criticized the Government’s management of the economy, stands to gain as many of its policies are vindicated.
Building on democracy
Since the return to multi-party politics in 1993, two issues have dominated the political landscape. One was democracy, which the party in power had massacred in a period of repressive one-party rule. The SNP’s origins as an underground movement for political liberty and its subsequent campaign for democratic governance and constitutional rights enabled it to grow in stature and become the main opposition, achieving a steady 45% of national support. But while the population continued to enjoy a relatively comfortable standard of living, democracy itself was not enough to sway a majority of people over to the side of the SNP.
As the opposition, the SNP has been able to shift the ruling party closer to democratic standards of governance. In the 15 years of steady and persistent campaigning by the SNP, the ruling party has, even if to defend itself against the criticisms, come to pay more attention to accountability, the rule of law and respect of constitutional rights such as freedom of speech and political activity. For that reason, democracy no longer defines the political landscape so sharply.
But there is the second issue – economic management. The stance of the SNP, in accordance with its liberal philosophy, has always been different from the marxist oriented philosophy of the ruling party. From the outset, the SNP advocated changes of policy towards empowering the private sector, easing government controls, liberalizing the foreign exchange regime, eliminating waste and corruption together with more prudent management of Government finances.
The economic debate
It has been the strength of the ruling party that it had, over much of its 30 years in power, established creditable social services, with free education and healthcare and a variety of welfare benefits, while maintaining the purchasing power of the population.
The problem was that this system was fragile, being supported mostly by a very high level of government borrowing both locally and abroad. The government took a very negligent attitude to managing its debts, simply not repaying numerous bilateral and multi-lateral loans taken at the outset and eventually coming to rely on expensive commercial bank loans.
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Zambia: UPND nominates Hakainde Hichilema as presidential candidate
Tiens Kahenya, Secretary General
United Party for National Development, Zambia
Follwing the death of President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa on August 19 2008, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has since announced October 30, 2008 as the date for the Presidential Election and UPND is fielding party leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema as its presidential candidate. According to the Zambian constitution, the vacancy in the office of the President has to be filled within 90 days of the demise of the sitting President.
Before the announcement of the Presidential election date, however, the ruling party (MMD) attempted to persuade the Zambian people to agree to a Transitional Government of National Unity, frivolously arguing that it would be extravagant for the country to hold an expensive Presidential Election, when this money could have been channeled towards development.
However, the Zambian people vigilantly stood to protect the constitutional provisions of the country and to maintain Zambia’s good governance record. It was only then that the Government quickly abandoned the mischievous attempt to vandalize the constitution and quickly announced October 30, 2008 as the date for the Presidential Election.
So far three candidates from the three major political parties have indicated their intention to contest the Presidential Election : the United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema (HH), Patriotic Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata and the ruling party’s Rupiah Bwezani Banda (RB), who is the incumbent acting President.
The UPND officially launched its presidential campaign with a promise to improve the country’s economy.
Addressing a mammoth crowed in Lusaka, Hichilema said that he had the necessary skills and a good team in his Party to move the country forward. Accepting the Party’s nomination as its presidential candidate, Hichilema said UPND would continue with the anti corruption fight, which was the hallmark of the late President’s legacy, while good governance would be a must.
He also pointed out that his government would provide free education up to University level, work towards providing quality health care to all its citizens and guarantee food security through prudent policies in the agricultural sector.
The incumbent President has already started violating the electoral code of conduct, by distributing food stuffs to the electorate in guise of addressing the hunger situation in some parts of the country. As incumbent President he is also allowed to campaign using unlimited state resources, whereas the opposition candidates have to fend for themselves, obviously tilting the electoral playing field to the advantage of the ruling party.
Malawi: UDF presidential candidate enjoys heavy backing
Clement Stambuli, Member of Parliament and Director of Campaigns
United Democratic Front, Malawi
Malawi’s former president and United Democratic Front (UDF) presidential candidate for the May 2009 elections, Dr. Bakili Muluzi, is enjoying heavy backing from four opposition parties which have agreed to approach the 2009 elections with one presidential candidate. The four political parties are the New Republican Party of Gwanda Chakuamba, The Malawi Democratic party of Kamlepo Kalua, The Malavi Progressive Party of Uladi Mussa and the Malawi Democratic Union of Amuna Ndife Mkumba.
The merging of the opposition parties leaves three main contestants for the 2009 elections:Dr. Bakili Muluzi of the United Democratic Front, Hon John Zenus Ungapake Tembo of the Malawi Congress Party and Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party and current President of Malawi. However, consultations are underway for a possibility of Hon. JZU Tembo of Malawi Congress Party to be a running mate of UDF’s Dr. Bakili Muluzi.
Opinion Polls carried out by the Catholic Church gave over 90% chances of winning the Presidential polls by the opposition, citing various factors most prominent of which is the failure of the current administration to abide by the rule of law. On the Parliamentary polls, predictions are that Bingu Wa Mutharika’s DPP would win only 30 parliamentary seats out of the 193.
South Africa: A programme of action for President Kgalema Motlanthe
Helen Zille, Party Leader
Democratic Alliance, South Africa
The new President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, must act quickly and decisively to gain the confidence of the South African nation, and demonstrate that he can rise above the factional power-plays of the ruling party and govern in the interests of the people as a whole.
He must show that he is the leader of the nation, rather than the chosen proxy for the leader of a victorious faction in the ruling party, at whose behest he was elected President. And for that to happen, he must, at the outset of his term in office, do two things which are in the national interest but which will not serve the self-interest of ANC President Jacob Zuma and his clique.
Firstly, he must announce the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry into the arms deal, headed by a judge nominated by the Chief Justice.
In his verdict on the matter between Jacob Zuma vs. the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Judge Chris Nicholson said of the arms deal: “Only a commission of enquiry can properly rid our land of this cancer that is devouring the body politic and the reputation for integrity built up so assiduously after the fall of Apartheid”.
This proposal – a key recommendation in a judgment which, incidentally, was hailed by the Zuma camp as proof that our judiciary is independent and that constitutional democracy is flourishing – should be adopted by President Motlanthe. In fact, it is only right and just that he should use his constitutional power to appoint such a commission, headed by a judge nominated by the Chief Justice, so that we can get to the whole truth.
The decay of our state institutions, caused by infighting in the ANC and the use of these institutions to wage political battles, partly has its origins in conflicts triggered by the arms deal. President Motlanthe can help to arrest that decay, and prove his commitment to fighting corruption, by appointing a commission without delay.
Secondly, President Motlanthe must state unequivocally that under his administration there will be no ‘political solution’ to Zuma’s legal problems. Any attempt to broker a special political deal for Zuma outside of the courts, with presidential consent, would be illegal and unconstitutional, and would violate the oath of office taken by President Motlanthe when he was sworn in by the Chief Justice yesterday.
It would be a betrayal of his conscience, and a gross infringement of the principle of equality before the law, if President Motlanthe abused his power either to facilitate or condone a political settlement for Zuma.
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DRC: ANADER welcomes resignation of PM Antoine Gisenga
Albi-Bweya Nkiama, International Relations Officer
Alliance Nationale des Démocrates pour la Reconstruction , DRC
In his article Albi-Bweya Nkiama states that ANADER welcomes the resignation of 83 year old PM Antoine Gisenga (Friday 26 September) given his advanced age and the inefficiency and inactivity that characterised his term at the head of the AMP coalition government. Gizenga, the leader of the Lumumbist Party (PALU), was appointed Prime Minister following a deal with Joseph Kabila, after Gizenga emerged third in the 2006 presidential elections and his party backed Kabila during his run-off with arch rival Jean Pierre Bemba.
Nkiama calls on President Kabila to make a judicious choice when appointing the new Prime Minister, one who would be in the best interests of the people of the DRC, rather than on the basis of party politics, and one who would be capable of addressing the long standing problems of the country, notably, the renewed fighting in the Eastern DRC and the ensuing human rights abuses, the recurring public sector strikes, the rising inflation (more than 34%), the mismanagement of public funds, and the prevailing state of insecurity in the country.
Nkiama draws a parallel between the situation in the DRC and the recent political developments in South Africa, noting that Gisenga was forced to resign and that the risk of a split within the AMP coalition was a strong likelihood.
For the full text in French, please click on the following link/ Pour lire l’article complet en Francais, priere de cliquer sur le lien suivant:
https://africaliberalnetwork.org/news_item.aspx?i_PageID=14231&i_News_CatID=16
Burkina Faso: ADF-RDA to hold congress in November
ALN member party ADF-RDA will be holding its 14th congress on the 29th and 30th of November 2008, under the theme of “Economic development and social stability in Burkina Faso: the role of political parties.” The theme was chosen in light of the current global financial and economic crisis and the necessity for political parties to find common appropriate solutions to protect their citizens.  It is worth noting that earlier last month, a cabinet reshuffle in Burkina Faso saw Gilbert Noel Ouedraogo, ADF-RDA party leader, and Ousseni Tamboura, stay in government as Minister of Transport and Minister for Literacy respectively.
To read the press release in French please click on the following link/Pour lire le communique en Francais, priere de cliquer sur le lien suivant:
https://africaliberalnetwork.org/news_item.aspx?i_PageID=14232&i_News_CatID=16
ALN elects new President and adopts constitutional amendments
Fifteen representatives of ALN members parties met in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania, 2-4 August 2008 in order to decide on the best ways of increasing the effectiveness of the Network and to agree an action plan for the next 2 years. The points discussed during the meeting included redefining the roles and responsibilities of office bearers, and of the different bodies within the ALN structure, and reviewing the procedures for admission of new members. The constitutional amendments were officially adopted during the ALN General Assembly which took place on Monday 4 August, together with an action plan for the next 2 years which stressed, among other things, the importance of increasing electoral support to member parties during elections. A new Exectuive Committee was also elected. Dr. Mamadou Lamine Ba from PDS Senegal, adviser to President Wade and Liberal International Vice-President, was elected as the new ALN President, together with 5 regional Vice-Presidents and a Treasurer.
ALN 2008-09 election calendar
Zambia–30 October 2008–Presidential
Mozambique–9 November 2008–Municipal/Provincial
Cote d’Ivoire–30 November 2008–Presidential
South Africa–May 2009–Presidential/ Parliamentary
Malawi–19 May 2009–Presidential/ Parliamentary
DRC–June 2009–Local
Tunisia–October 2009–Presidential/ Parliamentary
Mozambique–December 2009–Presidential/ Parliamentary