Hope for democracy, or is it just another dark phase on the African continent?  – the Nkosazana Zuma led continental authority, The African Union has launched a new website meant to monitor and report issues of peace and security on the African continent.
The website’s launching comes in sync with the appointment of Welshman Ncube’s inlaw relation Ms. Nkosazana Zuma who as she was sworn in this year pledged a new era to ensure peace and unity.
Announcing the site, the AU stated in a statement: “The site is complementary to the Commission’s main website and part of the Commission’s overall Communications Strategy aimed at increasing its visibility, accessibility and transparency as well as strengthening its relationship with all stakeholders. The new website is the Commission’s window to the world offering a one-stop-shop for African peace and security related knowledge and resources. It aims at promoting the Commission’s vision and its activities related to peace and security. The website offers an interactive platform for stakeholders to share knowledge and contribute to the AUC’s efforts in promoting peace and security in Africa.”
The website which is in French and English, www.peaceau.org, was launched by the AU’s Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission (AUC).
Likely to end up elitist
London based lecturer Dr Vincent Magombe told ZimEye the website is likely going to end up as an elitist, pro-dictatorship portal.
“The AU Commission and its strategic organs, like the Peace and Security Department, have existed and continue to exist as mouth pieces for autocratic and anti-people rulers – the Musevenis, the Kagames, the Bashirs, etc. The People of Africa have not benefited sufficiently from the modernisation and advancement of the AU and its organs.
“The website is most likely going to end up as an elitist, pro-dictatorship and anti-people outfit. Just think about it – in most African countries, there is nothing interactive about the state or public communication and media institutions.
The public / state media in Africa is predominantly the tool for anti-people state propaganda.
“So how can we expect this Super-communication facility – the new website to serve and promote the interests of the African people? I can’t see it happening now. Perhaps later in the post-dictatorial era, when the current crop of African leaders is gone, and a new generation of pro-people, democratic leaders has arrived, shall we see a truly useful and interractive website,” Magombe said.
At present, people are urged to leave the feedback on the AU’s social networking pages – Facebook at http://goo.gl/G9ZI0 and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/africaforpeace