Myths of Peace and Democracy? Towards Building Pillars of Hope, Unity and Transformation in Africa

Yaya Fonye Odette

Description

The myths of peace and democracy in Africa are at the heart of this volume. Democracy and peace have become buzz words across postcolonial Africa. The gospel of democracy and peace is preached by national governments and by civil society and international organisations alike. But to what extent are the ongoing sideshows and charades of quasi-oligarchies in Africa really democracy? What do ordinary Africans mean when they hunger and thirst for democracy and peace? Positive and noble as the loud sounding rhetoric about democracy and peace in Africa might seem, the reality of propaganda and dissemblance and of multi-dimensional violence are simply too overwhelming not to be disillusioning. This book interrogates the rampant violence, enduring conflicts, autocratic governance, and facades of democracy amidst claims and calls for enduring peace on the continent. This is a monumental resource book for human rights activists, conflict management practitioners, civil society activists, political scientists, statesmen and development practitioners. It poses a challenge to those African governments who claim to embrace principles of democracy and respect for human rights to rethink and reconsider their role as ambassadors of peace, hope, transformation, and good governance.

Informations

• Publié par: Langaa RPCIG
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789956764600
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

MYTHS OF PEACE AND DEMOCRACY?

E

B

MYTHS OF PEACE AND DEMOCRACY? Towards Building Pillars of Hope, Unity and Transformation in Africa

Edited By Munyaradzi Mawere & Ngonidzashe Marongwe

Myths of Peace & Democracy? Towards Building Pillars of Hope, Unity and Transformation in Africa Munyaradzi Mawere & Ngonidzashe Marongwe L a ng a a R esea rch & P u blishing CIG Mankon, Bamenda

Publisher: LangaaRPCIG Langaa Research & Publishing Common Initiative Group P.O. Box 902 Mankon Bamenda North West Region Cameroon [e-mail] www.langaa-rpcig.net Distributed in and outside N. America by African Books Collective [e-mail] www.africanbookscollective.com

ISBN: 9956-763-90-X ©Munyaradzi Mawere & Ngonidzashe Marongwe 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or be stored in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher

List of Contributors Munyaradzi Mawere holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa. Professor Mawere also holds a Master’s Degree in Social Anthropology from UCT, a Master’s Degree in Philosophy and B. A. (Hons) Degree in Philosophy from the University of Zimbabwe. He is currently Professor in the Department of Culture and Heritage Studies at Great Zimbabwe University. Before joining this university, Professor Mawere was a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe and at Universidade Pedagogica, Mozambique, where he has worked in different capacities as a Senior lecturer, Assistant Research Director, Postgraduate Co-ordinator and Associate Professor. He has an outstanding publishing record of more than one hundred and thirty pieces of work which include more than twenty-five books and over a hundred book chapters and papers in scholarly journals. Professor Mawere has published extensively on poverty and community development, knowledge studies, political anthropology, science and technology studies (STS), environment and agrarian issues, democracy and African states, coloniality, decoloniality and transformation, African philosophy and political systems, culture and heritage studies. His most recent books include:Humans, Other Beings and the Environment: Harurwa (Edible stinkbugs) and Environmental Conservation in South-eastern Zimbabwe;African Cultures, Memory and Space: Living the Past Presence in Zimbabwean Heritage;Colonial Heritage, Memory and Sustainability in Africa: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects, and;Theory, Knowledge, Development and Politics: What Role for the Academy in the Sustainability of Africa?. Ngonidzashe Marongwe is a lecturer in the History and Development Studies Department, Joshua Nkomo School of Arts and Humanities, Great Zimbabwe University located in Masvingo City, Zimbabwe. He holds a PhD in African History from the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa. He is a past Andrew Mellon Foundation Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Humanities Research, UWC (2009–2010 & 2012); and a SEPHIS fellow at the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society,

Bangalore, India (2011). His research interests include African governance, political violence, gender, military history and terrorism. Artwell Nhemachena holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Dr Nhemachena has studied Sociology and Social Anthropology. He has lectured at several universities in Zimbabwe including the University of Zimbabwe, Women’s University in Africa and Great Zimbabwe University before pursuing PhD studies in South Africa. His current areas of interest include Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Environment, Democratic Governance, Social Theory from the South, Decoloniality and Transformation, African Jurisprudence, Human Security, Food Security and Food Sovereignty, Conflict and Violence, Poverty and Development, Science and Technology Studies. He has published on Democracy, Environment, Indigenous Knowledge, Decoloniality, Health, Resilience and Theory. Nkwazi Mhangothe author of is SaayaUkombozi, NyumayaPazia, Souls on Sale, Born with Voice andAfrica Reunite or Perish, a poet, teacher, columnist, Journalist, Peace and Conflict Scholar, and member of Writers’ Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (WANL) St. John’s NL, Canada. Also, Mhango is an alumnus of Universities of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) Winnipeg and Manitoba (Canada). Paul I. Akanmiduis a PhD holder in International Relations, and lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. His research interests include, but not limited to political violence, democracy, and military interventions in Africa. He has published widely in national and internationally acclaimed peer-review journals. Fidelis Peter Thomas Duriis a lecturer in the Department of History and Development Studies at Great Zimbabwe University. He is a holder of a PhD in History from the University of the

Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has published a number of books and articles which focus on environmental history, socio-cultural dynamics, subaltern struggles, African border studies and politics in Zimbabwe during the colonial and post- colonial periods. He has also reviewed and edited a number of scholarly books and articles and is also a member of the editorial boards of international journals such as theZimbabwe Journal of Historical Studiesand theInternational Journal of Developing Societies. James Hlongwanais a lecturer of History in the Department of History and Development Studies at Great Zimbabwe University. He holds a Master’s Degree in History from the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of History at the University of North West in South Africa. Hlongwana has written several articles in international journals. His research interests concern conflict and borderland issues. Bernard Pindukai Humbe is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies in the Joshua Nkomo School of Arts and Humanities at Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo. His areas of research interests include: Symbolism of Animals in African Indigenous Religion, Traditional Law and Social Development, Religion and Entrepreneurship, Religion and Social Transformation, Religion and the Marginalised and Religion and Power. Abdulrasheed Alada Muhammad holds a PhD in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Muhammad teaches political science at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He is currently a Senior Lecturer and acting Head of Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, and has his articles published in Journals and edited books both within and outside Nigeria. His major area of research is in Comparative Government and Politics. Tasara Mugutia lecturer in the History and Development is Studies department at Great Zimbabwe University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economic History a Master of Arts in African Economic History and a Graduate Certificate in Education, all from the University of Zimbabwe. His research interests are in

Indigenous Knowledge Systems with special emphasis on African Traditional Medicine, land reform, human rights, democracy and many other topical issues on contemporary Southern African history. Peter Makayea lecturer in the Development Studies is Department at the Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe. He is a Bachelor of Arts Economic History (Honours) Economic History graduate of the University of Zimbabwe. He is also PhD candidate at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University of South Africa. His major research interests include urban and rural poverty and poverty alleviation strategies, democracy and good governance, as well as political violence. Ishmael Mazambani is a lecturer in the Department of History, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe. He did a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree and a Master of Arts in African History at the University of Zimbabwe. He is also PhD candidate at the Midlands State University. His research interests include History of Vulnerable Groups such as Women and Children, the Liberation Struggle for Zimbabwe, Human Rights and Democracy, Children’s Rights, Politics and Gender Studies. Issah Moshoodis a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin-Nigeria. He had his B.Sc. and M.Sc. Degree in Sociology from the same university in 2010 and 2015 respectively. He is currently Ph.D. student in University of Fort- Hare, East-London, South Africa. Moshood Issah was an outstanding student during his undergraduate and postgraduate programmes being the overall best student throughout. He has published widely in recognized academic books and journals at national and international level. His area of research interests include Criminology and Security studies. Abubakar Yinusa Muhammed is a Lecturer in Department of Sociology where he currently occupies the position of an Associate Professor. He has several Honourable University Degrees such as B.Sc. M.Sc. & PhD (Sociology), Masters in Industrial Relations

(MILR) and Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Degrees. He started his teaching career in 2002 and he has taught several courses in Sociology and Industrial Relations within and outside University Ilorin. His areas of interest includes: Sociology of Development and Social Problems. In addition to his erudite academic records, A.Y Muhammed has wealth of administrative experiences as he has served in several top administrative positions in and outside University of Ilorin and he has published extensively in reputable academic journals at national and international level. He has also attended many national and international conferences. He is a member of prominent professional Associations like Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Association and Nigerian Industrial Relations Association. Ebenezer, E. Lawalis a Senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State-Nigeria. Lawal has been with the academic profession for close to two decades and he has taught in several universities in Nigeria and he has published extensively in national and international journals. He has also served in other areas of national assignments in Nigeria as Political adviser, INEC Commissioner and as resource person in several institutions in Nigeria. He is a member of Nigeria Political Science Association and he has attended numerous academic conferences nationally and internationally. Johnson O. Olaniyiholds a PhD Degree in Political Science from University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria where he has been teaching core courses in Political Science since 1992. His area of specialization is Political Theory/Comparative Politics with special bias in Electoral Studies. Dr. Olaniyi obtained his BSc Hons and MSc Degrees in Political Science from University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He has published extensively in reputable journals, contributed chapters in edited books and authored three books:Political Analysis; Foundations ofIntroduction to Contemporary Public Policy Analysis;andAn Introduction to Constitutional Development in Nigeria which have all become reference points in Nigerian Universities. He is happily married and blessed with children.

Abdulahi Ganiyu Olatunji is a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He had his B.Sc.; M.Sc.; and PhD in (Sociology) in 2003, 2008 and 2015 respectively from the same university. His areas of interest include: Sociology of Development, Sociology of entrepreneurship, Research Methodology in Social Sciences and Sociological theories. Olatunji Abdullahi Ganiyu has published extensively in reputable national and international journals and has travelled wide and far as far as United States of America, China and India. He is a member of Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Association and he has attended national and international conferences. Jacob Tagarirofais a lecturer and coordinator for Peace, Conflict and Governance in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. His current research interests concentrate on gender and conflict in the post-colony. Over the years he has contributed several chapters in books and has published numerous articles in, amongst others,International Journal of Politics and Governance.He holds a BSc in Sociology from Great Zimbabwe University and an MA in Development Studies from University of the Western Cape, South Africa. He is currently studying for his PhD in African Studies (Gender, Peace and Conflict) with University of the Free State, South Africa. David Tobiasis a lecturer in the History and Development Studies department at Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. He graduated with a Master’s degree in African History from the Midlands State University. Currently he is working on his PhD Proposal. Tobias is a prolific writer and publisher. He has written several articles on the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, the trajectory of opposition politics in Zimbabwe, effects of economic sanctions on the Zimbabwean economy, xenophobic attacks in South Africa, and effects of globalisation on the African continent. In addition he has written several book chapters on the land issue in Zimbabwe and on the Tonga people of the Zambezi Valley.

Table of Contents Chapter One Democracy, Violence and Peace in One House: The Dilemma of Post-colonial Africa………………………………………………………… 1 Ngonidzashe Marongwe & Munyaradzi Mawere Chapter Two From Victims to Agents: Zimbabweans and Xenophobic Violence in Post-Apartheid South Africa………………………………………………… 21 Fidelis Peter Thomas Duri Chapter Three Ethnicity, Xenophobic Attacks and Counter-attacks in Africa…………………………………… 61 Nkwazi Mhango Chapter Four Social Support and the Violence of Individualistic Ontologies: Insights from Namibian Female and Male Youths’ Experiences………………………………………………… 89 Artwell Nhemachena Chapter Five Enhancing Democracy and Surmounting the Challenges of Election Management in Africa: Insights from Nigeria……………………………. 123 Johnson O. Olaniyi ix