Mongella: No shortcut to power
 
2005-05-20 08:23:37
By Judica Tarimo

	The President of the Pan African Parliament,Ambassador Gertrude Mongella,leaves the conference room after opening a 3-day workshop on civic/security relations at a DSM hotel yesterday.Escorting her are workshop chairman Lawrence Gama (L)and Major General(

African leaders who opt for shortcuts and unconstitutional means to seize or remain in power are a disgrace to the continent, the President of the Pan African Parliament, Ambassador Getrude Mongella, said yesterday in Dar es Salaam.

Addressing members of the defene and security parliamentary committees from Tanzania and South Africa yesterday, she said new mechanisms were needed to restrain African leaders from acquiring power through forceful and unproper means.

'There is no shortcut to power…we should find ways to stop this behaviour of some undemocratic power mongers, who don't abide by the constitutions of their lands,' said Mongella officiating at the three-day meeting focussing on defence and security issues.

Mongella said African countries must put in place appropriate legal and administrative mechanims to punish people seeking presidency through the back door.

'How can we manage these people? How can we stop them? As defence and security experts, you should look into these issues and advice our countries on how to tackle such problems,' she said.

Mongella also tasked participants to re-define terriorism and related aspects from the African point of view.
The western definition was confusing and misleading.

'In my opinion, colonialism was the largest form of terriorism. Please discuss such issues and come out with a proper description of terrorism,' Mongella said.

Mongella appealed to the participants to deliberate on practical strategies to domesticate security and defence so as to link their operations with the ordinary people.

She challenged the meeting also to address rampant unemployment, deaths of women and children and other efforts to enhance peace and harmony in the African continent.

'About 850 million people are unemployed in Africa. Is that not a source of insecurity?' Mongella queried.

The meeting has brought together academics, politicians, security and defence specialists, government officials etc.

Members of the defence and security parliamentary committees are expected to share experiences on the proceedings of the South African parliament, especially in the areas of building good relations between parliament, civilians and defence and security agencies.

• SOURCE: Guardian