The Inquirer (Monrovia)
27 May 2008
University of Liberia professor Alaric Tokpa says if civil society groups must make progress in their struggles across the continent, they must build the necessary alliance and forms of struggle for democratic overthrow of the authoritarian and the backwardness of African states.
He said this would be one of the best ways for civil society groups to stand up in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe as it relates to the prevailing political situation in that country stressing that by doing this, the people of the continent and their respective states will be acting in one accord on the important questions facing the continent.
Professor Tokpa, comments were contained in a prepared text he delivered yesterday in Monrovia at programs marking the observance of Zimbabwe Day, a day that was set aside by civil society groups across the continent in solidarity with the people of that country. The day was set aside to coincide with the May 25th, observance of African Liberation Day, which officially falls on May 25.
Addressing the occasion, which was attended by representatives of civil society groups in the country as well as journalists among others, Professor Tokpa said in all respect, the situation unfolding in Zimbabwe is undoubtedly an extension of what he called, "old Euro-American strategy," for the continuous domination of the continent.
"The issue is not only a question of whether an incumbent or an opposition wins elections in Zimbabwe. First and foremost, the issue is that the people of Zimbabwe must live in peace, happiness, and exercise their fundamental human and democratic rights in conditions of freedom. This means that the exclusive clinching to power of the leadership of Zimbabwe must be challenged. This means that unsolicited external interference with the internal affairs of Zimbabwe must cease," he said.
Professor Tokpa suggested the need for the continent to work together to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe have a final say in who leads them adding, "this means that the people of Zimbabwe must be free to exercise independent opinion in choosing their own leaders. But how can this be the case when outside interference has completely distorted what ought to have been a natural patten?"
He said to stand up for Zimbabwe is to condemn the state terror and post elections violence against the people in the strongest terms.
During the ceremony, four other panelists in persons of Mr. Abraham Mitchell of the Center for Security and development Studies (CSDS), Mr. G. Jasper Cummeh, II, of AGENDA, as well as Mr. Alphonso Nimene of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also made brief remarks at the occasion on the political situation in Zimbabwe.
These presentations were followed with an interactive exchange of views and questions from the participants to the panelists on the situation in that country. At the end of the ceremony, a communiqué was adopted for submission to the central government.
The celebration was made possible with the support of the West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), West African Bar Association (WABA) and the West African Human Rights Forum (WAHRF).
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