SW Radio Africa (London)
Violet Gonda
20 January 2009
Barack Hussein Obama, son of a Kenyan man who grew up herding goats and later became an economist, was inaugurated as the most powerful man on the planet. On Tuesday all nations of the world were gripped with inauguration fever as they witnessed the profound moment when Obama was sworn in as the first African American President.
The inauguration is unprecedented because not only is Obama America's first black president but he is facing more intense difficulties than any other president in recent times.
Not only has he inherited a tough economic crisis in his own country, but internationally America is involved in two unresolved wars - one in Iraq and the other in Afghanistan, not to mention the crisis in the Middle East and the global credit crisis.
But there are great expectations and a BBC World Service poll on Tuesday said the 'world has high hopes' for the new US President.
According to the poll of more than 17,000 people in 17 countries, 67% said President Obama would strengthen US relations abroad and make the global economic crisis his top priority. However observers say it's going to be a great challenge for Obama, given the international complexities he now faces.
One of the many unresolved world crises is Zimbabwe, now described by humanitarian agencies as a 'scandalous factory of poverty'. The man-made Zimbabwean crisis has resulted in a total collapse of the economy, rampant state sponsored lawlessness and more than 30 civic and MDC activists incarcerated in the notorious Chikurubi prison on trumped up terrorism charges.
Political rivals are stuck in an endless power share debate that is going nowhere and Mugabe shows he has no intention of giving up any power - something the SADC leaders seem to be happy with.
But political analyst Glen Mpani feels that new President Obama is really inspiring hope in Zimbabweans: "If you come back home and see an environment that is highly oppressive, in an environment where the economic issues are quite depressing - where there is high inflation, where the hospitals have closed, where there is despondence across the country. And in a context where there has been successive meetings that have failed to breakthrough and come up with a solution in Zimbabwe. I think he inspires hope."
"He provides an opportunity that if people are willing and if people are optimistic and if there is hope that we can be able to transform the situation in Zimbabwe, I think that in itself should inspire all progressive and democratic Zimbabweans to say our time shall come when we will be able to liberate ourselves and we can celebrate like what African Americans and everyone else in America are currently celebrating with the coming of Barack Obama," added Mpani.
In his inaugural address President Obama pointedly said, "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
In November, speaking just after Obama won the US election, political analyst Brian Kagoro said: "I think it recreates hope that has long been lost in electoral democracy and liberal democracy. Liberal democracy of course does not always result in economic redistribution. So in a sense, I think what the Obama victory does is the symbolism that creates the impression that you don't necessarily have to have war credentials to run a country, because America like Zimbabwe had been fixated with this war veteran issue."
Kagoro believes there will be a renewed focus on an end to tyranny, despotism, dictatorship and human rights violations. He said; "Many are going to find themselves pretty lonely if they do not comply with these increasing global expectations. And we don't just see it as an Obama victory, we see it in its symbolic form as history being made for the entire black race."
The coming of the Obama administration means the end of the George Bush era. Many Americans and the world are bitter over Bush's legacy and criticise him for mismanagement and the invasion of Iraq. However there are many in Africa who see him as a friend. In many parts of Africa the outgoing American President will be remembered for pumping billions into the fight against HIV, Aids and malaria and for leading world-wide condemnation of Sudan and Zimbabwe's human rights records.
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