Africa’s most popular former President, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, during the celebration of his 90th birthday in London, used the opportunity for the first time to denounce the authorities in Zimbabwe for refusing to allow democracy to flourish. His statement is attracting powerful headlines in various London newspapers and magazines, many asserting that his adding his voice to the political dilemma in his neighbouring country is essential and likely to generate positive effect to the current situation.

During a fundraising dinner in the city that was later followed by a giant concert involving various famous artistes and attended by thousands of people across the world, Mandela remarked that the crisis in Zimbabwe is a “tragic failure of leadership” that needed to be addressed.

The protest statement of the former president, who spent 27 years in the notorious Robin Island prison for opposing Apartheid, has been received well by many who believe that his timely intervention may be useful in helping to restore sanity in Zimbabwe.

Mandela, who turns 90 on July 18, is now in frail health and has difficulty walking unaided. The concert, which took place at the Hyde Park and was attended by this correspondent, has been described as one of the most well-attended programmes ever to have taken place in London.

Both the tube and bus stations were packed with dozens of people intending to reach the destination. The Hyde Park itself was already full of people from all walks of life well prior to Mandela’s arrival.

The former President’s prison number 46664 was displayed on all the entrances while journalists from different media houses busied themselves taking pictures and conducting interviews.

The concert was in support of Mandela’s global AIDS campaign, which involves a good number of celebrities in the UK and around the world. Such supporters include various politicians and some members of parliament in the country. Earlier Mandela had an audience with the Queen and some government officials. Both Prince Harry and William also attended the programme.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “We’re particularly honoured that he’ll be celebrating his birthday here in London and that he’s using his birthday to selflessly fundraise and build further support for his exceptional 46664 charity.”

Song writer Jerry Dammers, one of the architects of the famous song ‘free Mandela,’ said that the former South African president is “an inspiration to everyone and the greatest example in the whole world.”

He said “Mandela has been from hell and back and imprisoned unjustly for too long but he is still not bitter… This is why when he clicks his fingers alone everyone joins him in support.”

Bob Geldof has been instrumental in Mandela’s 46664 charity and always demanded others support him. Artist Brian May said it is still hard to believe that the “calibre of Mandela exists because he is so exceptional.”

Another well-known artist, Jimy Cliff, explained that “despite what happened to him and all his achievements, Mandela is still humble and honest.”

The American Hollywood star, Will Smith, noted that Mandela is the “greatest historical figure in this era.” Formula One driver, Louis Hamilton, and US actor, Denzel Washington, were among those due to attend the concert. Hamilton revealed that he was inspired by Mandela and had always wanted to meet him one day.

Musician Jim Kerr outlined that when he sang for Mandela during his 70th birthday, it was done “with anger but now it is different and his song will have to stay alive.”

Famous British singer Amy Winehouse, Brian May, Andrea Corr, Queen with Paul Rodgers, the squabbles, the new rising star Leona lewis, Razorlight, Simple Minds and a host of other well known international stars also performed.

The former South African President seeks his 46664 campaign against HIV/AIDS, to be broadcast around the globe. The 46664 campaign aims to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is rife in sub-Saharan Africa. Mandela lost a son to AIDS in January 2005 and has now made the fight against the pandemic his main cause.

Explaining the importance of the celebration, one of Mandela‘s spokespersons said that “the reason why Mr. Mandela is coming to this concert is that it is his way of saying thank-you to the British people for the Free Nelson Mandela Concert at Wembley in 1988.”

Interestingly a few individuals had different opinions about Mandela’s views. A young West African who voluntarily approached this correspondent at the main entrance gate insisted that Mandela had made a “mistake in denouncing the regime of Robert Mugabe” because, according to him, “Mugabe is doing the right thing.”

Speaking last Thursday at a victory celebration held at the Buffer Zone in Tallinding, President Jammeh said that his joy over the victory celebration is marred by the realisation that no one is helping him to make The Gambia the best place. This is a difficult statement to understand. Surely the president is enjoying the support of many people in his quest to improve the lives of Gambians? The Gambia employs many civil servants including teachers, nurses and those who work in the offices of government departments. It also enjoys a lot of help and support from the various NGOs active in the country, the various donations from other nations as well as philanthropists who regularly donate.

President Jammeh revealed that his government has spent over US$100 million towards the development of the country since 1994 but deplored the fact that almost 98% of that amount has gone to foreigners. Reading into this statement we must infer that the money has gone to foreign contractors. If this is the case then maybe something can be done to remedy it. It is understandable that many companies in The Gambia may not have the capacity to take on large-scale infrastructure projects but maybe there are other options. Perhaps a certain quota of Gambian workers could be required to be employed on any given project. Those who lack the necessary training could be required to be trained on the job. If this were the case then a portion of the money being given to the contractor would flow back into the Gambian economy and benefit the whole nation. 

At the Brikama meeting on Saturday, the Gambian leader said that by the end of 2009, there will be electricity from Kartong to Koina and by 2011, there will be Senior Secondary schools in every 50km in Western Region, the largest region in The Gambia. This is indeed excellent and most welcome news. “Western Region, I owe you and I would pay you. You showed me that you trusted me, if not you would not have voted for me massively. I will make you proud among all the regions. You will have more than what the others have,” he said.

This statement will be most disconcerting for the populations in other regions. Simply because the people of the Western Region voted for President Jammeh in very large numbers does not mean that they should be rewarded or that the President owes them anything. The President is elected by all the people and must serve the people of every region equally.

No one region can be singled out for special treatment in this way. We as a nation must all work together to support the government’s development efforts and the government must reward us all equally. Only through unity of purpose and dedication to our collective cause can we continue on the road to development.

“I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians”.

Charles De Gaulle

As part of the activities marking the celebration of the Gambia’s International Women’s Day, the Dakar based ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, in collaboration with UNIFEM, organised a two-day meeting for ministers of women’s affairs and experts from ECOWAS member countries on the strategic plan of ECOWAS Gender Centre at Jerma Hotel.                                          

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the president of the republic of The Gambia, Alh. Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, the Vice President Aja Isatou Njie Saidy described the event as historic as it is the first time The Gambia has hosted an ECOWAS meeting on women’s affairs.

Their pride in hosting such an important meeting, VP Njie noted, is amply demonstrated by the Gambian government’s unreserved invitation to all of them to the International Women’s Day celebrations as well as their presence en-masse at the official opening and welcome ceremonies.

“In recognition of the important role played by women in our development efforts, my government has, since 1994, made the advancement of women and girls education a priority and has signed and ratified major International Women’s Rights Instruments such as CEDAW and the protocol to the Charter on Human and peoples’ Rights, on the Rights of women in Africa, and the government is also implementing the policy on the Advancement of Gambian Women 1999-2009.

VP Njie further noted that The Gambia’s commitment to addressing gender issues and the uplifting of the status of women, is further exemplified by the increase in the enrolment and retention of the girl-child in school, increased access to credit and employment by women, the increased number of women in key decision-making positions and the formulation and implementation of poverty alleviation programmes.

Madam Njie Saidy finally commend the ECOWAS Commission in general and the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre in particular for the laudable initiatives aimed at mainstreaming gender into the integration process.   

‘There is global consensus that regionalisation is a powerful tool for economic development, therefore we should never relent in our efforts to push the regional integration process forward’, said Secy for Justice Marie Saine Friduas on behalf of the Secy for Trade, Industry and Employment Secy Abdou Kolley.

Secy Friduas said that, the gender issue is central to their development agenda in the sub-region, therefore she added they should give gender the place it deserves in their national policies. “The principles and priorities of gender equity and equality should ensure the efficient allocation of resources to priority areas with concrete objectives and a corresponding monitoring and evaluation mechanism to reflect gender-specific goals and impacts,” she said.

For her part, the acting director of the Ecowas Gender Development Centre Mrs. Aminata Dibba expressed her profound gratitude to H.E. president Jammeh for accepting to grace the important event. The president’s attachment to this meeting she said is no surprise because of his well-known commitment to the advancement of women not only in The Gambia but also throughout the African Continent and the world at large.

The strategic plan is built around four priority areas of intervention, which have translated into twelve specific objectives and fifty priority action areas. She said that, if adopted, the plan will contribute towards the sustainable improvement of the wellbeing of women and men within the ECOWAS region by creating a socio cultural, legal, economic, institutional environment that will be conducive to gender equality and effective gender mainstreaming into national policies, development programmes and projects.

Mrs. Dibba finally thanked the UNIFEM and Economic Commission for Africa - ECA for their support to them.

After long wait, the Senegalese Mbalax celebrity, Baba Mall, has already jetted into the country for a weekend celebration of music.

Baba Mall, whose sonorous voice helped bring Mbalax music to international ears, will be performing live alongside the famous Gambian koraist, Jaliba Kuyateh, Pa Omar Jack of Fish & Chips fame and Afro Manding Queen, Sambou Suso.

The show will jump-start today at Brikama Jokor and then Paradise Suites Hotel on Saturday. On Sunday, Jokor at Westfield intersection is expected to be virtually bursting at its seams as Baba Mall concludes the weekend celebration of music.