Foreword
Africans, especially in continental African countries, have been struggling with the realization of self-governance for the past half a century.
During this time, several major assumptions have been proven wrong, as the people experience living conditions that are worse now than they were under colonialism (more than half of Nairobi's population is living in slums) despite their growth in knowledge and capacity.
The assumptions gone awry include: that-
1. The change from European political leaders to African political leaders would lead to more just governments, sensitive to the people's needs.
2. The change in the color of leaders amounted to self-governance and self-determination of the people.
3. Once African countries were independent, the foreign imperial powers would desist from interfering with the states' internal affairs.
4. The western models of democracy could be transplanted and would grow in the socio-cultural environment of Africa as is.
Each of these assumptions was wrong and, collectively, they have caused serious damage to the spirit and psyche of the African person, who finds himself caught up between two incompatible systems, neither, of which he is able to align to, suitably.
There is no doubt that we need a new system of government specifically designed for Africa, even as we take into consideration the advances of knowledge that the human race has achieved.
It is for this reason that the following document has been developed, and is being proposed to the people of Africa to adopt in their own cities. This is in the hope that as Africa unites, it will find the structures of self governance already existing and well configured for integration with each other.
To read through this presentation, one needs to let go of their preconceived notions of governments and democracy. One needs to be ready to explore by the mind, an ideal place that man has searched for through time, and then by the hand, be willing to work for such a reality.
Let us be ready to really change how we govern ourselves.
In the first of this two part series, we begin with the very basis (or need) for a government in the first place, then in the second part, proceed to describe the structure and workings of the governments.
You are welcome to make suggestions and/or adjustments to make it fit in your environment.
THE SEARCH FOR JUST GOVERNANCE
ALL ARE BORN EQUAL IN DIGNITY, RIGHT AND POWER
The fact that we as human beings are born equal in dignity and power is accepted and repeated everywhere; from the international declaration of human rights to the guiding principle of the most powerful of nations in the world, from the writings of the oldest religions to the unwritten teachings of the deepest spiritualities, from the philosophies of the classics to the reasoning of the neo-modernists, most agree upon this precept.
THE OBJECTIVE OF JUSTICE
In accepting that all humans are of equal value, we are acknowledging that the aggregate value of individual's talents, skill, capacities and potentials are of par and that all people should be esteemed alike regardless of their apparent advantages.
Justice, as is represented by weighing scales, seeks to balance the favors, duties, responsibilities, influence and rights of each human being with regard to others. The slightest tilt of this balance usually brings out the loudest hue and cry from the un-favored and the situation usually degenerates to violence and other forms of protest until this imbalance is rectified. This is sometimes after cycles of overcompensations by the offended until systems are established to maintain this balance.
SOCIETIES, GOVERNMENTS AND LAWS
People of common understanding and values (which come about after contemplation through conflicts and destruction, and the loss of energies within these conflicts) will eventually draw out a set of rules (laws) to ensure fairness to all who agree to live in the group so formed, which becomes a society.
To further enforce these laws, the society will establish a government to maintain order and to further harness and direct the energies that are now possible through being a collective.
FORMING OF GOVERNMENTS IN QUEST FOR JUSTICE.
Most governments usually begin with a people fighting for their existence admist great external adversities or for their rights against oppressors. To lead them in these struggles, energetic individuals are usually anointed as leaders. Unfortunately, the people appointed- usually as kings- become tyrants and the people have to revolt and begin afresh another system that is to bring justice to the people, not just favor to the kings and their friends.
The cycle of struggles for this justice has had an underlying evolution that has led us to the current system of governance; that is DEMOCRACY.
However, the current system is incomplete and needs to evolve to the next phase of democracy.
REPRESENTATIVE (INDIRECT) DEMOCRACY
In the current model of democracy, we are required to give away our power to self-determination through voting for representatives, who are to speak for us in an assembly on all manner of issues regardless of their knowledge or capacities in these issues. This is usually for a renewable term, each varying from 4-6 years.
Further, we do not know these individuals other than from the stories in the papers and the once or twice they come into our town centers and villages to give us five-minute speeches, dances and jokes about their opponents.
From these, we proceed to give them a blanket mandate to determine our entire destinies. These people then form a government that is separated from the people and usually ends up working against the interests of the people.
The people, who have now been disempowered, have no recourse of any kind since all the instruments of power and expression are now in the hands of these individuals. The only avenue left for dissent is, sometimes, the mad shouts down the streets in the name of demonstrations.
Those who try to use the Justice systems to check their representatives soon realize that the judiciary is an institution in-and-for-itself, and has no real interest in serving the public, who are foreign to its objective of self-preservation.
ABSOLUTE POWER, ABSOLUTE CORRUPTION
At the highest level of the hierarchy, which is comprised by this system of governance, there sits an absolutely powerful individual who for the duration of his term, is beyond even the law that he is supposed to uphold.
Despite what we are told, this system cannot work because it goes against the very principle along which governments are formed- to bring justice to the people.
This form of democracy creates self-serving people who are out to enrich themselves and their friends at the expense of the very people they are supposed to protect- a now powerless people.
A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE
This is the most easily understood definition of what a democratic government is. This means that a government must have these three components, namely: -
I. The people should have access to and participate in the decision making processes of the government
II. The people should participate in the implementation of decisions and the running of the government itself. There should be no exclusivity
III. The people should be the principal beneficiaries of all the activities of the government and the greater good of the people is what should be considered as "State Interest".
SELF-DETERMINATION
As has been stated before, all people are born equal in dignity, rights and power. This power should never be taken away from the people and given to an individual (or a group of individuals) but it should stay with the people and be exercised as frequently as is required to maintain justice in society and, more importantly, for them to constantly determine their destiny.
PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT
Instead of having a separate government that demands half of our income to employ a permanent and usually inefficient staff, if all individuals gave a fraction of their time, as part of their "national duty" we would not need permanent employees.
Ideally, there should be no permanent representatives in government, either in leadership or in employment. Is this really possible???
PEOPLE DEMOCRACY
In People Democracy, governance and the instruments of governance are made continuously accessible to the citizens. The government is divided into levels that allow for both maximum participation at the grassroots and for macro-management at the highest level.
The first level of government is brought down to the people- right down to their neighborhood. At this level, there shall be established a shell or cell that shall be replicated at all levels.
Once an individual participates at this level, they shall be able to participate at the highest level of government since the protocols and structures within the assemblies are identical. It is all-inclusive with no sacred cows.
PILLARS OF PEOPLE DEMOCRACY
There are certain aspects of life and society that are critical to the development and well being of the citizens in these societies. These areas need to be defined, developed and represented at all levels of governance. Institutions need to be created around these pillars for them to become to become productive.
The pillars so far identified are: -
1. Health
2. Knowledge Development
3. Justice
4. Infrastructure
5. Territorial Security
6. Food Security
7. Human Resource Management
8. Natural Resource Management
9. Spiritual Development
10. Information and Media (Communication)
11. Social and Cultural Development
12. External Relations
13. Recreation
These are the pillars upon which modern and civilized societies stand. (Economics and Politics have been deliberately left out since they are necessitated into existence by the old model of democracy.)
Not everyone has to be involved in all the areas, but every individual has to participate and specialize in at least one of these pillars of life. We shall expound on the pillars further as we proceed in defining the structures of government.
NB: Leadership is attained through Problem Solving
Important to note as the major difference between this system and the current model of democracy is that advancement through this system is dependent on one's ability to solve real problems presented by the people at each level of government.
Advancement is also along a line of expertise i.e. within a pillar of society.
Most significant is that one stays in leadership for the duration of a function or a program, constantly monitored and approved your peers.
This introduces the true meaning of the word "Progressive Leadership".
Part II: Structure and operation of the Organization
(To be proposed at the Congress)
From: Hillary Mulialia <mulialia@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Subject: Are You a Part of the Conscious Few?
To: africainunity@googlegroups.com, mlalahoi@googlegroups.com, youngprofessionals_ke@googlegroups.com
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
It is believed 85% of the population is generally unthinking and unfeeling. They have been denied the knowledge and experience necessary to enable them gain an understanding of life, their role in it or what is going on behind the veil of "basic education" and popular media. This is a group that wants to be lead and will unquestionably follow the first charismatic person they come across in life. This is a group that's constantly deceived.
Then there is the 10% who are well thinking but very unfeeling. They have a good understanding of life, its inner workings and how to place themselves in the best positions to access the best that there is in this life. Unfortunately, since they are incapable of feeling anything beyond themselves save for, maybe, their close kin and kith, they use the knowledge to empower themselves at the cost of the greater humanity.
Then we have the 5%. These are the ones in life with the capacity to see, understand and feel what is happening in society. They realize the unity of all human beings and feel the pain of the oppressed. In their quest to awaken the sleeping 85% and move with them to a safer ground, they constantly encounter obstacles on their path, set up by the 10% whose existence and privileges are predicated on the slavery of the unconscious masses.
It is when this conscious minority are united in purpose that changes occur in the world as we know it. Whether it is toppling monarchies and fascist despots or dismantling oppressive systems of governance, the advancement of man and society is dependent on the actions of these few good men and women.
This begins when these few become aware of themselves as a group and act deliberately to achieve their noble goal.
Now is such a time. The conscious of society are called upon to arise and guide the rest onto a higher and safer ground.
Are you a part of the conscious few?
From: Hillary Mulialia <mulialia@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 2:03 PM
Subject: Invitation to the Nairobi People's Congress
To: africainunity@googlegroups.com, mlalahoi@googlegroups.com, youngprofessionals_ke@googlegroups.com
THE NAIROBI PEOPLE'S CONGRESS
INTRODUCTION
A time comes when people must stop complaining about bad leadership and take upon themselves the responsibility of organizing and realizing the ideal platform on which to discuss their problems, propose solutions and to engage their energies in the implementation of their resolutions.
Leadership is not an exclusive club for politicians but it is the visions, actions and sacrifices of everyday people like you and me, aimed at making our societies civil organizations with the capacity to provide the basic comforts of life for all the individuals that constitute it.
We are all blessed with unique talents and abilities and with the right formations set up amongst ourselves we can not only express ourselves in the service of the people, but while doing so, provide the necessary leadership into the areas where our gifts allow us a clearer view than that of our brother who in time and in turn will also get to lead us into the terrain where his talents will provide excellent guidance.
We are all leaders, and in a civil, equal and tolerant society, this fact will become very clear. But this will not happen by itself and it will surely not be done by our political leaders or even by a political mindset. For it is in the nature of politicians to deceive the people into giving them access to collective resources which they loot and plunder, for the truth is that politics is the struggle for the control of resources and that is what politicians do.
We, the people, need to come together and organize our society in the way that only we can.
We need to organize our neighborhoods, our estates, our wards, and our city.
The time has come for us to organize ourselves. It is now time for YOU to get up and to be a part of this awakening.
THE MISSION
The people of Nairobi are coming together to hold the inaugural NAIROBI PEOPLE'S CONGRESS on the 25th of July.
We are coming together to agree on how we will empower ourselves to create the society that we have all been dreaming of. A society where everyone is involved in the building of our beloved land and not one where our only role is to be extorted in the name of taxes and rates by a bunch grabbers who have no capacity to fulfill their campaign promises.
Our mission is simple; to give space to those with ideas to share with everyone else on the best way to bring together our energies across the neighborhoods in a way that we can finally begin to solve the simple problems that have undermined us and that have made the world question our intelligence.
We also seek to agree on how to structure every estate committee in the most efficient and productive way and how to form ward committees that involve the representatives of these estate and neighborhood formations.
Most importantly, we seek new leaders who will be willing and able to inspire members of the public to work on these resolutions and who will be the cornerstones around which neighborhoods will build themselves into a strong foundation on which the Community of Nairobi will sit.
This community is what will comprise the Nairobi People's Congress.
By bringing together our knowledge and experiences, we shall be able to build a living society; an intelligent and sensitive organization conscious of its present circumstances while at the same time visual of its bright future; a place where all are accommodated, given the space to be human and to achieve their potential.
This will be the gift of our generation.
TO PARTICIPATE
The inaugural Nairobi People's Congress is a constitutive assembly comprising of 10 representatives from every administrative ward in Nairobi.
Registration is open to all members of the public residing in Nairobi. We especially invite those who are willing to work alongside other like-minded individuals who believe they have something to offer society.
Registration will be direct to the secretariat but all those registered from each ward will convene themselves so that in observing the spirit of fair representation, they will decide on who amongst them will participate as observers or as representatives.
(Due to restrictions in time and for clarity in documentation, those making presentations will be required to prepare and forward a brief written summary to the facilitator at the start or during the session to clarify their position. Copies will be compiled and distributed to all the participants after the program.)
To participate in the preparations or to register for the Congress, please contact:
Benedict Wachira- 0721-158008 or Hillary Mulialia- 0722-258552.
To register, send a short message with the following details:
• Name,
• Ward
• Contact (Phone no.)
to the above numbers or by email to nairobipeoplecongress@gmail.com
Please register before 16 July, 2010
Your country needs you! Your city needs you!
PS. Please forward to all your networks and to all those you feel might be willing to participate.
You can also print the attachment and give it to those who don't have access to the internet. (The print version is to be printed on both sides of an A4 paper and then folded in the middle.)
Thanks.
--
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