Pambazuka News is produced by a pan-African community of some 2,600 citizens and organisations - academics, policy makers, social activists, women's organisations, civil society organisations, writers, artists, poets, bloggers, and commentators who together produce insightful, sharp and thoughtful analyses and make it one of the largest and most innovative and influential web forums for social justice in Africa. 
Letters & Opinions
RSS FeedAustria deports African gay footballer
Heinz Leitner
2010-05-27, Issue 483
‘I’d like to draw your attention an article about “Austria deports African gay footballer” on LGBT Asylum News,’ writes Heinz Leitner, in a letter of solidarity.
Somalia: Pirates or protectors?
Kwame Maseko
2010-05-27, Issue 483
‘The Volunteer Coastguard of Somalia needs the support of all African countries for the unparalleled work they are doing,’ writes Kwame Maseko, in response to Andrew Mwangura’s dossier on piracy in last week’s Pambazuka News.
‘Mugabe and the White African’: An exercise in dangerous help
Allison Lobb
2010-05-27, Issue 483
While Blessing-Miles Tendi’s review of ‘Mugabe and the White African’ fails to acknowledge that not all of Zimbabwe’s white farmers disputed the need for land reform, writes Allison Lobb, he accurately sums up the key ‘white’ problem stalling progress: ‘Becoming “African” is not about economic integration alone – something many white Zimbabweans never grasped. It is also about social, residential and political integration, and about learning local languages.’
Sir Bob, the BBC and Zenawi
ethiopian recycler
2010-05-20, Issue 482
Bob Geldof should 'go ahead and sue the ruling minority in Ethiopia', writes ethiopian recycler, following on from an article by Alemayehu G. Mariam.
Moeletsi Mbeki addresses AFRICOM
Farai Kashiri
2010-05-20, Issue 482
Pambazuka reader Farai Kashiri responds to Riaz Tayob’s critique of Moeletsi Mbeki’s AFRICOM address.
Multinational oil, the US and Nigeria: A crude contrast
Tolulope Ilesanmi
2010-05-20, Issue 482
‘I think we will continue to suffer such injustices as we suffer in the Niger Delta as long as we (Africans, Nigerians) place more value on money than we place on life', writes Tolulope Ilesanmi, in response to an article by Alex Free.
Women's rights and Kenya's constitution: Challenging 'men of faith'
Zawadi Nyong'o
2010-05-13, Issue 481
Grateful for Beth Maina and Cenya Ciyendi’s ‘words of wisdom’, Zawadi Nyong'o writes that if the Kenyan government ‘would only spend all the resources it does on post-abortion care, on sex education and safe abortions, we would actually begin to star...
The Voiceless Cry
Sophie Ngugi, Vedran Vojinovic, Chambi Chachage, Anne Amadi, Awuor Ponge
2010-05-13, Issue 481
Nancy Muigei’s ‘very touching poem’ drew record numbers of comments from readers of last week’s issue of Pambazuka News. We share a selection of their responses.
Church’s hypocrisy on Kenya constitution
Responses to ‘Women's rights and Kenya's constitution: Challenging “men of faith”’
Ciiru Njehu, Nzilani, Kĩriakũ wa Kĩnyua
2010-05-06, Issue 480
Responding to an article by Beth Maina and Cenya Ciyendi, Nzilani writes that ‘the anti-constitution campaign by various church leaders in Kenya is an attempt to exert their authority and power in the face of the government’. Ciiru Njehu hopes Kenyans will ‘recognise the hypocrisy of the church leaders’, while Kĩriakũ wa Kĩnyua says it ‘is time for the “voiceless” to speak-out for themselves’.
The way forward for Kenyan civil society
A response to ‘Kenya's civil society needs a new vision’
Simon Kokoyo
2010-05-06, Issue 480
Responding to an article by Zaya Yeebo, Simon Kokoyo writes that ‘the agenda for people-driven change or development in Kenya has always been either hijacked by people with ulterior motives or externally driven.’
Afreeka for Afreekans
redINK
2010-04-29, Issue 479
‘The oppressive imperialist rationality that has conceived, assembled and systematically perpetrated neocolonialism in Africa must be undressed, diagnosed and treated,’ writes redINK.
The Ujamaa revolution
redINK
2010-04-22, Issue 478
The Kenyan people cannot have leaders who don’t have their interests at heart, writes redINK, ‘We must organise ourselves and identify a genuine alternative leadership.’
An open letter to Oxfam America on its stance on biotechnology
The Oakland Institute
2010-04-22, Issue 478
Oxfam America’s endorsement of biotechnology sets a very dangerous precedent of being used by the industry in their struggle to force the adoption of GM crops in spite of strong global resistance. The shocking endorsement of transgenic crops in the face of diverse and voluminous literature countering their stance, threatens to damage Oxfam’s relationship with longtime allies and its reputation as an independent organisation.
In pursuit of freedom, justice and responsible government
A response to ‘A long walk from Soweto to Sandown'
Anne Price
2010-04-15, Issue 477
Mphutlane wa Bofelo’s article is a ‘weighty warning about leftist spin’ for those who, ‘in their naivety and idealism, tend to see compatriots in anyone who talks the talk’, writes Anne Price, in a letter addressed to the author.
The world IS changing, my friends
A response to ‘Immodesty, Islam and the gender equity movement’
Elma Doeleman
2010-04-15, Issue 477
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this article was written by a man, writes Elma Doeleman.
The World Bank and transparency
David Shaman
2010-04-15, Issue 477
History suggests that the World Bank’s management believes transparency is something that should apply to its clients and other external stakeholders rather than to itself, writes David Shaman. He invites readers to share their own experiences and observations at his new blog.
Still fighting for freedom
A response to ‘South Africa’s forgotten intellectuals’ by Marion Grammer
Z. Pallo Jordan
2010-04-01, Issue 476
Z. Pallo Jordan asks whether Marion Grammer’s claims about the role played by Non-European Unity Movement (NEUM) in South Africa’s liberation are ‘not a little extravagant?’
Residency opportunity for a Haitian writer
Judith Bowman
Robey Theatre Company
2010-04-01, Issue 476
The Robey Theatre Company is interested in offering a short-term writing residency to an emerging writer with permanent residency in Haiti, writes Judith Bowman.
Freedom birthday remembrance for Mumia Abu Jamal
2010-04-01, Issue 476
Mumia Abu Jamal’s birthday is on April 24 and ‘we would like to celebrate the whole month of April with a gigantic Freedom Birthday Remembrance for him’, write his friends and family. Please join all who love and admire Mumia by avalanching him through the month of April with birthday wishes. ‘Mumia has already done 32 years and is still on death row because of prosecutorial misconduct. Yet he is innocent! Act now before it is too late.’
Don’t let injustice flourish in Lubango
Rosario Advirta
Christian Aid
2010-03-25, Issue 475
Why hasn’t Pambazuka News covered the violation of human rights during the recent demolitions and land evictions in Lubango municipality in Angola, Rosario Advirta asks. If there is silence even in the independent media, says Advirta, then ‘injustice and repression will probably grow'.
Abahlali baseMjondolo is no ‘spent force’
A response to ‘Eulogy to Fatima Meer’ by Ashwin Desai
Jared Sacks
2010-03-25, Issue 475
Ashwin Desai’s recent ‘backhanded swipe’ at South African shackdwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo in his eulogy to Fatima Meer is ‘not only uncalled for, it is also completely inaccurate’, writes Jared Sacks.
Is buying guns really better than buying food?
Sza Sza Zelleke
2010-03-25, Issue 475
In response to Richard Dowden’s article ‘Get real Bob – buying guns might have been better than buying food’, Sza Sza Zelleke writes: ‘It is clear that guns, and the men who sell food aid to buy them, are not the solution to Africa’s problems. What Africans needs is more accountability and less arms.’
Checking the figures on Chinese investment
A response to ‘China in Africa: Realism conquers myth’ by Stephen Marks
Deborah Brautigam
2010-03-25, Issue 475
As important as China’s investment in African manufacturing is, writes Deborah Brautigam, I don't believe I say anywhere in my book ‘that it has been higher than China's investment in mining over the past five years.’
For the love of God stop the killing!
Joseph Kaifala
2010-03-25, Issue 475
Reflecting on Jos, Joseph Kaifala writes: ‘Africa has always received recognition for the compassion and love of its people, in spite of all other negative issues. To fight for tangible things within human control is a different matter altogether, but to murder in the name of God is a vein assumption of demi-godly role that no one should be allowed to proclaim.’
Hiding behind homophobic rhetoric
A response to ‘Homophobia is the problem, not homosexuality’
2010-03-11, Issue 473
When times are tough it’s easier to pick on people than to fix the economy, says solomonsydelle.
The first crime committed is colonisation
A response to ‘Staggering from pillar to post: Zimbabwe’s "unity" government'
Lloyd Whitefield Butler, Jr
2010-03-11, Issue 473
Mary Ndlovu's article is well-written, says Lloyd Whitefield Butler, but it doesn't address the root causes of the present Zimbabwe crisis.
Our souls are no longer for sale, Mr Evil
Our spirit is defeating you
Charo Mina Rojas
2010-03-04, Issue 472
American televangelist Pat Robertson was 'partially right' in saying that 'black people’s souls were compromised by evil', Charo Mina Rojas writes from Haiti. But it's not because people of African ancestry sold their souls to evil, it's that the evil of colonialism took their souls and 'traded with them'.
A sad story that affects thousands of women
Responses to 'Who killed Lillian?'
Caroline & Susan
2010-03-04, Issue 472
'The story of Lillian is very sad and its just one example of the thousands of women who die at child birth,' writes Caroline, while Susan says that it 'is sad that our people die out of preventable circumstances'.
President Zuma, proudly Zulu
A response to 'Polygamy, promiscuity and progressive leadership'
Alfred Mafuleka
2010-03-04, Issue 472
President Zuma is 'not a saint', writes Alfred Muleka, but as a proud Zulu man, a traditonalist and a nationalist, he deserves 'protection and respect under the constitution'. Polygamy is not illegal in South Africa, says Muleka, so let's respect this right rather than judging it by Western stanadards.
Insightful analysis on Africa’s structural exploitation
Responses to Samir Amin's ‘Dead Aid’: A critical reading’
Lisa Vives, Joan Nimarkoh, Vikas Nath
2010-02-25, Issue 471
Lisa Vives, Joan Nimarkoh and Vikas Nath respond to Samir Amin's critique of Dambisa Moyo's 'Dead Aid'.
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