www.sharenews.com
Commonwealth a symbol of suffering and humiliation
Dear Editor:
I'm writing to thank columnist Peter Madaka for his exhaustive analysis of African events. He has revived my interest in Share; I never miss a copy.
Why should Africans be so eager to uphold the symbol of our suffering and humiliation?
I remember with tears how in 1971 an elected president of my country (Uganda), Milton Obote, went to Singapore to attend the Commonwealth Heads of States conference where he strongly condemned the British government for arms sales to South Africa and threatened to withdraw Uganda from the Commonwealth. The pivotal role of the Commonwealth as an instrument of imperialism and racism was demonstrated, as Obote never returned to Uganda. He was informed by none other than British Prime Minister Edward Heath that he could go to hell. An illiterate brute, Idi Amin Dada, was imposed on us, and our country has never been the same. When Amin turned around and rejected the British masters, there began a massive stereotype against Blacks as a race.
I'm shocked by the ignorance of contemporary African brothers, even those who are supposed to know better. The claim that the Commonwealth played a part in ending apartheid is ridiculous. But, it became certain that apartheid's days were numbered when the Cubans had militarily beaten the South African Defence force.
The same ignoramuses claim that the Commonwealth is a society of equals, not American-influenced. They know nothing about the land issue in Zimbabwe.
A glaring testimony of British hypocrisy and historical divide-and-rule is that the British are in violation of the Lancaster Agreement that authorizes them to compensate farmers, yet continue to portray President Mugabe as the culprit. On human rights and democracy, Zimbabwe's opposition leader operates freely within the country and carries out subversive activities from within, while in my recolonized country, Uganda, the opposition leader is exiled in South Africa.
Stand up, Africans! Let's cast away our infamous role as hewers of wood and drawers of water.
Sincerely,
Franklin Okot Toronto
Mitayo Potosi
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