First Lady Highlights Need for Cultural Exchange

Angola Press Agency (Luanda)
3 July 2007
Buenos Aires

Angola's first lady, Ana Paula dos Santos, spoke of the relevance of cultural dialogue between the peoples of the African and American continents, aiming at the strengthening of multiple identities and values.

Ana Paula dos Santos said so while addressing the opening of the First International Congress of Afro-descendents, taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since Monday.

To the Angolan first lady, the discovery of new cultural and other values results from exchange of experience and reciprocal knowledge.

She underlined that it is worth learning that many Argentinian cultural and artistic manifestations have their roots in Africa, not only in the dance and music, but also in language and food.

The congress will permit a joint refection on the afro-descendents and transmit a message of solidarity from the African continent, particularly from Angola, to the Argentinian people, she also said.

Recalling that many afro-descendents are victims of exclusion and social inequality, Ana Paula called for a joint effort to overcome the humiliations of the past, for their participation in the public affairs of their countries, enjoying all rights granted by their nations' respective constitutions.

The first lady said as well that this first congress is a reunification with history, in a construction of an authentic transatlantic cultural bridge, justified by the presence of common elements in respective cultural expressions.

The congress's opening session was attended by members of the chamber of deputies of the nations, of INADI, Angolan ambassador to Argentina, Fernando Dito, and other foreign guests.

The event is part of the celebrations of the month of the Afro-argentine culture going until July 28, and aims at an exchange and development of educative and cultural policies binding Argentine and countries of the African continent. On Monday, the Angolan first lady attended a dinner hosted by the organisation. Argentine has a very reduced number of blacks, out of a population of 38 million inhabitants.

By insisting, as the third-termers do, that Mbeki alone is the custodian of "sound economics" in the ANC is to suggest that no other contender - including the likes of pro-business types such as Tokyo Sexwale and Cyril Ramaphosa - is capable of continuing Mbeki's economic legacy. Of course, the reality is that both represent nothing different from Mbeki in terms of policy. If anything, both men have the advantage that they stand for the same things , but come minus the baggage.

Of course, those in the Mbeki camp who have their ears closer to the ground know that his real opponent in the ANC is Jacob Zuma. In fact, many believe that Mbeki's insistence to stay in the race has less to do with him wanting to ensure his legacy and more to do with preventing Zuma's ascendancy in the ANC and eventually the country. Given Zuma's mass appeal and support within the party, Mbeki's backers reckon that only a sitting president has the power to prevent Zuma's grab for power.

Which brings me to the next question: what does the Zuma campaign represent in economic terms? Many inches of column space have been devoted to how Zuma is hardly a candidate of the left. I have also warned against the left putting all their eggs into Zuma's basket.

Zuma himself has said that he supports a mixed economy with a strong interventionist state and a strong market, a view that has just been reconfirmed at the ANC's policy conference.

Many analysts have argued that the outcome of the conference points to "business as usual" and can hardly be proclaimed as a victory for the left.

Which brings me back to the question I posed earlier: why is Mbeki determined to hold on in the ANC?

Perhaps part of the answer lies with Mbeki's determination to see a woman at the helm of SA in 2009, although this hardly requires him to remain on as president. In fact, the policy conference has just recommended that the gender-parity principle be extended to the ANC's national executive committee. Mbeki's detractors offer other reasons. They say Mbeki has taken note of the fate of former presidents in Africa, many of whom now find themselves falling foul of the new political elite.

Some even find themselves the subject of investigations involving alleged irregularities during their time in office. Another reason could be that Mbeki is well aware of the fluidity of politics in the ANC and knows that the ability to determine policy is intricately linked to whoever wields state power. While we may never know what exactly motivates Mbeki to stay in the ANC's presidential race, the danger is that in the end, history might well remember him only for trying to outstay his welcome as president of the ANC.

Brown is political editor.