CHRISTOPHER GILL’S COLUMN

Chissano Wins $5 Million - Rene Disqualified

Former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano, has hands down won the Mo Ibrahim Prize For Achievement in African Leadership, worth over $ 5 Million over the next ten (10) years. Chissano was instrumental in ending the civil war that tore Mozambique apart over sixteen (16) years. He was the founder of the Mozambican Liberation Front, a Marxist guerrilla movement that battled to end the Portuguese rule in the 1960’s and 1970’s. But Chissano knew when to abandon his Marxist ideology and catch the wave of Freedom and grab on to the wings of Peace at critical junctures of his country’s history. Hence, his success in taking his country from a reputed war zone of blood-shed to the peaceful, optimistic, democracy Mozambique is today. After he retired from Government, Chissano served as a UN diplomatic troubleshooter for the United Nations in Uganda and other countries on the Continent.

Today, Mozambique has a hustling, bustling Free-Market Economy, in which South African and Namibian investors have rushed to secure interests. I have toyed with the idea of investing there myself. Former war-torn Mozambique seems safer an investment zone than Seychelles today. We have not seen civil strife yet; the Opposition has been overly tolerant with SPPF brutality and indignation.

Congratulations Mr. President!

Congratulations President Chissano. You have set a good example for Africa. You have traded in your guns for a stack of plastic Bic Pens. Your reward will now be all the Mont Blancs you can afford with your $ 5 Million stipend. No one can dare say you did not earn it. By being charitable, and laying down your arms and weaponry, the World will now bestow great charity upon you. You will be rightfully honored beyond the honor of an AK - 47 by your bedside in the twilight of your years. For generations to come, children will read about the First African leader to be honored as a recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Achievement Award For Africa. You will join the ranks of Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Oprah and other great African leaders who have chosen the road of Peace in lieu of the road of violence and self enrichment for their People to walk. You have enshrined the value of National Reconciliation in the life of your Country, instead of planting the seeds of division amongst your People. May despots around Africa take example by your wise actions and deeds of integrity. May despots in “Oceania India” be warned: “you cannot fake democratic credentials in Africa while you keep an AK - 47 under your bed and grenades in your car glove compartment and make your way to the office bunker everyday with armed men. Nor can you suppress a People’s will by the barrel of a gun. Nor can you maintain Law and Order successfully with a Military- Police. Shame on you!

Coup D’Etat Candidates Disqualified

Among the contenders for the Mo Ibrahim Achievement Award, were six (6) Coup Leaders, who came to power by the barrel of the gun. Among them was our own home contender, former President France Albert Rene, who was disqualified when running against a repented former devout Marxist like Joaquim Chissano. SBC had been plugging Rene as a main contender for the Award as if he had a chance at the huge money prize and above all else the honor of being the first recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Award, which in time, can and just may turn strong arm dictators of Africa, into adopting democratic norms and abandoning the tool of violence as a means of managing the Affairs of State and controlling the will of the public at large.

To give France Albert Rene this award as SBC had suggested, would have encouraged politicians all over Africa, to create a movement, take up arms (the killing type) , and bring violence upon their People, to secure power and then attempt to make Africa a better place through more violence.

Today, the seeds of Rene’s Politics of Violence is being reaped by all of us. Torture victims are beaten, killed, engine blocks wrapped around their necks, tossed behind St. Anne Island not far from Eden Island. Criminal suspects are detained, under open fire with AK -47 Assault Rifles and take 37 rounds to the body before being placed... in custody...dead. The National Guard, under the Police and Army use AK -47’s to secure government offices, banks and public buildings, when a simple 9 mm side arm can do the job.

The Police believe they are the law. They believe that because they are the law, they can beat and cause serious, grave bodily harm to those who make the law (October 3rd Beatings), if they do so in opposition to Government. The Police believe that to impose Violence upon their People, is the best way to earn their stars and stripes for brutality and hence be entitled to promotions. Respect for Individual Inalienable Rights and Freedoms can only lead to officers being demoted under this present regime. These are some of the fruits of France Albert Rene’s seeds of Violence that we endure today. Mo has not been fooled! Neither should you!

Till this day, Rene has not repented from his dirty deeds and maintains that the Coup of 1977 was necessary, even though he was the Prime Minister running the Government at the time. He still sends his Ministers and Communist SPPF cadre out to a silver painted metal statute every June 5th, to lay a wreath at the feet of a metal man in celebration of his Coup d’ Etat. This is hardly someone who has repented and shed his Marxist past. Today, the most influential men and women in Africa have taken note. Rene has been disqualified for placing one too many wreaths at the foot of “ZONM LIB”.

Mo has implicitly said, “get lost comrade communist....sell an island to get $5 Million....but be forewarned... it brings with it no honor, to sell your People’s Heritage for One Rupee!”

May God Bless All Freedom Loving Seychellois!