Obama will change Africa starting with Zimbabwe?

If regard is had to the fact that African American voters in the USA and white voters in South Africa form roughly the same percentage of the overall population then the result we witnessed in Tuesday’s US presidential election is the equivalent of Helen Zille capturing the South African presidency.

Stop and think about that for a second.

It tells black people the world over that, far from being considered inferior, they were adjudged by the majority of people in the USA, the world’s hyperpower, as being capable of holding the highest office in the land. Indeed the world over there is no position more powerful than the president of the United States. It also tells them that, despite their perception of whites in America, those self same countrymen, by far the majority came out in favour of a black president.

“Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful” (Hugh Bladen)

Bill Cosby and Chris Rock must be wearing the biggest smiles of any African American on the planet. Cosby, the well known comedian, lambasted the community for aspiring to sports and arts without giving nearly enough emphasis to academic achievement. He informed a hostile African American audience that they should be steering their children towards becoming doctors and lawyers rather than just basketball players and rappers. It went down like a lead balloon. Chris Rock, another comedian and film star, has mercilessly attacked blacks (and whites) who he feels fall short of the standards required by civilised society. Michael Jackson and OJ Simpson being two fine examples of why you should never fall foul of the Chris Rock Show.

Barack Obama’s elevation to the 44th president of the United States will underpin what Cosby, Rock and the likes of Samuel Jackson have been trying to achieve in setting the sights of the community infinitely higher than ever before. Michael Jackson and OJ Simpson will no longer be the rebels without a cause, much loved by the community, but rather examples to be avoided for the future.

The issues of the United States and the part it plays in global terms are going to be uppermost in the minds of the new administration which Obama has already started to select. With the blistering pace set by this “Age of information” a rest is no longer the option it once was. The G20 on finance meet this week and Russia has confirmed it is placing missiles in Khazakstan to counter Nato’s missile shield.

Of course Obama’s presidency will bring immediate change to Africa starting with Zimbabwe:

It has long been the claim of President Mugabe and the Zanu-PF that the racist British and Americans are behind Tsvangirai. The claim of the USA being racist has now been dispelled which leaves that defence, if it ever was one, in the toilet. It also clears the smoke and finds an African country where the ruling party has destroyed its economy, butchered its people and brought them to the brink of genocide. On what basis will Mugabe now be able to convince Africans to fund his continuation in office?

The SADC is set to meet on Sunday; 15 nations who are paying an enormous toll to subsidise the genocidal farce unfolding north of our border. Jacob Zuma, the ANC president, was rightfully agitated with the ongoing situation and confirmed as much on SABC news this morning. Botswana are also agitating for another election if this can’t be put right. I think Mugabe is going to find fewer and fewer friends at this meeting and any that follow in the next few weeks.

Obama’s election means that African leaders are no longer to be judged against the handful of decent men who have ruled this continent but against the standard of being suitable for the most powerful office in the world.

In other words its no longer going to be a case of “that’s how we do it in Africa” with Mugabe telling the AU in Egypt that other African countries have committed worse atrocities, as if it justifies his own, but rather what are the globally recognised standards for conduct? In which case Mugabe could be off to the Hague if he doesn’t sort this power sharing out and very quickly.

Let’s face it, if the son of a Kenyan father is headed for a White House near you in January then all bets on accepting substandard performances because Africa is purportedly behind the rest of the planet are now off.

You gotta love this!