People are the real wealth of nations

[tabatha]

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-03-22-people-are-the-real-wealth-of-nations

Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) director for democratic governance and a former South African minister of public service and administration. She spoke to the Mail & Guardian about democratisation processes in Africa.

...............


The world has been captured by the political uprisings in North Africa.
What lessons do you think the uprisings have for Southern Africa?
A number of lessons: underlying the rising tide of transformative changes in the Arab region are critical development failures, especially the deficits in governance, freedoms and social justice and, in particular their nexus with poverty, unemployment and inequality -- in essence failures in protecting human dignity.

The people of the Arab states/North Africa, and the youth in particular, are very clearly making a call for freedom, human dignity, for voice and inclusion. Tunisia, for example, has achieved sustained economic growth since 1969. However, we saw that the current generation of youth was as restricted by the lack of opportunities for upward social mobility and decent work as by assaults on human dignity and lack of freedoms. The presence of women in this popular movement pointed to the inclusive nature and role of the movement in breaking down gender barriers, as well as class, income and other social barriers.

I was in Tunisia in February two weeks after the "revolution". I met, among, others the General Workers' Union, which plays a key role as "king-maker", as well as playing a role to ensure the integrity of the transition. In essence, people are saying, "We also want to shape our democracy, we want freedoms, we want a voice in society!"