This looks like it’s going down as the year of foolish awards. Barack Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize and Jacob Zuma has been declared the African President of the Year. And there are still about seven weeks to squeeze in Julius Malema as Human Rights Protector of 2009.
Neither the American nor the South African president deserved his accolade, if for no other reason than neither has been in office long enough to realistically judge either one’s performance. Unfortunately both men were too vain to turn down the honour.
Or possibly the two are working on the principle that they had better grab what is offered because it might not come around a second time. Just think of all the dashed hopes and failed expectations that attended Thabo Mbeki’s period in office, or from another side of the political fence, George Bush’s for that matter.
There is a world of difference, of course, between the Nobel Prize and the African President of the Year award. The former at least has some lineage, the latter is a publicity gimmick and this first-time award has as much credibility as one of the shiny bottle tops that Idi Amin used to wear on his chest.
The stunt was arranged by an outfit called African Consciousness Media (ACM) which, when one cuts through all the pretentious waffle on their website, turns out to be a Sandton events and marketing company. Not quite the Nobel Prize Committee.
The other sponsor was the Kenneth Kaunda Foundation, headed by KK himself, who we know is the very embodiment of democratic commitment, scrupulous governance, and impeccable moral character. Let us draw a discreet veil over the fact that he presided over a one-party state that reduced Zambia to economic ruin.
Aside from the fact that KK got to give out the prize, it is difficult to see how the Foundation fits into the picture. To give it its full name, the Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation (KKCAF) was set up in February in Nigeria to help the “vulnerable children of Africa”, especially those suffering of HIV/Aids.
It claims no special interest or expertise in matters of political governance or leadership. The KKCAF does, however, extol in atrocious English the virtues of KK whose distinguishing characteristic as president of Zambia — aside from autocracy and incompetence — was the promotion of the KK personality cult.
In case you misremember KK, the KKCAF proclaims, “This great African son has also touched the lives of many through his masterpiece literary works. It is on verifiable record that [he] has led a true selfless life imbued with such doggedness, patriotism, focus and forthrightness that is still being celebrated … At the entire African level of governance, and administration, this elderstatesman (sic) could be linked to many enduring policies and programmes that harp on the libration (sic) of Africans socially, poliically (sic) and economically.”
The patrons of the KKCAF are KK, a retired Nigerian air vice-marshal, a Nigerian former minister of aviation, the chairman of ACM Ltd, and a mysterious Jeffrey Bayman who is CEO of KKCAF but for whom there is no biography.
The governing board is a retired minor Nigerian civil servant, a Nigerian evangelist and “business mogul”, and a Nigerian pharmacist who is also founder of the DNA Foundation.
In case you assume the DNA Foundation is at the cutting edge of scientific research, let me disabuse you. The Foundation seems to be a complete fiction and there is not a single reference to it or its supposedly eminent founder on the web.
This hodge-podge of nonentities got to decide that Jacob Zuma is African President of the Year? It kinda figures.
When I contacted ACM for an explanation on who the selection panel was and what the criteria were, their public relations person was understandably cagey. She couldn’t reveal the information but one of their “protocol officers” would contact me. Needless to say, I am still waiting.
The ACM also made awards for Africa’s First Lady of the Year and Best Governor of the Year. There is also a Nicest African of the Year award for which I am told I have been shortlisted. Apparently all I need to do to ensure that selection panel can proceed is to verify my identity by providing my banking details to the Nigerian organisers.
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18 Responses to “Shiny bottle-top awards for 2009”
You seem to ramble on about matters that you have little understanding of. If you think Obama is “too vain” or hasn’t “achieved anything” then you are obviously living in “cloud cuckoo-land”.
“..he presided over a one-party state that reduced Zambia to economic ruin”
A gross misrepresentation of Kenneth Kuanda, who was a brave freedom fighter who rose to lead a country and then VOLUNTARILY relinquished control to pave the way for multi-party elections. With all his faults, he still embodied the spirit of Ubuntu.
So you’ve taken the all the trouble to inquire about Zuma’s award on “who the selection panel was and what the criteria were” but strangely did not even question the BS award given to Zille as the mayor of the century? Do you know who sits on the panel of “City Mayors” or what THEIR selection criteria was? Would you even DARE investigate or question the Nobel Selection Committee or their selection criteria?
This article reveals the inherent bias pervasive among rabid DA supporters. Your obvious attempts to trivialize popularity of black leaders like Zuma or Obama who is an inspiration millions across the world, simply reveals your pathetic inherent prejudices for leaders of color.
The average African Black man need no longer worry about the colonialist white man, for he is not the enemy any more. No. The biggest threat to the advancement of the average African Black man is the greedy, corrupt, richer, state-employed African Black man. The rich get richer while the poor … well the poor die, they cannot get any poorer
One has to laugh !!
It reminds me a bit when I was a kid and used to buy these comic magazines. If you remember…There always used to be a “character” somewhere in one of the stories.. who would proclaim himself,”the chosen one”, “the smartest”, “the cleverest”, “the strongest”, “the mightiest”, “the most handsome”,”the best-thing-ever-since-sliced-bread” type leader. He would call everyone ,”his children” and then, of course…he would be able to perform some pretty neat “escape artist tricks” and have some “incredibly deadly powers” too..that he “could unleash”..on his enemies..just with the single flick of his fingers. The massess of “hero worshipping subjects”..used to praise him with undying adulation!”..mostly because they believed what he said about himself and believed he had these awesome powers and could perform these amazing tricks !! While this was happening..a couple of ” hunchbacked, evil,scary and fat looking henchmen and fellow scoundrels ” standing in the background..would chuckle menacingly to themselves and gleefully rub their hands together,’cause “their evil plan was working” !! Anyway, so as not to scare us kids too much..there would always be a “saviour” in the story..and the “good guys” ,of course..always used to win in the end…and that was cool !!
But the real scariest part for me..him calling everyone, “his children”..and I just hoped my dad wasnt like that !! Oh well..hopefully, there is also a happy ending !!
Now I understand why some black folks shout Racist every time a white person gets critical of black leadership. You see every time a critical white voice becomes louder and louder when criticizing black leadership in South Africa no matter how accurate the criticism is, it doesn’t go down well with us. For me especially, I wish 50, 40, 30 years ago white people were this loud in criticizing white leadership, heck even today I wish White people were this loud too when criticizing white leadership.
Having said that you are perhaps correct in saying that the awarding of Obama and Zuma such awards was premature, I agree with you too. I have a problem though with criticism that has no solution/alternative.
I would have liked for you Sir while you state your displeasure of these “premature” awards recipients, to also tell us who you think should have received these awards and even better which Foundation with merits should sponsor the African President of the Year awards.
Wow, DH - what a diatribe!
WSM seems to have touched a couple of your raw PC nerves.
Do swome research and you will find that William is an equal opportunity cynic, who ruthlessly lampoons incmpetents, BS merchants, hypoctites and genreal stumblebums across the polical - and racial - spectrum.
How on earth do you know that William is a DA supporter - or that he has rabies, for that matter (rabid - infected with rabies, literally!).
World Mayor award:
Some 205,000 people took part
in the 2008 World Mayor Project
The aim of the international World Mayor project, which was launched by the urban affairs think tank City Mayors in January 2004, is to raise the profile of mayors worldwide by honouring those who have served their communities well and have made significant contributions to cities nationally and internationally. Participants in the competition are invited to nominate and vote for city leaders who excel in qualities like: leadership and vision, management abilities, social and economic awareness, ability to provide security and to protect the environment as well as the will and ability to foster good relations between communities from different cultural, racial and social backgrounds. The most outstanding mayor is presented with the World Mayor Award, designed by Manuel Ferrari. The 2008 winner of the Award is Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town. Previous winners were Edi Rama, Mayor of Tirana (2004), Dora Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens (2005) and John So, Mayor of Melbourne (2006).
So presumably, Dave, you are going to send a note to Edi Rama, Mayor of Tirana (2004), Dora Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens (2005) and John So, Mayor of Melbourne (2006) telling them that their awards are meaningless, are you?
The point is that these people were honoured for their ACHIEVEMENTS,
William was making the point that in their very short terms of office, neither Obama nor Zuma have had the time to achieve very much.
For what it is worth, I fully agree with you that Obama is an inspiration to millions across the world - including myself.
As for Zuma, I fail to be inspired by a person that does not even have a high school education and used politics to avoid proving his innocence - or guilt in a court of law when charged with over 750 crimnal offences.
……Or who has sex out of wedlock with a young woman young enough to be his daughter.
…………or testifies in a court of law that he is unable to successfully manage his own finances.
Like Martin Luther King, I try to judge a person by the strength of his character, not the colour of his skin.
I will support JZ’s nomination for best amateur political singer and dancer of the year - for his age, he is incredible.
William well said and researched. Thanks for bringing nonsense rewards into the open. Before receiving any award one would think that a person would first of all look at the credibility of the organization. But then it might be friends/family that needs an excuse to get a events and marketing contract from government….who knows????
@ Dave
Don’t know if you visited Oudtshoorn lately but please take your head out of your ostrich hole and get real. Or are you also depending on government contracts?
@Dave, I have told you before do not be so insular in your reading.
For your education I quote from well known sources
Your hero was jailed for a whole two months in 1955. Wank wank oooh! ooooh!
ANC [former NRAC ]sectretary general 1953.
“…..The combined efforts of Kaunda and Nkumbula failed to mobilize the indigenous African people against the White-dominated rule….”
Your hero killed thousands “….In 1964 there was the Lumpa Uprising in Northern Zambia, four months before independence. Kaunda had a national state of emergency declared which was not repealed until his fall from power…..”
1989
“….economic troubles and increasing international pressure to bring more democracy to Africa forced Kaunda to change the rules that kept him in power. People who had been afraid to criticise him were now emboldened to challenge his competence…..”
1990
“….Pressure for a return to multiparty politics increased and Kaunda voluntarily yielded and called for multiparty elections in 1991, in which the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) won….”
That pressure my dear ingnoramus was a choice. Step down or be thrown out.
“Kaunda, Kenneth.”from Encyclopædia Britannica Online. URL:http://search.eb.com/eb/article-3849
Fergus Macpherson, Kenneth Kaunda: The Times and the Man (1974)
Richard Hall, The High Price of Principles: Kaunda and white south Africa.
@Peter L
The “world mayors” award sounds just like an old boys club to me. Where are the mayors from the rest of the world - US, China, South America, India, Russia. What gall to call themselves “world mayors”!
btw. Isn’t is a strange coincidence that Zille’s announcement came just before the SA presidential elections? Isn’t this tantamount to interference in the election of our sovereign nation. How long do you think these old boys “world mayors” club are going to continue to fool the rest of the world? You wouldn’t see William Saunderson-Meyer trying to “investigate” this old boys club or question this award, would you? I wonder why?
During Zille’s mayoral stint CT and her continued rule of the WC, she has effectively transformed CT into a European city (this is really what these “world mayors” from the UK and Germany like), an enclave for rich, while marginalizing blacks in their own country - a disgraceful accomplishment. But you wouldn’t hear William Saunderson-Meyer complaining about Zille or her racist DA party, would you?
820 mayors originally nominated for 2008,then:
Based on the number of nominations and the persuasiveness of testimonials, the editors of City Mayors drew up a long-list of 50 finalists. The list included 11 mayors from Asia, 10 from North America and 11 from Latin America as well as 15 mayors from Europe and 3 from Africa. Long list of 50 mayors
learn to read dave harris.
What is an in award? Why do people give those that are “doing well” an award instead of doing something good themselves to complement others good work? I see awards especially to prominent people (politicians) as something dark,because the moment one is awarded one of these awards they either shut up or will change their directions. Awards should be for competitions only!!
@DH..Gosh, your logic and ability to reason, absolutely astounds me..and must say, leaves one almost speachless,..save to think,” Oh Well,…I suspose there is a person like you in every village!”
Hey William, I’d like to register my vote for Julius Malema in the/your category: ‘Human Rights Protector of 2009′.
And may I propose a new category: Most useful catcher of votes for the ruling party by the ignorant? And may I once again register my vote for my fave politician…Julius Malema
@ Dave Harris: Hey, you should run for the latter - strong chance comrade……
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Saunderson-Meyer writes the syndicated Jaundiced Eye column, which appears in The Weekend Argus, The Citizen, and Weekend Witness. He also writes a books column, Killer Thrillers, for the Sunday Times.
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You seem to ramble on about matters that you have little understanding of. If you think Obama is “too vain” or hasn’t “achieved anything” then you are obviously living in “cloud cuckoo-land”.
“..he presided over a one-party state that reduced Zambia to economic ruin”
A gross misrepresentation of Kenneth Kuanda, who was a brave freedom fighter who rose to lead a country and then VOLUNTARILY relinquished control to pave the way for multi-party elections. With all his faults, he still embodied the spirit of Ubuntu.
So you’ve taken the all the trouble to inquire about Zuma’s award on “who the selection panel was and what the criteria were” but strangely did not even question the BS award given to Zille as the mayor of the century? Do you know who sits on the panel of “City Mayors” or what THEIR selection criteria was? Would you even DARE investigate or question the Nobel Selection Committee or their selection criteria?
This article reveals the inherent bias pervasive among rabid DA supporters. Your obvious attempts to trivialize popularity of black leaders like Zuma or Obama who is an inspiration millions across the world, simply reveals your pathetic inherent prejudices for leaders of color.
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