We really don't have a pan-regional goal, nor does the African renaissance resonate much. Whereas down south the view prevails of communities, peoples, and countries making history, in our region that role is allocated to individuals. Where the community is the driving force, leaders see themselves as servants of the people and the state and its institutions like the army. Where pride of place is given to a leader, he is likely to view the people, the state, and its institutions like the army as his servants. Where leaders are seen as the makers of history, and state power the highest political destiny, any challenge to the state is seen as a personal attack on the leader.
Dissidents are to be excluded, or made to shut up by being jailed.
We have a Mandela, Chissano down south, and the New Breed who have broken the hearts of their supporters with wars between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Uganda and Rwanda in the Congo. It is difficult to have a constitution that pleases everyone. In that sense, it is not surprising that the Movementists are cheering the 1995 Constitution, and looking forward to winning the referendum. And it is understandable that the multi-partyists hate the Constitution and the mainstream groups have boycotted the referendum. However, there can never be democracy, and a country can never hold if people support the constitution and laws only when these favour them, and oppose them when they are disadvantaged.