Comment by Grace Kiboneka on Thursday, Jun 26 at 11:20 PM

In your June 26th, 2008 discussion about Zimbabwe, your Zimbabwe gets introduced a very real conce[t of African leaders playing the liberation/freedom fighter card against the citizens of their country and not wanting to relinguish power because of what they consider to be a historical page they ushered in into the political system. But I also noted that one of your gets pointed out how "Africans don't want to intefer in the affairs of other countrys." There was no follow-up question as to why? Because the answer is so self serving... I will not interfere in your affairs and I expect you not to interfere in mine! As your guests pondered on the Zimbabwe question, I did not need to go far but read in a Ugandan Monitor news paper with the article below. Would you call this simply a coincidence or the very Art of African post colonial politics and leadership? We won’t leave power, says General Otafiire David Mafabi Manafwa Local Government Minister Kahinda Otafiire has said the NRM party will not hand over power even if it loses in democratic elections. Maj. Gen. Otafiire, also a historical member of the NRM, made the controversial remarks on Wednesday at Bubulo Girls’ school in Manafwa District while addressing NRM members in the district. His comments continue the hardening of rhetoric between the ruling party and its opponents even as supporters of President Yoweri Museveni begin a mobilisation campaign to re-elect him in 2011. This week it was also reported that Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale, a security apparatchik and Presidential adviser while calling for support for Mr Museveni warned what he said were coup plotters. “Our motto remains no change. We either win or they lose” Gen. Otafiire, a bush war hero said adding that the NRM fought for power and would not relinquish it to the opposition. “We are still here, we are going nowhere,” the he said. Gen. Otafiire, a one-time patron of the Pan-African Movement in Uganda said the opposition was not prepared to lead. While some low level NRM enthusiasts can make such remarks without causing alarm, Gen. Otafiire is a member of Cabinet and his remarks in public are expected to reflect the government thinking. Since the promulgation of the constitution in 1995, the government is supposed to be changed through free, fair elections and suggestions that the will of the people be resisted amounts to opposing constitutional order. “True, the greatest honour of civilisation is to resolve disagreements and contradictions through dialogue but where our opposition is not ready for this, it means that they are immature to guide this country peacefully,” said Gen. Otafiire. He said NRM members in Manafwa District should take up all the local government offices in the upcoming LC 1 and III elections so as to be able to use their dominant position in the 2011 general election. The elections have since been put off due to lack of funding. “Please don’t give FDC [Forum for Democratic Change\ an opportunity to sell themselves. Awaken our people because FDC is a good salesman even when they are marketing nothing, don’t take them lightly,” said Gen. Otafiire. The General also presided over the commissioning of the construction of a new Shs147 million office block to house the Manafwa Town Council. Speaking in Runyankole, on February 14, President Museveni similarly said he would not leave power because had won the privilege through a bush war. “It is me who hunted and after killing my animal, they want me to go, where should I go?” he said in reference to the 5-year bush war that resulted in his presidency in 1986. Gen’Otafiire’s remarks could cause ripples among the politically active population at a time when the world is struggling to convince Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe to hold free and fair elections and to relinquish power in case he loses. Mr Mugabe has said he will never hand over power to the opposition.

Comment by Tina Girouard on Saturday, May 17 at 06:41 PM

R.R. is rare in our species. R.R. is not just a good artist... not just a good human. R.R. drank deeply from the cup of life and in joy ingested. His love is boundless. His art is endless. BOB... IS far from being WAS

Comment by David Stanley on Wednesday, May 14 at 11:59 AM

Thanks for this video. I am viewing in response to the extremely sad news of the death of this wonderful artist and the abysmal lack of coverage of the event in the British media. History will show that Robert Rauschenberg was one of the greatest art practitioners of the 20th Century. I will miss you Bob.

Comment by Jimmy Arone on Tuesday, May 13 at 03:09 PM

Robert Rauschenberg...God Bless You/Rest In Peace.