- The realisation of fundamental rights of the community need to be prioritised as the engagements happen between the leaders and the communities.
- Basic human rights such as equal access to basic needs, security and impartiality needs to be realised between two conflicting groups.
Image: FAITH MATETE
Mainstream and social media have brought the realities of the absence of peace right within the comforts of our homes, our communities, and our countries. We have witnessed a few sympathisers, nations taking sides, propaganda and the cheering of retaliation without proportion.
Meanwhile, while our head of state takes sides, we as citizens, through our leaders, need a conversation on humanity, any lessons learnt from the coups in a few African countries, the Ukraine-Russia war and most recently the Israel-Palestine war.
And our leaders need to direct us towards the discussion of how we and they can be drivers of change towards maintaining peace and stability within our societies.
Two weeks ago, there were clashes in Sondu, which left seven people dead, while several were left injured. The government quickly acted by transferring a few police officers and security was beefed up. Inasmuch as there is relative calm, we as a country need to have serious discussions on the latent issues that exist, and how to quell them to avoid flare-ups.
The government need to remember that a hungry, jobless youth in Sondu would have nothing to lose, if called upon to take up a weapon and act to defend their community. In a large way, this is how groups like the Hamas, ISIS and al Shabaab are formed.
So how can our political leaders be drivers of change and ultimately, encourage the citizens to be drivers of the same fair changes they would advocate for? How can we avoid fattening the relatively ‘harmless’ rowdy youth into serious untameable groups?
The first step is the realisation that all parties in any conflict or disagreements are key actors to change. It is important that leaders bring about participatory engagements by following the right platforms. This could be through village committees organised by elders or church groups and listening to the issues different warring communities have.
The realisation of fundamental rights of the community need to be prioritised as the engagements happen between the leaders and the communities. Basic human rights such as equal access to basic needs, security and impartiality needs to be realised between two conflicting groups.
The administration serving those communities also needs to be checked to be impartial while serving them. Representation in the community in the administration also needs to be seen to be balanced.
Once the community feels that they are being listened to and that they have representation in the administration, then they can start being actors of change in their own capacities such that they can be their own watchdogs.
Humanity implies a moral force, not taking sides, being able to love and understand each other and employing equality. Would it be too difficult for our fellow brothers and sisters in Sondu to do that, once their leaders show them equal compassion and fair hearing towards peace and stability?
The writer communications researcher and scholar, currently pursuing Peace and Development Work Studies in Sweden