Meeting Africa’s First Ladies

It was like an episode of the Bold and the Beautiful…I am referring to the recent BBC interviews conducted with five of Africa’s infamous first ladies: Sierra Leone’s Sia Koroma, Namibia’s Penehupifo Pohamba, , Zambia’s Thandiwe Banda, Uganda’s Janet Museveni and Ghana’s very own Ernestina Mills.  One by one they recalled the whimsical tales of how they were each wooed by presidential husbands, discussed hopes and aspirations for the future of nations and defined their influence over the political direction and social welfare of respective homelands.  Since, these interviews have provoked such aggressive debates over the value and reach of Africa’s first lady that I could not help but to stir the banku a little further.

David Saccoh Wright, Sierra Leonean in NY commented that:

“They say…”behind every successful man, there is a wise woman”. So, here we are talking about African Presidents. How successful are we under their leadership? Apart from being corrupt, they have failed to re-energize the productive capacity of the African people and provide them with the most basic necessities for their survival and livelihoods. Instead they provide jobs for their immediate families. They buy homes overseas, steal and invest oversees, and worst of all, save stolen money in foreign banks. As they have failed to invest in health and education for their people, they send their kids to schools oversees, while the ordinary citizen suffers and dies due to hunger and poverty. They attempt to change constitutions so that they stay in power and continue to exploit the natural resources of the land. Next to him is his wife, who is supposed to be more compassionate and motherly, Right? No! They are even more wicked as they condone, encourage and support their greedy husbands. A good woman would never stand behind a tyrant who only seeks the good will of his immediate family, when he is in a position of responsibility for all the people of the land. I have no respect for them and would not even shake their hands. Go ahead, enrich yourselves and steal the people’s wealth. The time will come when you will all pay for your evil ways…..in the meantime, Yes, you are wise for standing next to a thief and benefitting in the process. Enjoy while it lasts…..”

On the Other Hand…Ken Katuma, Lilongwe, Malawi rejoiced for the work done by his first lady suggesting that;

“We are so lucky to have Madame Calista as first lady in Malawi. She is so strong and courageous. I recall when she was the Minister of Tourism, she served the country with much dedication and then in the parliament, the opposition was so hostile and destructive but she was among the few women who could stand firm and bring constructive ideas. We love you our madam. We wish you long life….”

Zambia’s Thandiwe Banda is a firm advocator of the creation of a special office or post to facilitate and enable first ladies all over the world to carry out their hearts desires in the arena of philanthropic activities.  I suggest that first ladies do not have any right to demand recognition for the fact that they may (or may not) have struck it lucky by managing to marry a President.  However I do believe that they are in a position to exert a significant influence over how the country is run and can prove to be strong positive role models in African society (which more often than not strives to lessen the achievements of formidable women).  If capable a woman in this position should not abuse her privilege by squandering the countries money during frivolous shopping trips to Europe.  Neither should she participate in actions which publically undermine the basic principles of women’s rights, such as allowing herself to become Jacob Zuma’s 7^th or 8^th wife.  If they crave power they should attain adequate qualifications and sufficient respect to run as an entity in their own right (preferably not at the same time as their husband is in power) for office such as Hillary Clinton. 

Although I would like to describe myself as an idealist…at times one has to be practical and accept reality…in the future if I happen to find myself married to the President, it would be almost impossible to stop me from planting ideas into his head, in order to fulfil personal feats.  Therefore I propose that the role of the First Lady should be to adjust her priorities, aligning them with long term developmental and humanitarian objectives for the betterment of her nation.  In other words she should refine her pillow talk to;

 “Darling let’s not empty the coffers this Christmas to fund our shopping trip to Italy…Why don’t we build a hospital to support the impoverished community in Sodom and Gomorrah instead?…Please Darling wouldn’t that be nice!”

In light of the number of atrocities that African first ladies have either witness and kept quiet over, or have actively supported and participated in; those of us in Ghana here can sleep easy in the merriment that our First Lady has even less of an interest over the political  and economic direction of our beloved nation than her husband (which is a pretty difficult feat).  Instead she prefers to spend her time with her dogs (Tandy, Max, Candy & Sweetie Pie), not worrying about the activities of the president or the needs of the country. (Pheeeeeew, God Bless our Homeland Ghana!)

Here’s a Few of my Favourite Ernestina Quotes:

“I talk to my dogs as I would to other Human Beings and they understand me.”

 “Did you know that some Plants are Poisoness?”

“The birds in my garden have very powerful voices”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8685438.stm