There is only one problem

Leave it to Desmond Tutu to get it right. He who would be the greatest man in Africa but for Nelson Mandela has this to say to The Guardian about Middle East peace:

"You can give up on all other problems. You can give up on nuclear disarmament, you can give up on ever winning a war against terror, you can give it up. You can give up any hope of our faiths ever working really amicably and in a friendly way together. This is the problem, and it is in our hands"

Pretty much says it all, but if you want more from the good archbish, try this interview from Hay-on-Wye literary festival. 

Democracy in South Africa

A photo of Nobel prize winners in Cape Town harbour to celebrate another, peaceful  and democratic election in South Africa

Zuma's triumph

Jacob Zuma is perhaps not the candidate that Western investors and governments would have hand-picked to lead South Africa. But they will get used to it, just as they did with Brazil's Lula and have done with just about everyone recently except Iran's Ahmadinejad. They have also had some time to get used to the idea, given the fact that he has been heir apparent for more than a year.

What may be most disappointing, however, is that Zuma looks like he has seen off any serious opposition even if the African National Congress doesn't get the two-thirds parliamentary control it needs to change the constitution (still up in the air). Not that a change is likely -- the ANC has had two-thirds since it took power and not destroyed anything yet. 

The bigger issue is that the ANC is retaining its role as the only party of power nationally. This is a pity because South Africa needs to move away from the "liberation party" syndrome that bunches everyone in one group because of an overriding goal.

That goal has been met in South Africa. It now needs for politics to break up and create not just a vibrant democracy but one that has plenty of dissidents.