Our Continent With(out) Conflict

LEAD Fellow, Kalongo Chitengi, Southern Africa, reports back on the recommendations of a working group on conflict resolution.

LEAD Fellows attending the LEAD Africa conference in Tunisia this week have realised that as leaders they will inevitably have to play a supportive role in conflict prevention and resolution. Recommendations arising from the working groups have indicated a common ground in terms of the way forward for our national groups in the region.

The need for research and systematic documentation to preserve culture as a mechanism for conflict resolution was a common thread in the recommendations from both groups. Documentation of past and present conflicts on the continent could form part of a database that would also include records on reconciliation commissions and activities that have ensued after each conflict. Such documentation will provide researchers and practitioners in conflict resolution with lessons learned and best practice across the continent.

Amongst the activities that have been proposed is capacity building activities for both infrastructure and skills development dedicated to conflict resolution. The national offices will have to be well equipped before they can make any meaningful contribution to eradicating one of the critical challenges that hinders the progress to making Africa a land of opportunity and achieving sustainable development.

Dr Raphael Ndiaye, ENDA Eddoc, indicated in his presentation how the cultural kinship practice created a bond between tribes in certain areas and tribal groupings. Certain activities and functions were specifically carried out to foster good causes. Culturally, women also played key roles to avert or end conflicts. Research into the preservation of culture will have to document the traditional role that women played in conflict resolution, in order for us to ensure that all possible opportunities in the field are exploited.