CENTRAL AFRICA
SIR,—Democracy without dictatorship is the problem to be solved in the Central African Federation. To most people in England it appears too simple: democracy (one man, one vote) pre- cludes dictatorship automatically. A closer look out here suggests it's not so easy.
Civilisation of any kind came very recently, barely fifty years ago, and education was minimal till after the Second World War; only very lately have any secondary schools been built and still are avail- able for very few. The vast majority of our people are illiterate. This fact must be considered, as it has direct bearing on the numbers and quality of leader- ship available and the ability of potential voters to exercise their votes with discretion or responsibility.
Events in other parts of Africa cannot be ignored. Reports from Elisabethville this week (not 200 miles from here) tell of a deserted city. Where before white children swarmed none are to be seen, houses stand emPtY, or where occupied, closed, the women left, the men at work. You can park your car anywhere with easel Other reports from missionaries tell of panic and horror of peaceful tribes terrified of the advent of 'Freedom' which will bring their traditional enemies back to kill, maim or enslave them uncon- trolled. It's already happened in Uranda-Urundi. Oppression of the opposition, and corruption in the government, in Ghana and the Sudan is strictly rele- vant. especially as they have thousands of graduates to our handful. And what help do we get from the English press? 1,t riot, where women and children are flung out of their houses at night, and their homes and posses- sions burned, doesn't matter; but on the other hand an illegal political demonstration at Blantyre is magnified into a riot by a romantic pressman or two. Yet another commission of inquiry is appointed When, surely, it's the job of the Press Council to deal with it. No mention is made of the wretched Lusaka woman who took a drink during a boycott, had petrol poured over her, lighted, and died in agony ,days later. On February 21 another series of burn- Lings was reported from the Northern Province, unmes, schools, churches burned; and twenty-three Cattle burned alive in a kraal, the property of a mis- sionary who has given a long life of devoted service to the African people. Henry Fairlic was right when he wrote an excel- lent article for your journal decrying the increase 1,11 savagery and cruelty among the British in Britain. r et the curious thing is that these same people cosset protect semi-educated political extremists; de- ring any African using legitimate methods to aspire to leadership. Harry Nkumbula was the darling of the Fabian Left while he ranted and raved in Congress. Now he is respectably elected by Africans to the legislature he is 'out.' There are some People appointed to the Monckton Commission, rtabanyama for one, but nothing but brickbats come fr°m overseas. If these 'professional do-gooders' could indulge their paternalistic urges in more con- structive channels, how welcome they would be to Its who live and belong here. At times it seems ,r1rnost a Mockery to hope that Colonial Office c‘10.eu.n. Bytitish) control should be retained till this tr has been educated and become experienced enough for self-government when one sees the extraordinary advice coming from overseas.—Yours faithfully,
MONICA FISHER
Greystone Park, Box 928, Kit we [This letter is referred to in the leading article on P. 411,---Editor, Spectator.]
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