Why look outside when we have it here in Africa?
Last week’s World Economic Forum highlighted prospects for
Africa’s recovery with economic growth of 6.2 percent this
year, a slower spread of the HIV/AIDS, fewer wars and kleptocrats.
All these are trends that we should all try to work and expand on,
let us face it .We all cringe when news headlines talk about conflicts,
refugees and coups in Africa and rosy reports and projections never
fail to bring a sigh of relief.
Africa has always shown promise that it is heading towards positive
change, we have been fed with optimism by projections, advocacy
groups, leaders that any day now we would all come out of the woods
of despair, conflict, disease, poverty if we stay the course. Yes,
one can share in the optimism but one has to ask: are we doing enough
to reach that threshold? Or can simply basking on praises and merriment
from such projections bring any change? And most of these projections
do not come from Africa but from capitals and institutions outside
Africa.
True, the continent is becoming more and a more an attractive place
for investment; yes the Chinese cannot stop praising and pumping
in money and resources for Africa’s industries, oil refineries,
mines, telecoms and others. But one has to ask: have things changed
for the average African who still lives on what meager earnings
he gains? Have the various African refugees in refugee camps been
able to see any normalcy in their lives? Have our Aids orphans and
grandparents giving care to these children recovered from the loss
of their parents and see any prospects of change in their states?
Yes, these are questions that most of us have problems grappling
with.
Africa, whether we like it or not, is the world’s biggest
social welfare case. The second largest continent is rich in resources,
but only accounts for 2.2 percent of world trade and still registers
too little growth in order to reduce widespread poverty. There is
a lack of money for education, infrastructure and health system.
Two-thirds of 850 million Africans live on agriculture, which in
view of climate change can barely produce enough to live on.
The purpose of this editorial is not to rub salt on wounds but to
act as a reminder of the huge tasks awaiting the African continent.
Blame for these dire states of affairs cannot solely go towards
colonialism, kleptomaniac leaders, the Cold War but should be shared
by all of us who continue to stay on the sidelines pointing accusatory
fingers at each other. It can be argued that governments should
shoulder most of the burden of blame after all their job is to manage
the country and usher in a new era of development. So far empty
rhetoric has overshadowed the dismal progress made on the ground.
Communities too should share the burden of the blame here. Africa
has always been a predominant communal society where the community
next to the family holds sway in almost all facets of social life.
Communities even though have played roles in educating the public,
fostering goodwill among other communities, acted as means for income
generation continue to do these activities in limited capacities.
The problem here is the slow evolution of the roles of the community
within societies and the place it holds in the 21st century.
Communities could be used as effective tools to bring about change
and development by becoming beacons of change within society. Instead
of looking westwards or eastwards as is the case these days, why
not look inwards within our community to look for inspiration for
changes. Why do we go through the painful process of adapting to
formulas and policies concocted thousands of miles away whereas
we have simple tools within our villages, the only things required
are commitment, a bit of imagination and will to see them through.
June 22, 2007
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