The redemption of Africa remains with Africans.
Africa can no longer continue heaping piles of blame upon colonialism. It is a
case closed. Period. Despite the imperialistic injustices suffered at the hands
of the Europeans, we must move on. Charting the way forward is what should
disturb us. Reducing unemployment rates, alleviating poverty, acquiring
technology that will help treat diseases and investment in African man power is
what any sane and committed African needs to worry about. It is imperative to
find better ways to improve on modes of governance and establishment of firm
institutions that outlast leaders. In other words, passing on of a better world
to the future generation is the most persistent thing that should tickle any
committed African. But how do we do it without sounding abstract? How can it be
done practically so that the common citizen who bears the greatest brunt of
incompetent governance, wretched indigence and suffering the most treatable of
maladies benefit and live a better life?
Here
is my two cent worth. First, there must be a commitment by everyone to make
him/herself better with whatever we have at our disposal. Whether it is
farming, teaching, rearing livestock, writing, acting or just offering advice;
it is fundamental to have something that keeps us busy. It is from a started
project that an individual may solicit for help which mostly is always
financial and at other times, social or even emotional. Back in the rural
areas, it is being done with women forming farming groups to help them improve
on their farming methods. Young men and women who have not had the chance to
join institutions of higher learning are constantly forming groups and writing
numerous letters to both governmental and non-governmental offices asking for
funds to support their nascent ventures. That is the way forward. I am speaking
from the Kenyan context though it resonates well with most African nations.
These ventures will help in the reduction of poverty and dependence that is
known to drag back most African families.
Another thing is to constantly put
our leaders to account. Especially political leaders because it is them who
influence most of the destinies of their nations. Shooting of people
demonstrating for their rights as happened in South Africa of platinum miners
should be loudly condemned. Massacring of thirty four people should not be
allowed in Africa at this age especially when it is done by law enforcement
agencies in a country with a vibrant democracy as South Africa. This also goes
to the CCM party in Tanzania where police beat up a journalist and ended up dropping
tear-gas canister killing him in the most heartless technique ever witnessed.
In other words, the electorate of Tanzania cannot allow CCM to continue with
this pointless hegemony and must vote out Jakaya Kikwete and his team that
embodies such cruelty. Right here at home, the Tana massacres should have
prompted the Police Commissioner who is also serving illegally under the
constitution to resign. It is the responsibility of the state to protect its
citizens because we pay tax. Condemnation of such atrocities should be loud and
made known to the government that the denizens are not pleased.
Where
is the soul of a nation when people are killed up to fifty two and no serious
demonstrations take place to express the outrage? Then the killers get more emboldened
and set ablaze more houses and another bloodletting follows and we sit back and
assume nothing is happening at all. Does it not prick you? Are you not
disturbed or is it just normal? After all its just news, so what. Is that how
you quip? Down in South Africa when miners were massacred a section of the
populace went into demonstrations and their government and the world got the
message loud and clear: We Are Fed Up
With the Killings! Even in the Arab world it is now possible after the
success of the Arab Spring. In a nutshell, everyone must get into the
frontlines in ensuring our leaders are accountable for what they do. Telling me
you do not love politics does not help the situation but what are you doing
with what you love to make the country better?
Third
and the most crucial of all is the use of technology to help ourselves.
Generation Y have a chance to reclaim the glory of Africa using technology
being the most tech-savvy of all the existing generations. The young men in the
Arab nations especially Tunisia and Egypt used it in order to ouster their
dictators. Why not other African countries? Coming up with helpful innovations
that help make things better is the hallmark of being counted in this
information age. Look at what M-Pesa has done in the money transfer. Young
innovators are busy developing various mobile applications that target the
common citizens in order to improve lives. Young people are running online
companies and getting self employed hence demystifying the notion that after
school one get’s employed. That is the best way to go. And for those who have
learned the ropes, pass the baton to others. Spread the word.
Lastly,
it is the participation of the middle class in the politics of the day. Why are
our middle class especially in Kenya taking a distance from the political
scene? Or do they want to put the lower class to the fate of Sisyphus who was
condemned by the gods to roll a rock to the top only for the rock to roll back.
Then Sisyphus would repeat the same process. Is that the fate the middle class
want by standing at the periphery then expect the lower class to transform leaders
overnight? From solid to liquid. Instantly. No. It cannot happen that way. They
should begin dirtying their hands too. Nations like Egypt and Tunisia succeeded
in the revolution because the educated masses that mostly constitute the middle
class joined in the struggle for a better a nation. And that is what should be
replicated in other African nations. Only then negative ethnicity and rampant
graft will decline. Only then will that average citizen who survives on less
than a dollar have an improved life of feeding him/herself.
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