I’m writing to express my grave concern about the frequent and recurring conflict outbreaks, violence, dictatorship regimes, epidemics additional to recent xenophobic attacks occurred in South Africa which constitute what might be called a scenery misery of the African continent.
Judging from the daily life of majority Africans, my experience as an African of the Great Lakes Region raged by conflicts and basing on outpouring reports , you would think that there were two African continents. One of them is the Africa rich in minerals offering unlimited possibilities to investors. There is, however, this other image of a starving and hopeless continent, hungry and poor, corrupt and prey to foreign exploiters.
As Africans, we are tired of some leaders who cannot sacrifice themselves to abolish the image of Africa being perceived as a starving and hopeless continent, hungry and poor, corrupt and prey to foreign exploiters. But we are also tired of waiting some endless processes. A process does not mean to delay in service delivery and stopping abruptly ongoing projects which cost many billions but at the end of the day we claim that the projects were badly studied. We construct infrastructure every day and destroy them because of endemic conflicts, wars and shading blood coup d’états.
We bear the scars of colonialism and still suffer from its legacy. It is obvious the wounds of slavery and neocolonialism are still fresh. White people are featured in the history of many African countries and they are presented in many cases to be philanthropists with mission to rescue African wildlife though these were lions! But that should not be a reason always. All African presidents, aspirant young leaders and decision makers across our continent need to put a full stop to only put blame upon colonizers.
We are much concerned about what is happening in Burundi where the president Pierre Nkurunziza wants to run for the 3rd term yet his country’s constitution does not permit him. We are also alarmed by the xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa due to the speech of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini which incited attackers hacking immigrants to death in major cities especially Durban in the province of Kwazulu Natal.
I do still recall “The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born”, a debut novel by Ghanaian writer Ayi Kwei Armah that was published in 1968. In his novel the Ghanaian author tells the story of a nameless man who struggles to reconcile himself with the reality of post-independence. It is a higher time that presidents and influential opinion leaders in Africa should take an action to remove the shame on Africa .
Throughout the present publications show that African economies have grown impressively. But it is time to stop focusing on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures and instead focus on people.
Our African leaders do not announce that they will redouble their efforts to drive an inclusive both rural urban transformation, with concrete commitments, that will make their political demagogy a reality. We know the real Africa, filled with possibilities, dignity and opportunities, able to face its challenges and solve them from within. Never has the time been more right for us to finally realize our full potential. It is within our grasp not outsiders.
What kind of legacy that we want to leave for future generations?
This is my call to African presidents and all influential leaders at large: Don’t just promise development, deliver it, and make it happen now. Make real, concrete progress toward investment that reaches all Africans It’s not pity and handouts that African people need. It is peace and security, infrastructure, access to markets and finance, knowledge and technology, and policies that favour people to do businesses and have a full hand upon the governance of their countries.
Africa can develop; it is not a dream rather a responsibility of all resident and non- resident Africans.
About the Author:
Emmy Arsonval Maniriho student in MBA – Airline and Airport Management, India
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