the sine-qua-non to Africa's development and growth. / Photo Credit Africa roofing
Strong democratic-economic-politico stability and high youth employment is the sine-qua-non to Africa’s development and growth. This is enough to spur every African into relentless action towards contributing to making Africa a better place. Every African deserves respect. Every African deserves a good life.
This work is dedicated to Mohamed Bouazizi and all those who have also self-immolated because of the frustration emanating from poor leadership in their countries. Mohamed Bouazizi was a Tunisian Youth who set himself on fire on December 17, 2010, in Ben Arous, Tunisia, which became a catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring against autocratic regimes. His self-immolation was in response to confiscating his wares, and the harassment and humiliation inflicted on him by a municipal official and her aides. This work is also dedicated to all those who have died trying to find a better life away from their homeland.
It is very saddening that Africa is not making substantial progress despite having the potential for this. This has given rise to blame games, youths blaming leaders, and leaders blaming the youth. Many people are also blaming the West for Africa’s misery. All the parties mentioned have contributed to putting Africa in this messy state, but the blame game would not make things better. A new force would therefore have to take up the challenge of putting things right.
There are many good things about Africa, but the pinching from poor leadership and the pinching from the many conflicts and the pinching from tribalism and other forms of discrimination and the pinching from corruption and the pinching from the poor management of resources and the pinching from unemployment and the pinching from political instability and the pinching from election rigging, to name a few, have overshadowed these good things. There seems to be no genuine willingness and determination from anyone or group to try and change the narrative. Instead, each one appears to be waiting on others to make things better.
The pinchings are too painful that many Africans have made up their minds to seek a better life elsewhere. The way America and Europe are being gone about, one would think that Africa has nothing good to offer and that Africa will never get better. But Rwanda is reminding us every day that if we make up our minds to move forward, that if we do not give up despite our depressing situation, things will undoubtedly get better if we keep pushing forward. The Rwandan story offers some hope. A similar story is possible in the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Somalia, and South Sudan. Many other places, but some persons would have to start writing down this beautiful story.
Many Africans are willing to do anything to get to their dream destination despite the risk involved, possibly dying on the way – in the desert, at sea, in the jungle. There is the possibility of ending up in prison, being trafficked; a possibility of getting repatriated, ending up homeless at one’s destination, and being discriminated against. The photos and videos, and stories about what many Africans go through in Asia and other places are very disheartening.
The countries we see as a thriving – strong democracy, economic stability, political stability, the high employment rate- to name a few, started from somewhere. But, first, a generation started the process. This generation understood that they had to lay at least a good foundation. This generation understood that complaining or criticizing without making enormous efforts to improve their situation would never take them anywhere. Therefore, this generation was patient and determined.
Now, those who have come after them love what had started and have gone ahead to do more. These countries are not without weaknesses, but their hunger for excellence has overshadowed these weaknesses. The citizens still love and believe in their countries despite these weaknesses.
The citizens have understood that no one will come from elsewhere and make their countries better; the citizens have understood that they are the ones to do so. The citizens have understood that they do not have to give up on their countries despite these weaknesses. Additionally, they know that they do not have any other country or continent. And therefore doing their best for things to get better is not optional.
All this is worth emulating.
There is nothing wrong with an African seeking a better life elsewhere. Still, we should never forget that each of us is responsible for contributing towards a better Africa irrespective of where we are.
The initiative towards building a new and better Africa is open to anyone to take the lead, but the youths would have to go for this. It is common to find the youth complaining that they want to move Africa forward, but they are not given a chance to do so. It is time to take the bull by the horns.
The miserable situations in which most youths find themselves and the fact that they are not always listened to have made them see demanding positive change through violent protests as a good option. But demonstrations, as we have seen, do not constantly improve a situation the way the protesters had hope.
The Arab Spring is an excellent example. There was hope that many things would go right in Libya and Egypt, and Tunisia after the Arab Spring, but it has not been the case. The citizens are still saying that there is still poor leadership. The citizens are still saying that there is high unemployment. The citizens are still saying many other things.
Sub-Saharan Africa has also experienced several protests calling for many things to go right. But things are still not better. There is, therefore, the need for something different but positive.
We may peacefully protest when it is indispensable. Still, we should never forget that we will certainly someday be where the current leaders are and prepare ourselves better to avoid repeating mistakes or making life unbearable for others. Some of us are going to be presidents, and some of us are going to be kings, and some of us are going to be queens, and some of us are going to be prime ministers, and some of us are going to be ministers and some of us are going to be governors and so on.
We may not be given a chance now to play more prominent roles to move Africa forward, but it does not cancel the fact that we are the future leaders. Without proper preparation, we will not be able to destroy the rotten system in place.
In the spirit of sincerity and humility, and open-mindedness, we would have to start coming together to start making good contributions towards moving our countries and Africa forward. There is a need for more positive interactions among us. It has to be so in each African country. Moving Africa ahead means moving each African country forward.
We are coming together for meaningful conversations. We are coming together to brainstorm consistently on how to put our countries and Africa where they are supposed to be. We are coming together to be encouraging one another. We are coming together to be supporting one another.
We are coming together to be nice to one another (We must never forget that our leaders may be wrong, but if we are nice to one another, many things will go right). We are coming together to inspire one another and learn from one another (our diverse backgrounds are a positive aspect, and we must make the best of it).
We are coming together to bring out the greatness in one another for the good of Africa. We are coming together to prepare one another for the position of leadership.
We would have to have nothing to do with greed and selfish interest so that our coming together would genuinely have a positive impact.
We need to understand that support easily comes when we are hardworking and of a good attitude. Support easily comes when we have convinced that we will also support others if we are supported. Support easily comes when we are physically manifesting our thinking out of the box. Support easily comes when we are seen making efforts to create employment for ourselves and others. Finally, support easily comes when we are trying to solve a problem.
The best thing that can happen to Africa now is for the youths to decide to be the change they want to see. For example, in our unions, we must determine that we will not practice corruption and discrimination of any sort. We must decide to be selfless. We cannot complain about our leaders not bringing out their best and not bringing out the best in us.
The Youth Unions are to be solution-seekers. As we relentlessly seek ways to better our lives, we would have to be going to the list of problems in our countries, choosing one, and then relentlessly pursuing a way forward. It is a good step. It is preparing for a better future. For any progress made, the Youth Union would share the process with other Youth Unions.
Each Youth Union would also have to be concerned about the problems in other countries. When there is a problem in another country, they should understand it, brainstorm on it, and propose a way forward. This is cultivating a spirit of solidarity. This is cultivating a spirit of oneness. This is building one and strong Africa.
We must kill the poor attitude of not being concerned about the problems in our countries and other countries. So, in Zimbabwe, let us have ‘Zimbabwean Youths for a Better Zimbabwe and Africa.’ Let Zambia do the same. Let Uganda do the same. Let every African country do the same.
Let us start building the kind of Africa we want to see. A humble beginning is not bad. Let us be patient and tenacious. Let us think and act like those who sincerely wish to contribute to moving Africa forward. Then, let us start roofing Africa.
GCBM Contributor: Aye Brandon Kiven
+237670455448
Aye Brandon Kiven is a secondary school mathematics teacher from the Northwest Region of Cameroon. He is also a Peace Advocate and President of the Ordinary Citizens Association for Peace (OCAP). OCAP is working relentlessly towards contributing to the resolution of the Anglophone Conflict. Aye Brandon Kiven is also working towards galvanizing the Cameroonian Youths to contribute towards a better Cameroon and Africa.
