Page 53 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 22

Re-Education

NGO who are sent into government What are we doing, Afrika? Each ing industries across the continent?
offices where the white man would and every single day that we commit Where are our own manufacturing
otherwise struggle to gain access, our time, energy and resources to enterprises which are using our
in order to help their organization strengthen the system, businesses local resources and creating great-
get approvals to engage in activities and organizations that are raping er economic empowerment for
in their countries that have dubious Afrika, we are the ones who are our people? Why are we still using
objectives and even more dubious essentially gathering our people up, ‘begging bowl’ diplomacy to run our
outcomes… most of which end up chaining them and handing them affairs in our countries? Where are
with project financing in the pockets over to a white investor who wants our own education curricula that
of the top hierarchy of the NGO’s to take over the land or maintain are based on our needs with regard
project managers than they do on some form of control over it. Using to identity and purpose and stage
the ground in actual transformative our hands. Using our skin color and of growth, rather than those of the
community work. The enablers nationality as the passport, visa and west? Where are our own products
are also the mid-level and junior work permit to conquer Afrika once based on what is grown in our land?
staffers of the banks, consultancies, again. For each decision we make Where is our stand and position
government offices, multinationals, to rubber stamp or sign off on a on poisonous agrochemicals and
you name it who work diligently to project or investment or whatever pesticides and alternatives to it?
ensure their employers’ successes that enables their encroachment, Where is our own healthcare system
and interests are secure, for a mere we become the faces and hands of based on our cultural approaches
pittance, all the while ignoring their those who are actually finishing us to life instead of this blind mimicry
consciences which are asking them off. How then can we even stand in of the west’s problematic so-called
– “Why are you selling out your own a court of justice to demand what solutions? Where is our unity as a
people in favor of the people who is ours – when in actual fact we continent that allows our people to
want to continue to pillage your are handing it away for salaries and interact and trade freely and gives
continent? What are you doing?” benefits or investment packages that them advantage over the European,
I’ve been there, so I know that this do not even really do any good for American or Chinese as opposed to
is the case. You are involved in a our continent? what we see on the ground now?
project that is supposedly for the You see, we cannot continue
benefit of Afrika or a specific com- “What do you mean they do not do blaming the white man and his
munity. You’re tasked with creating any good? We have roads, hospitals, neo-colonial aspirations for Afrika’s
project plans, timelines, milestones hundreds of thousands are em- problems, the time to face ourselves
and reports. In the process, you ployed and able to take care of their and deal with our own hearts and
notice that resources allocated to families! You’re wrong.” No. I’m not minds and the reality that we have
the project were actually skewed in wrong. We have loans and debts and not done what is required to get
favor of certain people, regions and IMF/World Bank controlling and out of the holes that the enablers
not actually for the benefit of those dictating our government policy and dug for our people is now. Actually,
the project was created to target. lifestyle realities. They decide how instead of digging ourselves out, we
You raise the issue and you are given much our power, fuel and cooking took shovels and dug ourselves in
the “shut up, or else” talk or look gas will cost, who will get or retain deeper. Now it is time to stop that
and you comply because, well, you jobs and which thousands will be and to get out. To do that, the en-
have a mortgage or used car loan laid off. They determine which ablers must understand their crimes
to pay off, or rent… or a lifestyle roads will be built, why and when. against their people and stop what
that you prefer to maintain rather They push policies which poison they are doing. To do that, we must
than becoming the poster boy or our bodies, soils and water and they stop pretending that Afrikans were
girl to fight for justice for the lives expect us to take it, just like we took perfect little lambs who were and
of those whose destinies – like it or their blood money. No, dear brother are nothing but victims in the neg-
not – you are carrying in your hands. and sister, I am right. They do us ative narratives playing out on the
So, you turn a blind eye to the issue no good. Where, after over 60 years continent. To do that, we must face
and choose yourself, and become of independence are our working ourselves and grow up and choose a
another one of the system’s enablers petroleum refineries and thriving different path.
– abandoning those who needed petroleum industries? Where are It’s time for a different season to hit
you most. our efficient electricity generation Afrika, a season of growth and truth
and distribution companies power- and healing. Let’s do that. Now.

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