Page 84 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 9

MY AFRIKA

Where the future lies them instead of suppressing their voices. By this, the young Afrikans get to be
If the percentage of young people involved in the progress and development of their nations. And if you ask me,
under 35 years old in Afrika is about Afrika has got lots and lots of talented young people who are passionate and
sixty to seventy percent, then it means loyal to the narrative of a better Afrika.
that the future of the continent is in
the hands of the young generation. Thirdly, I cannot overemphasize the importance of honesty as a major frame-
Which means that if Afrika must work for the development of Afrika. It is sad however that most Afrikan youths,
awaken from its inertia and go into having looked at the political landscape for so long, and with no true leadership
progress mode, then each and every coming from the so-called leaders, except maybe to flaunt stolen money around,
one of this 60 to 70 percent of young now believe that the quickest way to make money in Afrika is to be a politician.
people in Afrika must understand the And because such goals to become politicians is based on money agenda, the
three pillars that makes for develop- cycle of corruption and failed leadership never ends. The baton is just passed
ment. Each must understand that the from one generation of corrupt people to another.
leadership of Afrikan nations are the
way they are because they, the young So what are we really dealing with here? Simply put, you can "change" landscapes
people of voting age, have allowed with massive engineering and technology and call it development but what we
themselves be used to vote in those really need are renewed mind-scapes filled with hope and love for life and the
who gave them stipends during cam- sustaining of the same.
paigns, rather than those who merit
positions of power and leadership. The human heart naturally bends towards life and that which sustains life. Mean-
In Nigeria for instance, how can a ing that while Afrika fights to create development, she must not lose touch with
man who is a Professor of Law be her original purpose, which is, to give life and also to nurture it. For if we go the
the deputy of the President who way of development without paying attention to life and the sustainability of life,
does not even have a primary school we just might be caught in the fire of another future pandemic but with worse
certificate? And when he, the Presi- outcomes.
dent, is asked simple questions about
the economy, he has nothing useful We can build Afrika by choosing those who represent us through merit, by be-
to say. You get my point? ing pragmatic with our policy making and then by demolishing the tower called
corruption.
Any way out?
I believe there is a way out. For if
Singapore could come out of the
insult called the third world country
narrative, then any nation on earth
can.

Firstly, and just like Dr Kishore
Mahbubani suggested, let citizens
of Afrikan nations stop voting for
fools and start voting leaders based
on merit. Each Afrikan nation right
now, has countless men and wom-
en both young and old who are very
qualified to lead their nations based
on merit. We can change the trend by
our votes.

Secondly, the leadership in all Afri-
kan countries must understand that
they owe it to their young Afrikans
that it does not matter what back-
ground they have, if their ideas work,
then the state should be open to use

84 | Heal . restore . rebirth . Afrika