Africans like all other races such as the Red Indians, Whites, Inuits, Gypsies, Arabs, Jews, Chinese, Indians, Polynesians, Maoris, Aborigines, etc have evolved from stone age era and now lead sophisticated lifestyles with complex needs. However, there is the continued portrayal of Africa, for ulterior selfish reasons, by some of our political leaders, racists, imperialists, churches and NGOs, as one big jungle village that requires occasional handouts because it's vulnerable, simple and needy. Nothing could be further from the truth.
For obvious reasons, churches and NGOs, would want want to display that image so as to persuade gullible donors out there to give out cash in the name of helping a needy Christian village in Africa while knowing too well that most of that cash will end up in their bank accounts to fund their rich lifestyles. This is perhaps the main reason why you will find a proliferation of NGOs and churches in both Africa and Haiti in the name of providing humanitarian aid and fighting HIV/AIDS. On the other hand, some of our political leaders in cahoots with their imperialist friends are also keen to write elaborate proposals for funding in the name of providing water and food in some poor village in their territory with the full knowledge that most of the money will be used to run their campaigns while the remainder is shared by their imperialist minders and local cronies. Political leaders will also use similar methods and sign up for loans to fund scattered and non-sustainable projects all over the country, as a ruse, to confuse the citizens of how hard they are working to alleviate poverty, when in actual fact, they are taking us round and round in circles so as to perpetuate poverty and our vulnerability thereby extending their illegitimate stay.
We should now come out and tell those who care to listen that Africa has come of age and we demand a full menu of services such as potable water, sewerage, motorable roads, hospitals and drugs, schools, electricity, housing, jobs, etc. This means that we should stand up and tell our governments and the so called humanitarian agencies that we can no longer live on handouts alone, but as people, we demand a full compliment of services that will not only meet our basic needs but wean us out of dependency syndrome that continues to subjugate and rob us of human dignity.
Therefore, in order for these services to be provided efficiently and economically, there is need to house people centrally which calls for establishment of new and well planned towns with the necessary facilities and amenities. As we very well know, that once we demand our fair share in any deal, the so called donors will run for the hills, we need to put our house in order and come up with plans for establishment of new towns and those who may wish to join us in the investment and development should come and join in under our own terms! The starting point will be for Africa to learn to wean herself from donor-aid-conditionality and dependency-syndrome and instead come up with home grown solutions to her problems. This means that foreign registered churches and NGOs that pretend to engage in humanitarian assistance, while in fact being agents for the imperialists so as to prolong their stay and our suffering, will be the first in line to go. This, however, isn't going to be easy because of their entrenched vested interests but we have no option other than reclaim our freedom, independence and dignity. Did somebody say, "it's better to die in dignity while standing other than in indignity while kneeling down for the oppressor"? As Africans, we know our needs and in case anybody wanted to assist, he had better learn to consult and treat us with courtesy. And of course, our patient like that of any other race isn't infinite!
No comments:
Post a Comment