|
|
After more than four decades of Independence, the much awaited development in former colonies, particularly Africa, has remained a dream. Many countries have continued to depend on the west for more than half of their annual budgets, in addition to reliance on external markets and expertise. Some have blamed this phenomenon on poor leadership characterized by corruption and lack of patriotism; while others have claimed that it is due to Africa’s disadvantaged position in the global system, characterized by unfair trade relations with the west, unfair loans from financial institutions like the World Bank, and other donor countries.
Whatever the case may be, young people ought to know that if we open a quarrel between the past and the present, then we face the danger of losing the future. Africa’s over $250 billion external debt (Uganda shares $4.2 billion), massive poverty, hunger, civil wars, and diseases (especially HIV/AIDS, for example, in Uganda where more than 80,000 people were infected last year) all have to be dealt with. The solution has to be found. A few decades from now, our children will ask us how we responded to this challenge, and the answer will depend on how the young generation will do now.
Nature has continued to supply Africa with natural resources. It is surprising to find that amidst Africa’s natural endowments, many young people still sit by the roadside to admire good cars, houses, and even food. Many young able-bodied men wash their faces at drinking places and play cards till evening. Radio talk shows are flooded with voices and calls of government critics who think handing over political power to new leaders is the only solution. Moreover, they do not offer options of who these new leaders should be and do, but what they want is change of power. They forget that ‘heaven on earth’ is not a place brought by ‘leaders,’ all citizens must contribute to find this place. We shall not achieve our common dream by just dreaming. To achieve this dream, we need running shoes!
Some governments especially in Africa have also neglected young people in policy formulation and implementation. They expect to ‘copy’ and ‘paste’ their ideas onto the youth, which are deemed to be foreign to them. As a result, policies fail and one wonders why, despite all the aid from abroad, the situation still seems that it is not changing. The question is: can such a situation change? What does it require to see a significant change? Russian poet Boris Pastanerck put it clearly, “It is not revolutions and upheavals which clear the way for new and better days, but a heart, inspired and ablaze.” The youth ought to know that if anything is to change, then change must begin with the one who wants to effect it.
|
1
Tags
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
Writer Profile
kaka
This user has not written anything in his panorama profile yet.
|
Comments
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.
|
|
