Let’s Make Africa Great

Africa has for long been a continent with countless types of minerals shipped out of the continent for the development of other continents - the continent deemed as the motherland and the cradle of mankind, Africa, has a population of just over 1.2 billion people with growth still emerging. It is home to 54 countries with vast traditions and cultures that hold much depth in African history.

A continent deemed to possess vast potential in terms of raw materials and human capital, it sees its potential being submerged by both internal and external factors in the international system.

The platform for an awakened generation has risen and shall continue as long as African leaders and their respective countries are able to invest in the present and future generations to come. In order to make immense and positive changes, it is necessary to look at the past in order to impact the future.

The rise of radical politicians on the African continent has received much criticism, especially from the political elders that held our African governments at ransom forever.

Shall we take note and realise that the rise of the phoenix called independence was brought about by radical politics, which brought about change to social structures, brought by our current and deceased leaders.

It is time for the youth to make Africa great by changing the inequalities that face African countries on the continent and in their mother countries. The international system is flawed, with Africa continually receiving the shortest end of the stick, changing this conundrum will lead to Africa being great again.

The international system is not entirely to blame, we as Africans have played a role in the demise of our continent by losing touch with our roots from whence our cultural and social identity is derived. The migration and search for greener pastures have diminished the term “charity begins at home”.

The migration of African intelligentsia abroad is a matter of great concern to the African continent.

The efforts, successes and failures of our African leaders are noted and documented immensely, it is therefore time to rise up and bring about the necessary change needed to take Africa to the pinnacle where it needs to be.

The need for transparency in the politics of the international system will lead us a step forward, as the awareness and inclusion of civil society is lacking on the African continent.

The Brexit vote is something that should be incorporated to the African continent in order for societies to determine their fates instead of the political elite. Self-determination must be incorporated into African civil society.

Change is not achieved overnight, it is a process that needs constant and consistent backing for it to excel and overcome all odds. Industrialization in the international system is a major of concern to the African continent. The advent of Chinese investment on the African continent has brought about head-way for industrialization, which has brought about worries to the West who initially tapped into the raw resources of the continent in the 19th century.

Africa can be made great again if the continent will be able to extract, refine, produce and export to the rest of the World.

This will allow Africa to have considerable footprint on the international market and system. This aspect of the developed world came at the cost of the developing world (Africa) and it remains the same to date, they are still fuelling their economies with the raw materials of our beloved continent.

The tired and weary, yet wise, have done their part and it is time for this generation to take the reins and deliver to its promised land.

The imminent voices of the youth must be heard in order to make this continent great again.

The day we as a continent are able to determine and define our fate, is the day that many look forward to. It cannot be said that Africans have not been given the chance to have a firm grip on the paths of our futures, but sadly we succumb to pressure as if we have no intellectual know-how of the international system works.

The debate at the International Criminal Court is an illustration of this, the Rome Statute of 1998 saw superpowers such as China and the USA refuse to be part of this new international order.

Sadly, 34 African countries signed and 19 years later the African Union has called for the mass withdrawal from the ICC, but the damage has been done.

Is it that our leaders are blindfolded when these agreements are presented? The fact that the United States of America is a notable absence should have raised questions in the minds of our African leaders. This questions whether African countries have literate and knowledgeable leaders to govern civil society and to propel the entire African continent to greater heights.



*Farai Munoriarwa is a student studying towards a post graduate degree at the University of Namibia's Military Science.