Opinion / Columnist
Home grown solutions for African problems
15 May 2014 at 18:13hrs | Views
The deafening silence by the African Union, in the wake of the abduction of 200 Nigerian school girls by the Boko Haram terrorists, shows how deeply ingrained the dependency syndrome is in African countries.
It had to take the heartfelt appeal by Buhera South Member of Parliament Joseph Chinotimba, in Parliament this week, for some key political figures in Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole, to take notice of the atrocity being committed right under their noses.
Honourable Chinotimba called on the government to send some Zimbabwe National Army troops to Nigeria and free the girls abducted by Boko Haram. Although his statement has been taken out of context and misconstrued by those with their own selfish motives, in him, I see a refreshing voice of reason and true Pan-Africanist.
Its high time Africa learnt to deal with its own problems firmly instead of perpetually reducing ourselves to the "young brother" role of the West. Till when will we continue to run to the west at the slightest hint of trouble?
With this continued dependency on the west comes a whole bunch of strings tied to the aid we so crave.
The AU's Security has more than enough clout and resources to deal with a bunch of terrorists in Nigeria and should have expediently done so given Nigeria's strategic positioning in the oil trade industry.
Nigeria is an oil rich nation, before we realise it, there shall be international interference which will translate to Africa falling prey to the insatiable oil appetite of the West. Already the international community is all over the place pledging their support to the cause of the girls. The incentive for the intervention remains a mystery but what I know for sure is there is no free lunch for Africa.
Where is the African Union in this rescue matrix? Is the rescuing of 200 girls so complex a feat that we have to wait for intervention from outside the continent?
Hats off to Cde Chinotimba for being spot on and displaying the urge to see an independent Africa capable of proffering home grown solutions to problems bedevilling it. Such thinking is the first step in the achievement of total emancipation of the continent
The Member of Parliament, who is renowned for bringing life into parliament through his unique way of asserting issues, indeed shined the spotlight on the precarious position that Africa will plunge itself in , if the issue is mishandled. His political and social will to deliver to the people made him see beyond what an ordinary eye could, under the same circumstances.
The AU would be well advised to take a cue from Cde Chinotimba's utterances and initiate the necessary steps towards the release of those innocent young girls before the registration of any regrets.
An ideal scenario is for the AU, through its Peace and Security Department to spearhead the rescue mission for the unfortunate girls as they understand better, the political, social and religious dynamics of Nigeria.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is set to attend a security summit in Paris this Saturday to deliberate on the way forward. It's saddening to note that there is no voice from the African Union or the Security Council as a body.
Hats off, Cde Chinotimba, Africa needs leaders like you. Wake up Africa.
It had to take the heartfelt appeal by Buhera South Member of Parliament Joseph Chinotimba, in Parliament this week, for some key political figures in Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole, to take notice of the atrocity being committed right under their noses.
Honourable Chinotimba called on the government to send some Zimbabwe National Army troops to Nigeria and free the girls abducted by Boko Haram. Although his statement has been taken out of context and misconstrued by those with their own selfish motives, in him, I see a refreshing voice of reason and true Pan-Africanist.
Its high time Africa learnt to deal with its own problems firmly instead of perpetually reducing ourselves to the "young brother" role of the West. Till when will we continue to run to the west at the slightest hint of trouble?
With this continued dependency on the west comes a whole bunch of strings tied to the aid we so crave.
The AU's Security has more than enough clout and resources to deal with a bunch of terrorists in Nigeria and should have expediently done so given Nigeria's strategic positioning in the oil trade industry.
Nigeria is an oil rich nation, before we realise it, there shall be international interference which will translate to Africa falling prey to the insatiable oil appetite of the West. Already the international community is all over the place pledging their support to the cause of the girls. The incentive for the intervention remains a mystery but what I know for sure is there is no free lunch for Africa.
Where is the African Union in this rescue matrix? Is the rescuing of 200 girls so complex a feat that we have to wait for intervention from outside the continent?
Hats off to Cde Chinotimba for being spot on and displaying the urge to see an independent Africa capable of proffering home grown solutions to problems bedevilling it. Such thinking is the first step in the achievement of total emancipation of the continent
The Member of Parliament, who is renowned for bringing life into parliament through his unique way of asserting issues, indeed shined the spotlight on the precarious position that Africa will plunge itself in , if the issue is mishandled. His political and social will to deliver to the people made him see beyond what an ordinary eye could, under the same circumstances.
The AU would be well advised to take a cue from Cde Chinotimba's utterances and initiate the necessary steps towards the release of those innocent young girls before the registration of any regrets.
An ideal scenario is for the AU, through its Peace and Security Department to spearhead the rescue mission for the unfortunate girls as they understand better, the political, social and religious dynamics of Nigeria.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is set to attend a security summit in Paris this Saturday to deliberate on the way forward. It's saddening to note that there is no voice from the African Union or the Security Council as a body.
Hats off, Cde Chinotimba, Africa needs leaders like you. Wake up Africa.
Source - Caitlin Kamba
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