DEMOCRACY-PILL, THE PANACEA FOR AFRICA, IS A COUNTERFEIT PRODUCT

by Simeon Nkola Matamba ( Follow on Twitter )



Underdevelopment, famine, malaria, wars, mass abductions, corruption, unemployment, poverty: the diagnosis of Africa's condition cannot be darker. The wave of independence and freedom that swept over the continent 50 years ago allowed natives to take control of their own destiny. The movement was the epitome of the fundamental right for populations in different countries of Africa to exert power for their own sake. That is the basis of the democracy concept as outlined in its most spread definition. Nonetheless, the dream of autonomy for africans would later be destroyed by the work of heartless dictators turning countries into personal ranches, helping themselves by looting resources and enforcing brutal repressive policies against the slightest gesture of opposition. Few rulers embodied a vision of total independence and the courage to pursue it. Among them are Lumumba, Sankara, who not only believed, but most of all, fought for african development and Pan-Africanism, at the expense of their lives.

A second wave started rolling in the early 1990s, shaking fortifications of old established systems. Apartheid was halted, a dictator like Mobutu had to  loosen his grip on the people. But it is mainly in the last decade that all kinds of elections have been held in most african countries. Either presidential and national assembly elections or referendums, voting has become a trend that restores the feeling that the people is again at the center of future and destiny.

It's been years now that we keep swallowing the pill supposed to put an end to plagues and chaos. Despite enthusiasm and propaganda, support from westerner pharmacists providing the pill in large quantities, the plague is still roaming throughout the land. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's estimations are of 239 million undernourished people in Africa. Regarding poverty, incomes are not sufficient, hence not enough purchasing power to acquire food and have access to basic goods and services. Around 400 million people live in dire poverty. Unemployment is also bringing its share of disaster in a continent were youth population is expected to reach 75 percent in 2015. Corruption, military conflicts and mass abductions complete the list.

The status quo is too critical to naively believe in a panacea :"democracy-pill". I am not saying that I am against democracy, but rather that we must pay close attention to what we are doing. No mentally stable person can believe that we are attaining sustainable development, by casting a piece of paper called ballot paper in a box called ballot box. Democracy as power of the people is basically the right and the will of the people to be heard and served. This not only when it comes to voting, but most of all, the people must be involved in all stages of the political course.

Democracy-pill, in its african version, poses a threat to the people meant to be its main beneficiary. There is a trap in two ways. First, democracy-pill is basically a counterfeit medicine produced in cheap laboratories. Sold to the poor lacking what it takes to purchase better, the counterfeit product doesn't only fail to heal, but brings horrendous side effects. Democracy-pill, african version, comes along with intimidation, repression of political opponents, and fraud. The second threat is that the pill is designed in a way to get things locked in a dangerous conformism. There is no african country whose elected president is impeached due to corruption or incompetence. It means that no matter what a president does, citizens must hold their peace and say nothing on the grounds of respecting the democratic constitutional order that stipulates that he was elected for a five years term for instance. Or, fraudulent legislative elections give presidents majority in the parliament and free way to amend laws and make oneself eternal president. All this shows that the demos is very far from having the kratos.

Years have passed, we have the same problems we had in the past. Only now folks start realising  that democracy in the way it was presented to them is a scam. Indeed, democracy-pill is less dangerous than dictatorship in terms of little evolutions in freedom of expression and liberalization of information, or the right to freely create or join a political representation. But all that is meager compared to crucial issues. People of power means power to appoint rulers who in return serve the people. People of power means power to hire politicians and fire them whenever they go astray from what they are meant to do.

Hadn't it been radical changes 50 years ago, african countries wouldn't have been able to snatch independence. And today to find the way back to development fathers of independence died for, a new leadership is highly needed. There must be a radical change in the way we view democracy. It must stop to be a morning stroll ending at a polling station where we cast papers in boxes. The solution should be the appointment of leaders and the establishment of clear provisions in laws enforcing the principle of accountability. Democracy can only be attained if the people have the right to fair elections and the power to hold their rulers accountable. Democracy is attained when the people's demands are fully respected.

                         

               AFRICAN STEREOTYPES

by Simeon Nkola Matamba ( Follow on Twitter )



The 18th century is commonly known as the century of lights with regards to the revival in sciences, arts and knowledge. Yet the 21st century can be tagged as the century of information. Never before information was easily accessible for large numbers. The complexity of the world and its different components can be grasped, erasing limited and simplistic beliefs held for absolute truths in past years. Stereotypes are meant to be dethroned by more accurate elements, giving a sight to the wonderful diversity different universes are made of.

 Nevertheless, the overwhelming amount of data stored in search engines and books does not always get the attention of many civilized people. Their scope of knowledge is limited to a bit of popular singing and some other stuff acquired from school and memorized through rote learning. That is what explains persistent stereotypes about Africa. Around the world,  the craddle of mankind is oversimplified with petty assumptions that are ridiculous at the same time.

A friend of mine forwarded me links to Youtube videos she posted two years ago about the issue. She is a congolese, grew up in South Africa and joined Canada some years ago. In the videos, she adresses the issue of african stereotypes through what curiosity would have some of her friends ask her. Of course, folks still thought Africa was a country, but some of the few questions she had to answer are: "You're coming from Africa,  so you speak African?", "In Africa,  do you have things like pizza?", "Do you have roads?".

I can't put all questions here but I won't forget to mention that someone was concerned about knowing if africans like chicken. It is  appalling and hilarious at the same time.  It is very paradoxal that in the age where knowledge and information is within reach, having smartphones, tablets,  the internet, platforms like Amazon or Scribd where self-education is not expensive, many people around the world don't know things that are merely basic.

This directly reminded me that few years ago, back home in Congo,  we entertained a whole family coming from the UK. They came in Kinshasa for an important ceremony taking place in our religious community. The kids were amazed to see people in Africa living in a big house, because they were told that in Africa we sleep in trees. They enjoyed their stay and were shocked that things didn't look like what they had been taught.

I recall that in high school we learnt about Europe, America, and Asia. We studied about kingdoms, emperors like Alexandre The Great, the Hellenistic civilization, phoenecians, Crete, and many other things. We also dealt with modern history and geography, countries, capitals, populations and so forth. It enabled us to know a bit more about the world, and today with news channels and various sources of information we keep on track with what happens everywhere.

Stereotypes are a result of a lack of interest in learning about others. Why will they learn about Africa? Will it change the fact that they are developped super powers?  Many europeans and americans hear of a country in Africa or somewhere else only when their boots are sent for military interventions. On top of that, as I said on my article about social medias, big channels focus on the negative side of things. As a result, the level of ignorance is unbelievable with stereotyping as the only option.

Citizens of the civilized world don't have to behave like primitives whose knowledge of the world was limited to how far their eyes could see. The world is big and beautiful and has to be explored for its diversity to be enjoyed.

                         

HEAR THE CALL AND MOVE FORWARD

by Simeon Nkola Matamba ( Follow on Twitter )


Three years ago, I was excited about completing high school to join South Africa to further my studies. I was readying to embark on a promising journey offering new opportunities to bring plans and ambitions to fruition. I had to leave my lovely parents and beautiful two sisters, travelling alongside with my older brother. The strong link built with family, friends and members of my community had to be stretched hence made less strong because I was going away. My awareness was brought to the fact that when life calls, one is always compelled to leave their comfort zone. Venturing to join an unknown outer world is something that keeps repeating itself.

Though life has a special way of treating us, we don't always like it. By observing we see that separation is a routine. A foetus to be born hears the call of life and the compulsion to leave mother's womb for an unknown yet better condition. Nevertheless the fear of the future's uncertainties is the major hindrance to answering the call of life. We have a strong propensity to refuse the call and remain in the comfort of the order of a situation. Change is not always taken as an opportunity but fear is deeply anchored in us.

The call of the future must yet be answered with a lot of positivism. Leaving the only world I ever knew was painful. But with hindsight, that was the best thing to do in terms of reaped benefits. Someone said "The future is not an inheritance, it is an opportunity and an obligation". An opportunity to get better and the obligation to do so. Not embracing the future is akin to death, lives stuck in the past, frozen stories that cannot be continued.

When life calls, answer. When the future calls, be bold to rise and move forward. It takes motivation and self confidence. My Dad likes telling us:"life does not spare anyone". If life never spares us, forcing us to go through all kinds of things it is made of, why do we spare life and are afraid to force it to accept that we are able to shape it and come out reinforced? Hear the call, embrace the future.


                       

AFRICA: LEADERSHIP IS WHAT WE NEED

by Simeon Nkola Matamba ( Follow on Twitter )


In every group or community leadership is of paramount importance. It is one of the fundamental functions in managing organisations.  Not only planning, organising and controlling are necessary activities, leading is what sees to it that an organisation is efficiently led to the attainment of its goals. Mastering the art of leadership ensures that a dream or a vision is made real. The question has been generating endless arguments, some arguing it is an innate faculty given to a few, others asserting that it can be acquired through a process of learning and practicing. Validating or refuting either one or the other theory is far from being our focal point. The focus is on how as a cure to various problems left without solutions it is not resorted to. Its role is neglected in the pursuit of development and sustainability.

Leadership is a word we hear a lot when it comes to making remarks about Africa. It is obvious that Africa is experiencing a dearth of such an important force.  A leader as the word shows is one meant to lead, embodying a vision or a dream driving him or her to influence others for realising things. A leader is able to motivate, and get the work done for reaching a specific purpose by using necessary means and suitable strategies.

Instead of leaders at heads of states we rather have simple rulers whose duties are limited to minimum service activities. Leaders with a dream and a vision for their country are a rare resource. Our presidents don't have any vision of the people's future and the future of the country. When their projects come under scrutiny-if they even dare present one-what catches the attention is how limited and poor their ambitions are. In a country with a high level of illiteracy for instance, a president found better to offer to build a stadium for young people to go watch sports, meanwhile there are not enough schools.

On top of the lack of leaders because of no dream and vision, we notice that rulers themselves don't lead by example. Politics is in general perceived as evil, linked to corruption and mischiefs. But it seems it's in Africa that the rule is very much verifiable. Involved in graft, corruption, embezzlements, money laundering and so forth, politicians have no accountability at all. When the head is rotten, much cannot be expected from other members of the body. It is very much like having a human body with a rotting brain. Depending on the brain to move and act, the whole body becomes unable to function naturally.

Suffering from a lack of strong leadership to allow that resources through planning, organising and controlling are used in the most intelligent way, we are friends to chaos. Short-sighted rulers unable to see beyond their lives' span or families' circles abandon millions submerged in abysses of underdevelopment and mediocrity.  With no vision of a better condition to lead the people to, nothing great can be expected. And as long as a strong and responsible leadership is absent, countries will be endlessly going through the fatal and notorious cycle of failure.