Africa Day: 60 years later, little to celebrate

If ever there was a competition for the best, or worst, “could have been”, “might have been” story of disappointment, the tale of post-independence Africa would be a strong contender.

Today, leaders around the continent will mark Africa Day with high-flown speechifying, while many of their people will continue to try and scrabble their way out of poverty.

It has been 60 years since Africa Day was declared to celebrate the formation of the African Union (originally the Organisation of African Unity) … and there has been little to celebrate.

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Failure

The continent, which contains an inordinate percentage of the world’s rich natural resources, has failed to become the economic and political powerhouse its starry-eyed leaders believed it could be in the 1960s.

Part of that is down to the colonial powers – and some others – exploiting raw materials mercilessly, mainly so the rich people of the north could enjoy a comfortable life.

But, just as tragic, is the venality of the continent’s leaders, who destroyed countries through their looting or their misguided attempts to impose foreign systems.

There are signs, though, that Africa is changing. Its youth is no longer tolerant of the old-school “big men” and their ossified ideas, never mind their thieving.

As democracy, or even dictatorship, sees a number of countries progressing, it should give us pause for thought in South Africa.

While the ANC fritters away the infrastructural advantages bequeathed by the previous rulers, other countries are already eating our lunch by establishing themselves as trading and investment hubs.

South Africa, once the richest country on the continent, has fallen to third, after Egypt and Nigeria. South Africans of all hues and political persuasions must realise Africa – and the world – owes us nothing.

If we don’t repair our wilfully damaged country, we will watch the rest of Africa pulling away from us.

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