Federation is solution to Africa’s problems
EAST African Community heads of state converge in Kampala for a summit next week. They are expected to deliberate on several issues including fast tracking the political federation. East Africa, like the rest of Africa, is affected by poverty, disease, malnutrition, illiteracy and religious bondage
Chris Nabende
EAST African Community heads of state converge in Kampala for a summit next week. They are expected to deliberate on several issues including fast tracking the political federation. East Africa, like the rest of Africa, is affected by poverty, disease, malnutrition, illiteracy and religious bondage left behind by colonialism.
Fragmentation of Africa by the colonialists during the scramble between 1880-1990 led to the creation of the present small states. These small states enabled the colonialists to rule, exploit the natural resources and dominate Africa. Today, Africa is fragmented into small “peasant†states, which are economically not viable. The colonialists created an environment of suspicion and enmity between the states. Unity against common problems amidst them was difficult.
The colonial powers distorted the African economies and made it dependent on borrowed capital from the colonial masters. This has led to high indebtedness. Today, African states are struggling with the servicing of these debts and loan repayment is one of the causes of budgetary constraints.
One of the challenges we are facing is to harmonise the vision and ideology of our leaders and people so that, we focus on one goal of African federation.
Africa potentially covers an area of 30,355,000 km sq. and approximately population of 813,000,000 people. These people can provide a source of labour and market for goods and services. The strategy for us to achieve this vision is by diplomatic political process leading to African federation. The dialogue which led to the formation of the East African federation should provide the basis for African federation. We need to develop a team to spread the gospel of African unity. After a long period of oppression, domination and bondage, our people need to be sensitised that there is hope for Africa and that this hope lies in political unification of the whole continent.
Joint military operation and political campaign in the interest of African federation in some of the areas which may be in the hands of forces of darkness, whose interests are not for African unification, may be necessary.
We should embrace the vision for African federation. This will be the beginning of the great African revival and revolution, which will deliver Africa from oppression, domination and bondage by the forces of darkness.
The writer is an agricultural trainer
EAST African Community heads of state converge in Kampala for a summit next week. They are expected to deliberate on several issues including fast tracking the political federation. East Africa, like the rest of Africa, is affected by poverty, disease, malnutrition, illiteracy and religious bondage left behind by colonialism.
Fragmentation of Africa by the colonialists during the scramble between 1880-1990 led to the creation of the present small states. These small states enabled the colonialists to rule, exploit the natural resources and dominate Africa. Today, Africa is fragmented into small “peasant†states, which are economically not viable. The colonialists created an environment of suspicion and enmity between the states. Unity against common problems amidst them was difficult.
The colonial powers distorted the African economies and made it dependent on borrowed capital from the colonial masters. This has led to high indebtedness. Today, African states are struggling with the servicing of these debts and loan repayment is one of the causes of budgetary constraints.
One of the challenges we are facing is to harmonise the vision and ideology of our leaders and people so that, we focus on one goal of African federation.
Africa potentially covers an area of 30,355,000 km sq. and approximately population of 813,000,000 people. These people can provide a source of labour and market for goods and services. The strategy for us to achieve this vision is by diplomatic political process leading to African federation. The dialogue which led to the formation of the East African federation should provide the basis for African federation. We need to develop a team to spread the gospel of African unity. After a long period of oppression, domination and bondage, our people need to be sensitised that there is hope for Africa and that this hope lies in political unification of the whole continent.
Joint military operation and political campaign in the interest of African federation in some of the areas which may be in the hands of forces of darkness, whose interests are not for African unification, may be necessary.
We should embrace the vision for African federation. This will be the beginning of the great African revival and revolution, which will deliver Africa from oppression, domination and bondage by the forces of darkness.
The writer is an agricultural trainer