Africa’s EXIT Strategy...

 AFRICA'sSTRATEGY

 

“Life isn’t about finding oneself, but life is about creating/becoming oneself”- George Bernard Shaw

These simple words echoed endlessly in my mind soon after I came across this quote by George and I couldn’t resist the urge to simple pause; trade for time, so I could digest and construct my own analysis about their truest sense when it comes to my beloved Africa.

 

               Here's one of my favourite tales;

                                                       

                             

I’m told once upon a time in the far lands, there was an old wealthy man also being a father to a Son who was soon expected to be of age. The wealthy father had already prepared quiet all the necessities that were due for his beloved Son. The old man had servants who used to each day take this boy around the fields, along the hills and along the streams pointing at the fields once more showing him all different kinds of herds one could ever image in number and saying to him “you see master all this, it all belongs to you” but because he was not yet of age he would quickly avoid the matter….

The sad thing occurred as it often does in tales, that the father in his old age passed away; then the Son was now left all by himself, yet endowed with wealth and riches without number…

Suddenly the servants took note that “wait a minute, we have all these years under the supervision of the old man been trying to instill sense in the mind of this young man that ‘we are at his command’, that by now we ought to be receiving others from him concerning the way forward….. But look here he is, waiting on us to give him orders…

To cut this long tale short what happened is that since the Son at his age was still waiting for commands/orders and was still trying to find himself while it was by now expected of him to become himself… some servants therefore took advantage of the Son’s imperial state and the unthinkable happened not long enough some servants began benefiting far more than the heir.... simple because he was still trapped by “the founding oneself before living” ideology...

I’m afraid that what kept this young man from becoming is the very same ideology that has trapped so many Africans from becoming… this ideology has created a dependent continent just like this Son…refusing to become. We have been so used to being cared(planned for) that even when life demands that we start taking the lead and live, we are yet waiting for someone else’s opinion or command concerning what to do.

 

 

Africans “Still finding themselves” Danger….

 

 

Just like in the above Tale there’s is a time for one to seek and discover which route one would pursue and eventually become…but in reality that time is never characterized by a long period, surprisingly so it’s often the shortest compared to the time spent in a thing becoming;  take an example of a corn seed, when one throws a corn seed to the ground with an intention to harvest corn, the period between the day the seed was sawed and buried under the ground can never be compared with the period when the day we see a small sprout of cornstalk till the day we actually harvest…

 

The truth is that there is a great dimension between the period of one finding themselves and the period where one becomes oneself… In other words one truly finds oneself when they become/create themselves…

 

So Africans have been trapped in the myth that of the Ideology “the founding oneself before living”, I see this deception in a lot of Africans who have come to think that there can never be a theory of gravity without Isaac Newton, and that there can never be a bulb without Thomas Edison… there can never be development without civilization (in the form of education) and as a result quiet a number of Africans are trapped they are still fighting so vigorously within themselves like the boy in the tale waiting for approvals from the servants.

 

I can go on and on…yet the truth of the matter is that the Danger associated with this entrapment is that we have a continent that has not identity, a continent that has abandoned their dreams and has subjected itself to its servant’s opinions; who (the servants) in-turn are plundering this continents’ inheritance.

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

Yet since this is a matter pertaining to life, and as in all matters pertaining to life; Justice will always prevail… it’s just a matter of time and this will require a new generation that will foresee the importance of the “One becoming oneself” ideology…

 

This is so magnificently demonstrated by the man I call Bra Moss…

 

                      Exodus 2: 11-15 (CEV)

                                                            

11. After Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were hard at work, and he saw an Egyptian beating one of them.

12. Moses looked around to see if anyone was watching, then he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.

13. When Moses went out the next day, he saw two Hebrews fighting. So he went to the man who had started the fight and asked, ‘why are you beating up one of your own people?”

14. The man answered, “Who put you in charge of us and made you our judge? Are you planning to kill me, just as you killed that Egyptian?

This frightened Moses because he was sure that people must have found out what had happened.

15. When the king heard what Moses had done, the king wanted to kill him. But Moses escaped and went to the land of Midian.

Brother Moo clearly defied the founding oneself before living ideology…and immediately in the fullness of time when he was now of age…rose up to the occasion and sought for himself a clear path all the way to Becoming one of the greatest Leaders Israel has ever had…

It’s Time Fellow Africans….Lets rise up to “Becoming Ourselves” for that’s what it’s all about….

The End of EXIT STRATEGY.....

I THANK YOU!!!!!

EL THELEJANE

 

AFRICA & Global Unemployment Wave…

Once more the Global community is faced with a disastrous epidemic which is priding itself daily into becoming a reality in the life’s of 600 million citizens around the world. The situation is deepening vigorously to such that economists and head of states globally are concerned that if this epidemic continues on the current phase possibilities of social agitations globally are imminent.

What is this Epidemic am I referring to?

This is non-other than the UNEMPLOYMENT epidemic…

Honestly over half a decade ago one would rarely hear about this term as much as one does in all sorts of media platforms lately. Politicians have come realize that the only way for them to stay in power and maintaining social cohesion, they must rise to the urgent challenge of creating 600 million productive jobs for their citizens, sadly this is proving to be an imposable task for the politicians as according to the International Labour Office (ILO) 2012 report, the future is gloomy as factor conditions in global labour markets and the prospects of economic activities are further deteriorating Globally.

The Global Unemployment report by ILO

The global economy is substantially reducing its capacity to add new jobs, Investments remains depressed also weighing on job creation. High unemployment and low wage growth are reducing demand for goods and services, which further damages business confidence and leaves firms hesitant to invest and hire. I can go on…on….and on as to further explain the devastations currently occurring globally but that’s not the reason I took some time to compile this Blog… I choose to compile this as to share my Observations on the matter and also to share my opinions as what needs to be done in order to fight this epidemic….

Let me take you back to earlier centuries as to search what created employment back then, as I believe there was an essential variable which was the baseline for all job creation back then that we the current generation lack.

“The man who invented the monetary system which we use today” - John Law

The year is 1715 France is faced with a stagnant economy and her national debt was crippling, then came a Scotsman by the name John Law, he proposed to stimulate industry, in doing so instituted many beneficial reforms (some of which had lasting effect, others of which were soon abolished). He tried to break up large land-holdings to benefit the peasants; he abolished internal road and canal tolls; he encouraged the building of new roads, the starting of new industries (even importing artisans but mostly by offering low-interest loans), and the revival of overseas commerce—and indeed industry increased 60% in two years, and the number of French ships engaged in export went from sixteen to three hundred and all this he achieved by what I acclaim to be the greatest Innovation of our time, the man Invented a new type of money to replace the old one of specie (the use of coins). In doing so he created the mechanism to finance the industrial revolution (which is by far the greatest job creation vehicle ever was in the history of mankind) and ultimately our modern technological world.

“The transportation Systems/Inventions Era”

Transportation was changed dramatically by the invention of the steam engine. While steam power was first known of in the late 1600's, the powerful engine was first made truly usable by James Watt in 1778. These steam engines helped run factories and were used to power steam boats and locomotives, allowing people to travel faster, safer and longer distances than they had in the past on horse and buggy. The steam engine was not powerful enough for large factories, but the steam engine was used to help build stronger and faster engines.

The year is 1861 the French successfully strike a breakthrough in creating the first gasoline engine, yet this breakthrough was accompanied by a series of collaborations that took place amongst many inventors before an official Automobile was realized, these collaborations also took to heart the essence of the wheel , which is one of the biggest mechanical inventions of all time. 30 years later the heroic Henry Ford invented the brand Ford fully composed with borrowed brilliants, it was in during this era( the industrial revolution era) that the wheel dropped its wooden self and switched on to become pneumatic rubber tires and since then it has been one big ride for us all

“The Communication Inventions Era”

In the mid-1870s, Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray both independently designed devices that could transmit sound. Graham Bell was the first to have his design for the telephone patented, although Gray was only a few hours behind. During a sound experiment in 1875, Graham Bell discovered he could hear over the wire. The first phone call placed was on March 10, 1876, between Graham Bell and his assistant, Thomas Watson, who was seated in the next room. This Invention ushered what soon would be known as the “world on wire” as networks of telephone lines were built quickly across the world, Advances in communications helped decision makers to maintain control.

“The Energy Inventions Era”

The age of electricity began in 1882 when Thomas A. Edison introduced a system of electric lighting in New York City. Electricity was later applied to driving all kinds of machinery as well as powering locomotives and streetcars. Electric lighting quickly spread across the United States and was soon adopted in Europe. The electrical industry was dominated by large companies that developed new products and then manufactured and marketed them. These companies were based in Germany and the United States but sold their goods all over the world. They were the first multinational companies. Companies like Westinghouse and General Electric helped to electrify cities in Europe, Africa, and South America.

I can go on and on as to further mention all sorts of Inventions that took place in the early centuries, but what I would like to put emphasis on is that all these above inventions turned out to be massive Job creators, as new scientific knowledge was applied to industry as scientists and engineers unlocked the secrets of physics and chemistry. Great new industries were founded on this scientific advance: steel, chemicals, and petroleum benefited from new understandings of chemistry; breakthroughs in the study of electricity and magnetism provided the basis for a large electrical industry. These new industries were larger and more productive than any industries existing before…all this trend lasted till the early 1970’s,

It is saddening to have to come to realize that the current generation after the 1970’s has not experience a new scientific knowledge or any phenomena in the physics and chemistry fields altogether, no wonder the “Youth are particularly hard hit by the employment crisis” that’s according to the ILO, it says that “Globally, young people are nearly three times as likely as adults to be unemployed” How come as one my ask?

Well the answer is simple LACK OF INNOVATION, this generation continues seeking for employment with the same qualifications/skills that our parents have acquired years back and we are on a disadvantageous position simply because we lack the experience (experience = efficiency) our parents on the other hand have long been employed in our desired posts and have as a result acquired outstanding experience which makes it very convenient for their employers to retain the experienced employee due to their efficiency.

Our academic manuals of all sorts of fields in the last 45-60 years have only been decorated differently on the outside while the content is still the same. In essence we have a society that learns the same things. Therefore because the new generation are acquiring old skills that the employed generation have become experts and are well experienced, therefore rightfully so the employer would gladly retain an experience employee who has become efficient

What do I mean by LACK OF INNOVATION?

INNOVATION is the essential variable that is lacking in today’s generation…I mean the real INNOVATION, that which is centered on the real economic systems, as real economy is material activity relating to human’s production, service, consumption and circulation. This type of innovation I would liken’ to the current Shale Gas Fracking proposal in the Karoo basin (South Africa), since it’s a new trend altogether, therefore, new manuals , physics and chemistry formulas will have to be adopted for the project to be a success… Job opportunities it is said will be in a scale that the country has never seen before, all this due to what I call real INNOVATION.

Our current generation has been consumed by fictitious economy and as a result squeezed the development space of real economy.

Conclusion

Though the notion INNOVATION is largely criticized by the worker concerns representatives namely: Unions, on basis that their members are losing jobs due to the new machinery and modern technologies that have flooded factory floors… I choose to conclude by saying the Lack of Real INNOVATION has and will always be the cause in the widespread of the GLOBAL UNEMPLOYMENT EPIDEMIC….

I THANK YOU

EL THELEJANE

                                Coming Soon…..” AFRICA’s Exit STRATEGY”

“Ways to follow… and Ways not to follow…”

What a fascinating title of a message I got to hear today by my beloved Ps. Titus Sithole… and come to think of it life in general is about either we follow or not follow certain ways, Just a sneak pick of points mentioned for those who missed today’s service before I get to my Blog about how this title can be applied in relation with Africa.

               

            Types of Ways to follow… by Ps. Titus Sithole

·         We are to follow the way of Jesus Christ

·         We are to follow the way of those who have been ahead of us

·         We are to follow the way of your Pastor and Godly leaders

Types of Ways not to follow…

·         We are not to follow the way of Balaam

·         We are not to follow the way of Cain

                  ·    We are not to follow the way of Korah

 A powerful message altogether…Amen

Now as I stopped to ponder the message I realize that even in relation to My African Observation, it goes without saying that for Africa to truly leave to its promises for a better life for all its citizens there are certain Ways we must begin to follow…and also Certain Ways we must do away with… as a continent and particularly governments of states. I believe the most tyrannical word any ordinary African could attest to is the word POWER.

POWER once necessary and sort for vigorously by the continent during the Colonial and Apartheid era, has since been the very cause for the deterioration of many states in the continent, this brings to realization the old quote which say “With Great Power comes Great responsibility” and sadly for many of this Continent states are/have failing to fulfill responsibilities that comes with the POWER they have obtained, because of this simple reason “Certain Ways must be done away with… and Certain Ways must begin to follow…

Looking broadly at many of African dictator turned out Leaders who are clinging to Presidential offices of Power, one my wonder why is this so? I picked this to be the cause; that “because many of these now heads of states were military men, and some former rebel leaders who once fought vigorously for these offices and they now figured/are convinced that they own or are entitled to these states. They therefore will by all means do all in their POWER to retain these offices, even if it means manipulating democratic practices of elections and violating international human right policies all at the expense of POWER.

We also should barer in mind that though it took democratic practices such a elections for some of them to attain this Power, Yet they still feel that to continue with democratic Governance during their terms in offices would somehow give there counterparts which also include their former oppressors’ an upper hand to their “Diehard” attained POWER (Ruler ship) since democracy suggest there to be a free and fair elections and the likes…”

Yet in spite of all that being said the reality remains there are “Certain Ways which must be done away with… and Certain Ways must begin to follow… by most of African Leaders.

Certain Ways must begin to be followed…by most African Countries (Political Organizations) in Continent

·         Certain ways of the African National Congress (ANC)

As Africa’s Oldest Political Organization of 100 years (a Centenary) established under an unprecedented move by John Dube, Pixley ka isaka and Sol Plaatje along with chiefs on 8th January 1912 the ANC has since demonstrated a great effort on Responsibility in response POWER and Governance to all African leaders and heads of states. This effort renownedly kindled by former ANC and State president Nelson Mandela which lit the world with outstanding leadership during his four year term as president of South Africa. He’s ways of POWER while also representing the ANC, were of Reconciliation, Unity and establishment of a Free Democratic State for all its Citizens.

Therefore for African Leaders of States the ANC has clearly set a pattern on certain aspects in relation to Governance and Power for them to follow to at least experience REST and PEACE in their countries and start building a better future…

·         The Way of the African Renaissance (The revival of learning and culture)

Every Creature alive has/demonstrate what I call “LEVO” in other words never in the history of creation have we encountered a donkey striving so hard to alienate it’s-self from other donkeys and trying to become either a Giraffe or a Horse even though they might be of the same clan. Again we have never encountered a cat in the townships busy roaring trying to become a Lion and chasing after people or Dogs, I mean I can go on and on. Yet here you find us Africans forsaking our way of the African renaissance and adopting the western renai??? Which I doubt is fit as a culture altogether…This is a critical way which we as Africans must begin to follow, the way of the African Renaissance. This way will give us confidence in accepting who we are and not to try and impress the western, the eastern and the rest of the sterns by trying to become who we are not and will never become. This in essence will help us realize our strengths and major on them in other to improve our societies. This way is critical especially for our young people who are in need of the revival in learning and culture.

Certain Ways must be done away with…by most African Countries in Continent

·         The Way of Corruption

Understandably the seed for corruption is greed; this way has cheated Africa off its “Moral Value” within the human race, to an extend that this beautiful Continent has been classified with insane titles recently by the Westerns, Easterns and all other Sterns. The craziest of them all was that it’s a “Dark Continent” just imagine!

Now the honest truth is that altogether this Seed of corruption is not an African Seed. Greed is a foreign seed planted by foreign Investors in our Leaders with the desire to exploit our resources; as a result we the continent harvest Corruption.

Our truest African Renaissance which was once practiced by our forefathers till the mid 80’s&90’s has clearly depicted that a true African is a giving, sharing and caring person toward their fellow Africans and other races in general. I’m told that during world 1&2 my grand parents in Kwazulu Natal use to welcome foreign soldiers of different nationalities around the world who would pass through their community and give them a good hospitality regardless, that is a true African, a person who would really spend their substance for the betterment of their neighbor, following the way of the Good Samaritan.

Therefore the true remedy for this cruel way, the way of Corruption is for us to truly embrace the Way of the African Renaissance.

In conclusion I believe the best is yet to come for Africa and that as we change from following our current Ways to Certain ways we would therefore be enlightening the way, the future even for the next African Generations to come!!!

I thank you

EL Thelejane