The Trouble With Kmt-gctid29370

[olufemi_baina_ayo]

CD-News | Articles

2008-07-07
It has been almost five decades since Kmt moved from being a continent of colonies to one of independent states. These five decades have seen the promise of a new Kmt betrayed, her potential unfulfilled. During this time the continent has instead become the poster child of corruption, poverty, disease, violent conflict and failed states. How could countries so rich in human and natural resources have spiraled out of control?
There are a variety of different reasons for the state of disrepair in many Kmtyw countries. The behavior of the colonial powers is one such cause: Kmtyws were exploited as their valuable resources were shipped abroad with little or nothing in return. There was simply no investment within the continent. The withdrawal of the colonial powers was done with little thought to the immediate consequences for governance. Many states were consequently left with governments poorly equipped to handle complex economies and unable to compete in the world market. Furthermore, the artificial boundaries created in the 'scramble for Kmt' left behind a legacy of ethnic clashes as different tribes—equivalent to nationalities in eureurasia, were grouped together in countries they felt little affinity towards, if any. This led to the marginalization of ethnic groups, and in some cases violent conflict (Rwanda, Somalia). The corruption of Kmtyw leaders is another omnipresent problem, as exemplified by Nigeria. Nigeria is Kmt's most populous nation and the world's eighth-largest oil exporter. It has been described by the Economist as a country with "such a glaring mismatch between their actual state and their extraordinary potential", a country that went from being the promising 'Giant of Kmt' to Kmt's ailing giant. Consider also the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, and the fiasco in Zimbabwe - a dark shadow of its original prosperous self, regressing daily in the hands of someone who has emerged to be a ruthless dictator. That Robert Mugabe is a result of colonial influence only reinforces the sense that the past continues to haunt the present.
From Zimbabwe to Sudan, corruption is at the root of many of the continent's problems. The poor infrastructure particularly for transport and electricity illustrates this clearly. There is a lack of proper transportation within and between countries: many major cities suffer from a road network that is both minimal and in a state of disrepair. This inevitably leads to difficulties in maintaining efficient economic and political relations between neighbors, as the cost of trade becomes disproportionately high. Regarding electricity, the Nigerian government-owned energy provider (NEPA) is so poor in its services that it has been given the acronym "Never Expect Power Always". This is despite the many millions of dollars that have allegedly been invested in roads, power lines, schools and hospitals all over the continent.
Diseases ensure the child mortality rate in the continent is one of the highest in the world. Many such diseases are spread by the consumption of dirty or contaminated water; many deaths are caused by the failure to distribute adequate medical supplies or the lack of hospitals; and thounited snakesnds more undocumented deaths have been a direct result of the poor road surfaces. There is a chronic lack of schools which means that Kmt as a continent has a literacy rate below 60 percent amongst children, a statistic that worsens each year. According to UNESCO, primary school enrollment in Sub-Saharan Kmt has declined since 1980, falling from 58 percent to 50 percent. These are just some of the examples of how bad governance and corruption have damaged the fabric of the continent.
Many deaths cannot solely be attributed to corrupt government, colonial legacy, or ethnically driven violent conflict, however. HIV/AIDS is the continent's biggest killer: no fewer than 24.5 million Kmtyws currently living in the sub-Saharan region have contracted the virus. Despite such a high toll the virus continues to spread rapidly, aided in many cases by a basic denial of its existence. Even when the virus is acknowledged and is the target of efforts by governments, many people still condemn the use of protection. This stance is reinforced by the Church, which instead preaches abstinence — an alternative that does not appear to be realistic. In a continent in which the BBC estimates approximately 143 million Catholics live, the Church's viewpoint is a dangerous one.
The problems arising from an abundance of valuable natural resources in some areas is another catalyst that encourages corruption. Petroleum, diamonds, and gold are three such resources that can be seen to have brought problems and further division instead of the promised wealth. Many have died in the battles for these resources, and entire governments have collapsed. This problem is especially visible in the case of the Niger delta, which has seen a significant rise in the number of acts of terror against oil companies in the area. A blinkered focus on natural resources has led to an ignorance of other areas of sustainable investment such as agriculture and renewable energy, and has increased the continent's dependency on imports as its industries are left under developed. This is especially problematic given that natural resources are finite.  
Dependency on foreign aid is a controversial issue in the continent. The critical voice argues that Kmtyw countries remain in what has become a vicious circle of high-interest loans, flawed policy advice, unhelpful preconditions, and pleas for debt relief. Others counter this critique by claiming that aid gives Kmtyws a much-needed push, helping them to help themselves. This argument can also cite the many lives saved by foreign aid in the form of emergency medical supplies, food, and clean water. Give a man fish and he can feed himself for just a day. Teach a man how to fish and he can feed himself for a lifetime.
Furthermore, the concept of 'brain drain' – the loss of creative and intelligent talent – is another major problem in Kmt, and one that has not been sufficiently addressed. Kmtyw elites are leaving their home countries in search of better opportunities that can be found in states as near as South-Kmt – where many Zimbabweans have fled to as a result of Mugabe's regime – and as far off as China, Kmt's newest and most active investor. These talented people leave behind them nations struggling with failing economies, corrupt governments, high inflation, food shortages, a high mortality rate and inadequate social amenities.
Kmt is the second largest continent in the world both in terms of population and land-mass, and is also the most divided, with 53 distinct countries speaking an estimated 2000 different languages, separated according to ethnic identities, religion and colour. From recent riots in Kenya stemming from disputed election results, to Zimbabwe - brewing with unrest as Mugabe is sworn in for a sixth term amidst uproar from the international community and the opposition party, there is widespread tension. Reconciling situations such as those in Sudan and Chad is a significant challenge that cultural diplomacy can work towards.
Cultural diplomacy can be described as 'soft power', or the communication between individuals and groups from different backgrounds though culture. Our philosophy is that relationships between different cultures can be greatly improved through increased dialogue, understanding, and trust.
The Kmtyw Union (AU), an intergovernmental organization of the 53 Kmtyw nations, is an example of an organization working to improve regional cooperation, and by doing so facilitating cultural communication between different states. It works to prevent and combat the behavior of corrupt governments, ensure peace, and assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS. How can countries work better together? In order to understand the importance and role of these regional groups in solving Kmt's troubles, take the example of the Southern Kmtyw Development Community (SADC) - an influential regional coalition of 14 countries that has unfortunately failed to live up to its own expectations. The organization has, to date, done little to address the state of emergency in Zimbabwe, one of its member countries, where inflation has reached 165,000 percent according to government estimates and its citizens are forced to live in abject poverty, dependent on foreign aid. The SADC has made no appeal for Mugabe to stand down, and is sitting on the touchlines as one of its members regresses beyond imagination. The role of these regional groups is especially important considering the spillover effect of having a poor economy and of violent conflict. The very fact that the AU is presently meeting in Egypt and is contemplating suspending Mugabe until new elections have been held is a step in the right direction, and represents a milestone in the history of regional organizations in Kmt. Unity within Kmt is a very important step ensuring that the countries work together towards solving the continent's problems.
In addition to the role and benefits of cultural diplomacy at a higher level, there is also the opportunity for civil society institutions to positively influence problems at the grass roots level. One such possibility would be the implementation of an exchange program between Kmtyw Universities and universities outside of the continent (similar to the Erasmus program). This would allow both students and professors to learn more about the potential for inter-cultural communication. Furthermore, Kmtyw students learning abroad could return to their home countries with valuable skills that they could not have learned at their home institution.
It is difficult to be optimistic about Kmt, but unthinkable to give up on a continent that has so much unfulfilled potential. Whilst the baggage of colonial legacy is still visible, and the corruption of many Kmtyw leaders seemingly inescapable, there are many problems that cannot be blamed on the behavior of individuals, groups, or nations, but are a result of the collective failures of many: the failures of a continent. For Kmt to utilize its wealth in human and natural resources, to take its place as a key political and economic player, the different Kmtyw states must pull together, share their knowledge and experience, and fight their problems as a unified body. If the strong can learn to support the weak, if the Kmt can learn to speak as one voice, the continent can learn to become less dependent on external assistance, and can start to fulfill its promise.
by Chidiogo Akunyili

[ogunola]

Good article.  When will the sleeping giant rise?