By: Lesley Machimbidza
It is such a worrying issue when my fellow Africans look at the continent’s underdevelopment and blame it on the various head of states and those who are in influential positions. The truth is that Africa’s underdevelopment is supposed to be attributed to the lack of passion that we Africans exude towards our continent.
During the early stages of socialization, a child is instilled with the belief that he or she is an African and he has to know that they are inferior to other races. I grew up in a family where I was told that to have a better life, I ought to work hard, earn certificates and qualifications and fly to the west or the east to graze on the so-called “greener pastures”. I lived with such a dream for quite a while in my life but I have only realized that it is drawing the continent behind.
Why do we need to go to other continents to be who we wish to be? Why can’t we be who we want to be in our continent? There is an old saying which says “home is best” but in Africa, it seems like it is non-existent as most Africans have considered leaving their various home countries to stay in other continents. We are responsible for the lack of development that our continent faces because we use the gifts, talents, and endowments that we have for the benefit of other continents. Most of the educated Africans and talented individuals have since left our continent and have gone to render their services and skills to other continents which end up benefitting out of it. It is irrational of us as Africans, we are not be forced to leave the continent, we are leaving it ourselves. After we get established out there, we forget of our roots, we forget our foundation and we even point fingers at our fellow kinsman who would have remained behind at home.
If Africa has to be great, it needs us as Africans to be passionate about it. All the ‘spaghetti roads’ and tech-oriented life that is in other continents can be achieved in Africa as long we put up our minds on it and work on solving the problems that are being faced by the continent. All we need is unity and team spirit as we tackle the problems we have in our continent. If we are to see Africa being prosperous, we need to unite as Africans and make a positive impact on it rather than fleeing to other continents.
The reason why we are referred to as an inferior race is that our actions and way of doing things shows it. We ought to show that our continent is the best and it takes us as Africans. Let us work hard, let us persevere, and change our continent. We have the resources, we have the facilities and it takes us as Africans to bring change to it. Embrace being African, after all, BLACK IS BEAUTY!!
