MWENYA’S DIARY

                               By Mwenya Mukuka
For a long time now, Africa has blamed its state of poverty, destitution and backwardness on other countries. But how long can we go on pointing fingers at other nations that are fully occupied with own economic, political arms and social growth?
In Africa we should not forget that if we had not permitted them to gradually penetrate our societies, traditions and cultures, they would not have succeeded in doing so, and even if they did, not to the extent that they have. This has resulted in Africa being totally dependent on other cultures that one can hardly begin to understand.
Due to this lack of understanding, we have inculcated habits, which have robbed us of any warmth, compassion and togetherness that we as Africans used to hold very dear to us. They have robbed us of the uniqueness of being African, the pride of being African.
Africa the beloved land has become brutal! We have been discarded and disrespected by other nations, because even at the times that other nations have shown us a kind hand, we have bitten their hands, bitten each other, and now we are no longer a trusted continent.
The masses suffer because the handful that receive money for our countries in order to help grass root businesses, they have kept it without any remorse.
Those who are acquiring wealth to the detriment of their countries continue to get richer by the day, while the poor get poorer and live under the poverty line.
Theirs must be what the Bible calls a reprobate mind, where their consciences have become so hardened and cemented by self-centeredness, that they can easily turn a blind eye to their inhumanity to other Africans, their own people.
They turn over at night and sleep blissfully, deafened to the cries of the poor. As far as they are concerned, the poor do not exist, and if they do, they are simply illiterates who do not deserve the best form their leaders.
The poor are ignored, as the line of demarcation grows thicker, it is fast becoming a wall between the rich and the poor. The poor have lost dignity as human beings.
They have been robbed and raped times without number! Yet still that is not enough for certain individuals.
They still want more money as the poor choose to be honest and maintain their integrity! Political systems have been developed where only those willing to rogue people can join, otherwise, one cannot be a part of the government! He or she is seen as the enemy because they have chosen the way of truth. So many have become hard hearted, selfish and unsympathetic! They forget that in the African culture we believe, and we know that selfishness will serve as a barrier to help when they most need it, and that when these egotistical individuals really need help they will not find it.  The reason being that they have sown too many bitter seeds.
In Africa we believe that if you do not allow your neighbor to enjoy, neither will you.
It is not a wonder that obscene crimes have escalated in Africa . Every day, Mother Africa drinks the blood of her children. Everyday, their disunity, greed, bitterness, jealousy, envy, anger and violence shake her amongst her children. It is no longer the white man that is killing Africa , they no longer need to. We Africans are causing our own death, cutting our nose to smite our face, while they laugh at us.
Besides that there are still honest African men and women, but they lack the moral and financial support of those who can make a better Africa possible. They are labeled as dreamers, unrealistic beings who do not want to make money, because as they say, “there’s no money in building up the welfare of a nation and in caring for the welfare of others”.
A generation is rising up in Africa , one that has no bearing in life, one that is young, angry and restless. One, if not properly guided, will cause more damage three times worse than what we have already witnessed.
They are the ones that the seeds of peace, unity, love and compassion must be sown into. They must be prepared in a positive manner to do what is proper, in order to bring dignity and respect back to Africa .
All these children have known is pain, hopelessness, suffering, bitterness, frustration and violence.
Let’s think with our hearts, not the wallets. Think with Peace, forgiveness and reconciliation not bitterness. Plan for Africa . More than ever, Africans need each other now.
The different gifts, resources, assets, potentials and talents that can be used to help Africa . Let’s work for Africa , our beloved land.

‘Africa,twasebana’ Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe(Zambian freedom fighter).