By Wandile Dludlu.
Africa-Press – Eswatini. British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan on the 3rd February 1960 speaking in Cape Town South African then Apartheid Parliament, having spent a whole month traveling different countries in the continent said “the winds of change are blowing across this continent”.
A relevant political reading post World War II wherein though victorious Britain emerged, but battered and heavily laden political system of colonial settlers had reached its elasticity, new paradigm and structures were imminent and inevitable.
Sixty-five(65) years down the line, these words sounds so right but wrong for the over one billion African youths dubbed Gen Z generation, African states have got their independence not only from the English colonial predators but, equally from the salerzer Portuguese regime which had many seized African territories from Cape to Cairo.
One today can’t help but echo an even more poignant message in the same breadth after witnessing thousands of youths taking to the streets of Tanzania this past week after elections results affirming the incumbent President for the second term.
Poverty, lack of opportunities, trust deficit, corruption and unfulfilled promises has led to a gatvol mentality of the Gen-Z youths of this beautiful African State in many other cities across the once reverred fortress of Ujama Village otherwise known as African Socialism by post Independence leader President Nyerere.
Cameroon is as we speak, a blazing furnace from once more the Gen-Z generation that can’t stomach another term of the over forty(40) years in office of the oldest President in the world Paul Biya, otherwise King Mswati’s friend interestingly.
The causal factor likewise, is poverty, rampant corruption, lack of opportunities and oppressive post colonial political order.
Last month did we witness, turbulent times in Madagascar wherein not only did the army endorse the people’s revolt but actually led it, forcing a belligerent DJ President to exile in France and further stripped him off his citizenship leaving also SADC headless as his was in the helm of the regional structure.
May the Swazi King Mswati continue not to concede to the democratic demands for an open economy, people centered Government, than His Majesty’s Government, rampant corruption, mediocre services by public and private sector entities all connected to his family, business/political friends.
The post British settler colonial development pattern African states that Macmillan left is irrelevant, alienated, unresponsive Government for the Gen-Z Africa of today.
We don’t want Governments that exists to mediate between the irreconcilable interests of the unapologetic new citizens of Africa who are not here to be ancillary objects of market capital for filthy rich few, many who seat in those golden chairs in the name of the people after stealing everything that belongs to them whilst promising a better new day 39 years in office like Swazi Monarchy. Rise Africa, now tomorrow is too late!!!.
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