By Aloysius Agendia
This article was initially published in Sharing Knowledge and Ideas for Positive Change
I have been asking myself what the continent endowed with the world's highest and best mineral resources needs to come out of the doldrums of underdevelopment. This has been making me reflect on so many things and I do not want to go into the details of saying we only need to fight corruption, be hard working, creative, innovative etc.
All other countries in the world need to fight corruption as well as be hard working. I am not at all, undermining the fact that fighting corruption or impunity at the helm of the state (continent) which has generated to lost of hope and aggravated corruption at grassroots level is not of prime importance too.
After due reflection, I want to state here and defend it below that Africa and African governments and its people do not necessarily need be more democratic to witness development or progress. Democracy in the current dispensation in
Africa
is a want not a need, neither is ruthless dictatorship any solution.
Africans need to develop the spirit of sacrifice for their countries. In the words of John F Kennedy; ask what they have done for their country not what their country has done for them. However, at the current rate of poverty which has been aggravated by mismanagement, to be sincere, it is very difficult to tell most of my compatriots to ask themselves what they have done for their country. They will immediately retort, what has their country done for them too? Because of the growing discrepancy between the rich and the poor, everybody want to survive and safe his family, even if it means selling the country or privatising all what would have guaranteed future development for generations to comes.
Again, let me corroborate the views of Thabo Mbeki , South African former president that,
Africa ’s greatest problem has never been AIDS, it is poverty. However, Africans are very hard working reason why they are successful both in the formal and informal sector, despite the challenging hurdles(discrimination) , for those who are able to make it to what is referred to as developed countries, provided they are living there as legal immigrants.
This does not cancel the fact that they can’t make the money at home. No. This is because the climate in their various homes countries is much more favourable to foreign investors who pay almost nothing as wages for employees but can afford to fill their pockets and those of government officials and do every other thing with impunity.
A few studies in point
The case of two banana plantations firms in Njombe Penja in the Littoral
province of Cameroon
Worst still, the complete payment of taxes by these companies is doubtful reason why the former mayor of the town, Eric Paul Kingue who dared challenged the deals between the company and past administrations had cooked up charges framed against him during the February, 2008 strike in Cameroon and was later remanded in jail. He was accused of embezzlement during his 6 months stay in office. More to that, he stood for the people when he also condemned and confirmed on a private television, the killing of armless youths by trigger happy police. He could be termed a patriotic man of the people not an accomplice to extortion and suffering of the masses. Of course, he paid a bitter price. Quoting a letter he wrote while in detention in 2008 he accused the French businesspeople of wanting him down.
“Mr. François Armel the expatriate and General Manager of PHP, who swore to behead me at the cost of millions. A few days later Mme Caplain and the General Manager of SPM threatened me in their turn with assassination or imprisonment after having done everything possible to obtain my revocation as Mayor”
In a related development, a report released by Network for Fighting Hunger in
Cameroon ; RELUFA in 2005 which I possess a copy also accused the said companies and government of terribly treating the 43 families expelled from their land for the sake of these companies.
The Cameroon government has virtually auctioned the country’s economy to the hands of its foreign accomplices or called them business men. This is also the case with the Bollore Group in our country. A report revealed by a French newspaper (eco.rue89.com) recently, indicates that they control about 85 percent of the activities at the Douala Sea Port. This was not really any major revelation as such because Cameroonians know that so well but any attempts to investigate any details will meet stiff resistance that is why some of the dirty deals are again still revealed only by western media in our own country.
During President Nicholas Sarkhozy's recent visit to Togo , he is said to have frowned at some resistance to give Bollore group access to Lome Port.
He told Faure Eyadema to make sure that French business interests are protected. The question is, at whose expense? Is it for the sake of Togolese or the sake of French business men or selected government officials?
When the erstwhile General Manager, of Douala Sea Port
The same chain of neo colonial ceding of sovereignty in the name of business deals applies for AES Sonel, CAMRAIL, CAMWATER and a lot more. Cameroon still has the highest rates of mobile telephone charges in Africa despite its users being far superior in numbers than countries like Senegal, Benin, Cote D’ Ivoire where the same operators exists. Unconfirmed reports talked of how the dirty deals take place at the helm of the country to prevent any other operator who may come to challenge the monopoly of the two main mobile telephone companies in the country. All these are done at the expense of Cameroonians by a government considered democratic.
Recently, one of Cameroon’s leading daily La Nouvelle Expression revealed how French, TOTAL “expatriates” in Cameroon’s lone refining company, SONARA, were angered and threatened to quit their jobs as a result of General Manager, Charles Metock’s resolve to modernise Cameroon refining company so that it could begin refining its own fuel used in the country. This has been the prerogative of TOTAL. We do not know if he would also be sacked too for doing this. Such acts by regimes perceived as democratic are far from being patriotic and that has been the prime cause of suffering of most African countries. These unpatriotic regimes lack vision, are corrupt, they irrationally open our markets and dance to the whims and caprices of those who do not have the interest of Cameroonians (Africans) at heart.
Let me come back to the issue.
The best definition of democracy which I learned in school and which seems to be the best if implemented fully is when “a government is of the people for the people and by the people”.
Many governments in Africa, even the tyrannical and neo-colonial regimes can as well argue that they were or are governments by the people because they were “elected” by these people. But many like the case of my country Cameroon
Democracy, however, good as it can be in an advanced stage, is also a very dangerous concept in any terribly poverty stricken environment. The most important thing is first; to empower people economically and educationally. Good economic, educational reforms are not exclusive to democrats, even so called “tyrants” can as well do it provided they have the love for their country and its people.
Democracy, a western concept though good as it may be, is a want and not actually a need in most of African countries at the moment. Many scholars may be stunned by my stand but I hold firm to it. Democracy is a failed concept in environments eroded by poverty and lack of hope. When people face terrible poverty as the case in most of Africa including Cameroon, people turn to think of their survival for the next day or minute, not necessarily the future.
When people are poor, they can easily be tormented. They can easily be manipulated, they can easily be fooled, and they can easily be divided and ruled. That is the exactly what is happening in most of African countries. In an effort to develop with democracy, many African countries have found themselves poorer today than they were 60 years ago. They failed to develop with patriotism and pragmatic education.
Democracy in Africa must not be a means to an end; it should be more of an end to a mean. Developing people intellectually and economically is the mean to an end.
It is unthinkable to believe that hungry people will vote for a veritable party of change that may bring about positive change in the near future. In most cases, they vote for those who have a few “cubes of magi” to offer during assemblies or campaigns. They vote for the party which is able to distribute a food and beverages.
They vote for a party which has secured a “business deal with a foreign government and has led to erection of a pipe born water tap which will flow for just a few months. They vote a party which is ready to offer a few coins and bank notes. They vote for a party which will guaranteed the appointments of their son to a ministerial post (I wonder what developments have been brought by these sons because the South, Centre and East provinces of Cameroon which have had highest of such appointments still remain some of the most undeveloped in Cameroon). As a result, their consciences are bought and the party which has the most resources to spend emerges victorious for people to acclaim that democracy has taken place.
Patriots will build the educational system of their country to match ever changing needs in world, they will prefer meritocracy to mediocrity and favouritism. They will place the interest of their country and their citizens first before any other thing, and they will ruthlessly fight capital flight and embezzlement.
Experiences of people loosing hope
During the 2007 twin municipal and legislative elections in Cameroon, I was sent by my then media organ (Radio VERITAS and L Effort camerounais) to cover elections in Bonaberi, a neighbour hood in Douala, Cameroon
When I approached the area, the youths who had been paid to keep watch and bring in voters and prevent suspected opposition members or elections observers or journalists, heartily welcomed me. My pen and paper as well as microphone were in my pocket. I was taken to the room and one of the youths remarked that I am a journalist and said in French
“comment faire entrer un journaliste dans la maison de quel q’un? Why do you bring a journalist into somebody's private house?
Another retorted in pidgin…. “Na journalist...” It is a journalist.
The other came in “Est ce que c'est ici qu'on vote?
“Is it where voting is going on?”
The atmosphere changed immediately and I was given marching orders out of the room.
However, again in February 2008 when youths in Cameroon turned out en masse to protest against general frustration, rising unemployment, skyrocketing prices of basic commodities among other grievances, these same youths in Bonaberi were the same people saying
“ On ne sais meme pas qui ce government represent” etc.
We do not even know who this government is representing”
They terribly looted stores and shops during the 4 day strike. In essence, they had voted that fateful election day July 2007, and prevented any body from stopping multiple voting because they wanted to fill their stomachs. They actually got a few bank notes “FCFA between 500 to 2000) which were handed to them for that day.
Due to the endemic poverty, people do not think at the level of the survival of the country, talk less of future generations. But that is where USA and Western Europe
Let us not be fooled. It is not about democracy. It is the love for their country and the zeal to protect the interests of their countries even if it means ignoring the whole world or doing so at the expense of the whole world.
In poverty stricken set up, people think of surviving for the next day. Veritable democracy cannot work in such a state.
Common discussions in Cameroon and most of Africa
In Cameroon people sit everyday in bars or in the job places or in “idle parks” discussing about the situation of their country. Many have lost hope. During one of such discussions, this is what transpired. Most of them boldly told me that I should forget about my nonsensical patriotism. All French speaking, one of then uttered in reference to the wave of privatisation
“ils peuvent tous nous vendre. A quoi nous servent ils? Les corrupteurs et les detourneurs ont tout pris..”
“They can sell everything. What are the uses of the things to us” Corrupt people and embezzlers have taken everything.”
Another said “Meme les entreprises dites privatisées contribuent au mal être du pays avec la complicité de ceux qui sont au pouvoir. ” Ils se partagent les richesses et tu nous parle de patriotisme.
“Event the privatised companies are only exploiting us with the complicity of those in power. Nothing has changed. They have enough to eat and you come here telling us about patriotism.
The eldest in the group said to me
“Agendia ce que tu dis est juste mais le cas du Cameroun est different. Chacun réflechi à son sort et si tu ne te bat pas pour ta famille, c'est ton problème.”
“Agendia, what you are saying is true and good but the case of Cameroon is different.
Everybody has to think of how he will survive with his family. If you do not want to think about your family, then that is your problem.
This is just what most Cameroonians all over the country would tell you. The only difference is that Cameroonians unlike some African countries are peaceful and have refused to take arms against the government. Some also argue that the government has been very vigilant to make sure that no such thing enters the country.
In the Diaspora, when discussing with friends, one in the UK said people should stop wasting their time. According to him, all he was trying to do was to remove his family out of Cameroon
US, and other parts of Europe, and Asia
The failed leadership at the helm of countries in Africa has degenerated to a lost of love or any feeling for their country by the common man. Some Kenyans, Ugandans and Burundians whom we spoke to in Sweden
Even unpatriotic state sponsored professionals
Statistics hold that there are over 300 medical doctors who have graduated from Cameroon School of Medical Science at the expense of the tax payers’ money but have left the country for greener pastures.
Malawi also has a terribly high number of self exiled or indirectly chased away medical doctors .
The paradox in Cameroon is that most of them wrote examinations which were believed to be competitive and supposedly without giving bribed before being admitted there. After working for a few months or years, many go to US, Europe etc for greener pastures.
Many have also left because of the feeling of frustration, bad working conditions, embezzlement of working equipment, poor wages etc. In some cases, mere administrative assistants in the ministries would earn better. They receive all sorts of “tips”.
Though this is wrong, it is also unacceptable for people whose studies have been financed by tax payer’s money to think they can just leave the country for greener pastures like that. The government should have imposed a kind of penalty, certainly in hundred of millions for those who want to leave to pay before leaving so that the state has no regrets training other medical doctors. Those who illegally leave should be tracked down with the help of their host countries.
I took the medical field because it is alarming and Cameroon desperately lacks medical doctors. This practice is not limited to the health sector. Teachers trained in government Teacher training institutions, technician, engineers, administrators etc have also vamoosed and some even still have their salaries flowing while they work or live abroad.
The same also applies for those who have been sponsored by government to study abroad and have refused to return home because of better offers in Europe or America. These in my opinion are unacceptable and such people ought to be charged.
Present leadership mostly a relay of colonial leadership
Colonialists never came to Africa to develop Africa. They came to extract their resources and gain cheap labour and that is just what has continued up to now. It is funny, though somehow a truism for people to argue that Africans should stop blaming people for its underdevelopment. That notwithstanding, it will be dishonest not to admit that present day problems are inextricably linked to the neo colonials acts and agreements signed and which continue to be signed especially in the filed of trade and politics. These acts have only been aggravated by leaderships which have been far below expectations.
I therefore strongly believe that for Africa to reawaken and make use of it abundance resources and wealth, the culture of patriotism needs to be seriously developed by its people and in some cases, I will not shy to say it should be imposed on them. With the disturbing rate of poverty, democracy will not lead us any where because those who have the money and resources will be able to twist the votes or consciences of the people who are thinking of surviving for the next day or hour.
It is therefore matter of force. That is why I strongly believe a technical, should I say “patriotic dictator” is needed in most African countries among which, my country
Cameroon. Relying only on votes to actually know the party the people want may not be the best. This does not imply that meeting the people and getting their views will be disregarded.
Embracing democracy “a la western” will take us nowhere until economic, educational growth and political development for the sake of Cameroon/Africa
We need leaders who will fight impunity, capital flight, neo colonialism, corruption and embezzlement. Leaders who will revolutionised our educational system and base everything on merit. The level at which leaders show their determination to fight these ills, will be translated by the populace will to stamp out corruption and other ills at the lower level. Inasmuch as the bottom-top approach is not neglected, this must first take the top-bottom approach.
Where it really gets complicated
There is one thing. The so called sanctions which are supposedly meant to punish so called “tyrannical leaders” have ended up terribly punishing the population. Peoples' lives ought not to be sacrificed by sanctions which at times are based by racial lines especially on leaders who seem to stand for the interest of their countries.
Analysing the ongoing scenario, a leader who dares bring about dramatic changes in foreign and economic polices and want indigenous development of our country and our continent will certainly be term “funny” by some of us, to be candid.
The geo graphical and the ideological west that is controlling the world economy as of now, will certainly not like it. Unfortunately too, due to the growing poverty, even adversaries’ will be recruited from our own countries. In that case, it becomes really difficult because working a hundred percent for our continent will be declaring an indirect war on people who are already economically so strong and who are relying on our neo-colonial leadership for resources and economic survival. Engaging in such a deal is then a mammoth task though it is risk worth trying.
Such a leader must be “very technical” in the way he deals with western institutions amongst which is the poverty aggravating Bretton Woods institutions.
Furthermore, it would again be difficult for us to have “good dictators” because sanctions would be slammed on us by institutions which are in themselves very undemocratic like the United Nations Security Council. Many African leaders, members of AU who are themselves are more a heritage of, and a relay of neo colonial leadership, will also slam sanctions.
But the bitter truth is that, with the current dispensation where poverty has really been implanted in the continent, many things are difficult though not impossible. What is “imposed” on us in the name of democracy is not really in the interest of the continent but, just a desire to satisfy one or two days needs of a population which will triumph in more hunger and poverty in the years to come.
It therefore takes extra courage, and it is high time for good technicians to take over leadership in African countries and work for the true interest of Africa. It is risk worth trying.
Listening to a Nigerian singer
When I listened to the Nigerian comedian and singer Nkem Owoh popularly known as “Ukwa” release a con-fey mania, 419 glorifying song title “I go chop ya dollar” I was really devastated by what could prompt him into such kind of songs. After due reflection and discussing the issue with colleagues we concluded that the song was to be condemned.
That not withstanding, room was created for such type of songs by the kind of leadership our countries and his in particular have had for generations. Successive leadership have been accused of ensuring personal wealth aggrandisement, impoverishing its people, the auctioning of their national resources to imperialists etc.
The repercussions have been disastrous. There is disturbing underdevelopment, skyrocketing frustration, hostage taking of oil workers (oil is Nigeria ’s main sources of wealth). It is due to these kinds of unpatriotic leaderships which are not necessarily undemocratic; that some of our fellow Africans have resorted to all kind of means to earn money among which are 419 and the trafficking of drugs. I am not saying 419 and other ills could totally been unheard of if Africa/Nigeria resources were principally used for the right interest and purpose. There is no gainsaying that the ills would have been kind of minimized. The irrational immigration and brain drain would have reduced.
Conclusion
Current African leadership has refused to make African be controllers of their own system; from education to sports, politics, economy, etc. They have prevented others who have initiated such moves.
Africans are put in front but the neo-colonial complicated set-up, makes it almost impossible to spring up with veritable leadership. Quacks appointed to lead various services and schools.
Neo colonial ghosts keep hunting most African leaders to the extent that they do not value anything in their own compatriots. This is what we have to break and this is our challenge.
It is also a matter of conscience. As the Nigerian clergy, T. B Joshua said in an interview posted on Eden newspaper online on March 30, 2009..
“If we want to practice democracy in Africa
, our conscience too matters. ……We should also regard our culture and put it in our democracy and it would work. We cannot use a foreign culture to run our democracy. The west may be contented, but we are not contented”
The rebels, opposition leaders and governments who know so well that they are serving neo colonial interest to destabilise the various countries in the continent must change.
We need patriots not necessarily democrats. Patriotic leaders will then open up for economic and technological developments which are indispensable for the growth of any country. Patriotic leaders through their gesture will inculcate patriotic spirit on citizens and with its multiplier effect; this will lead to a mass positive transformation of the society.
Aloysius Agendia,
first of all i would like to draw your attention to the very striking similarity of this article to a contribution that i made to the post, and which i still have in my blog! You might just have tapped your inspiration from there, except for the fact that this article of yours is marred by a mass of superfluous detail and disturbing inconsistency. (For those who know the address to my blog, the said contribution is located on the 4th page, and it is titled; responding to your article).
Patriotism as confusingly propounded by you is far from being a contrasting system of government to democracy. Therefore, it is spuriously absurd for you to suggest that patriotism and democracy are mutually exclusive, and that one has to exist at the very expense of the other. I find your argument completely flawed, because patriotism simply means love, and pride for your country. Hence, patriotism is the lifeblood necessary for all regimes to fluorish, regardless of whether it is a democratic, a socialist, or even a tyrannical regime.
Moreover, you don't seem to be conversant with the slight variation between the words dictatorship, and tyranny, as typified by the manner in which you use both words interchangeably. You state clearly that ruthless dictatorship is not the answer, only to futher downright declare that even tyrants are capable of administering educational, and economic reform(provided they have the love for their country)!
Don't you realise how contradictory you premise your argument? Are such tyrants not patriots then?
It is easy to understand why many scholars get stunned by your abject inconsistency, and i really wonder if you can obtain any kind of credibility when you write in this typically haphazard and rather unconvincing manner.
If you say that good dictators are not recommended in Africa for fear of sanctions, then i figure that you are not abrest of the herculian impediments that pose a tremendous challenge in ruling a continent as vastly diverse as Africa.
Perhaps i ought to remind you of the term elective dictatorship, and its ubiquity throughout Africa. No matter how questionable this concept may be, atleast we need to give some credit to some of those good-willed dictators. Many of whom despite everything, have managed to mastermind some form of legitimacy to propagate the image of their various countries as places where there's atleast some fundamental recipes for progress, namely; noticeable tolerance, some peace and stability.
Since our realities and values differ profusely from those of western countries, i am a staunch anti-democracy advocate in Africa. I wonder why Africans are so foolishly struggling to emulate a principle that is alien and inconsiderate to the continent's socio-political realities. Like you, i think democracy can never be functional in Africa. Frankly, the concept has never found its way in the continent, because it has never been equitable.
Instead of providing freedom and equality for all in Africa, democracy has become a leitmotif of a self-serving guild of kleptomaniac politicians and their hoodlum followers. Therefore, democracy becomes irrelevant in the face of such untold partiality.
Nonetheless, patriotism is not a valid choice, as a matter of fact, it is not even a model of government. Furthermore, one wonders what the relevance is of traditional notions of patriotism, when people cannot feed themselves. How can the dichotomy between the spirit of national sacrifice, and survival contribute to our understanding of sustainable governance in Africa?
Africans must devise their own system of government that will cater for our extensive diversity, and we'll need to be exceedingly patriotic in our pursuit to defend the model. Something that approximates a benevolent socialist dictatorship will be a rewarding answer for the robust challenge that governing Africa entails.
Posted by: Metuge Ekane, Stockholm | Thursday, 30 April 2009 at 08:35 PM
This is the first negative comment i am getting ever since i posted this article on the WWW. Not initially in this blog. And the accusation is the worst; plagiarism.
Well, Mr Metuge, i dont really love to get to squabbles with people as it always the case in the fora wth our people and of The Post. You will even realise that people have transformed my first article on this blog to squabbling on issues not even relevant to the article or our progress.
Please read my article well. It did talk of good dictators. I do not even know your blog. I posted this in my blog (http://agendiaaloysius.blogspot.com/2009/04/africa-needs-more-of-patriotism-not_4054.html)a long time ago and the comments are there. I also posted in cameroon politics forum which received and impresive number of follow up comments.
Again, i do not want to go into any wranglings with you pleasssssssssssssssssssssssse.
You have have to rethink or reveiw your statements after careful reading and reflection.
since u are in sweden giveme your number i will call you.mine is 0735817523
thanks
AGENDIA
Posted by: Agendia Aloysius | Friday, 01 May 2009 at 02:01 AM
Mr Metuge i just searched the web and have not seen the article u are talking about. Give us the link to your blog if you want.
I saw your comment underneath an article posted on April 12, wonder if that is the one. But dont, still understand why i could get inspiration from an article written on April 12 when mine was posted online on April one and written about a week before that even.
I hardly ever get inspiration from reading other people work as you say. I may get more knowledge though. I get more inspiration from brainstorming , questioning the happenings around me, even in my dreams. I may just look at what people have written to support my arguments.
Posted by: Agendia Aloysius | Friday, 01 May 2009 at 02:18 AM
The first negative comment on this article, you say! Well, i am not surprised that no one bothered to read it properly thanks to its obvious superfluity.
You see, Africa is jammed with all these phoney prophets who chant loud but always fall short on prescribing a bountiful remedy for the continent. Your stance is neither the first that i have scrutinized, nor shall it be the last. My main trouble with you is simply your troubling inconsistent style.
How do you expect me to review my statements when you don't seem to realise that patriotism is simply a necessary tool for all the variations of government systems. Moreover, relegating the endeavours of benevolent dictators simply cannot invigorate your opinion with respect to your option about addressing the intricacies connected with governing Africa.
Nevertheless, we both express anathema towards democracy in Africa, and this is precisely where i find your stance strikingly similar to mine. Did anyone accuse you of plagiarism? The answer is an emphatic no. Read between the lines.
Nonetheless, if you did stumble across the stuff i wrote some time ago, it would be encouraging to acknowledge that. How can you possibly say that you hardly ever get inspired by reading the works of others when your article is definitely guilty of employing the views of people like Thabo Mbeki, and John F. Kennedy for instance?
There's really no need to reflect any further on your article. You must know that Africa is far from deficient of the spirit of sacrifice. Rather, the spirit of emancipation is what Africa is in dire need of.
Posted by: Metuge Ekane, Stockholm | Friday, 01 May 2009 at 06:03 AM
Mr Metuge,your name reminds me of one good senior freind and mentor (late Pa Metuge of CDC). One simple question before I get to your article. What is wrong in drawing inspiration from another man's work? If I were you, I will feel more fulfilled that I have been able to inspired atleast one soul. You could have had a case had it been you said he plagiarised your work.I have done my own bit of the asignment by trying to search your blog to no avail. Can you give this forum the address? Agendia is not far from the truth, most African countries have all they need to foster development without Foreign aids be they financial, physical, marterial or human resouces but unfortunately there is still colonialism, divide and conquer, exploitation tenet by the western world sailing in the continent. The case in Cameroon is deplorable.Go to Limbe today, you won't have fish all because Chinese Strawlers have taken over the sea.The Local comunity, the government and the business people are at each others throat.
The few Cameroonians who have dared to cry foul to this malpractices have paid the price.I happened to have interacted with Cameroonians from all works of life. There are few who do the things they do for the love of it. They just want to follow the flow of things. People are abroad today not out of choice but due to the difficult terrain back home. Peolple embezzle not because they want but most often because the have to pay their quota to those who placed them wherever they are. I have seen Commisioners travel to Yaounde every month to pay they allegience to their Godfathers, Finance controller have to pay dues to their bosses etc.
peolple act with impunity just to safe faces which is very unpartriotic.
Posted by: Angelo | Sunday, 03 May 2009 at 02:07 PM