THE struggle for economic emancipation will be longer and bitter than the bitter and protracted liberation struggle for political independence. Why? Because when the Europeans came to Africa they crossed the icy oceans and withstood the harsh weather, bearing in mind their long-term social, economic and cultural benefits. They knew the value of the land and the natural resources it contains, which culminated in the Berlin Conference of 1884. The point I am trying to make is that since we were brilliant and brave enough to wage a protracted war against the colonial forces, we should also be courageous to carry-out a democratically based war, first for Africas economic emancipation and indeed, against the evil forces of exploitation characterized by corrupt practices and self-centered ideals. It is estimated that 200 million hectares, an area eight times the size of Britain, has been bought or leased over the past decade, much of it in Africa and Asia. The Confidente News paper (16-23 May 2012) published a very disturbing story by a BBC reporter and for claritys sake purposes, please allow me to quote some of the news reports in part. UN adopts historic land grab guidelines. The document according to the report, took three years to draw up and calls on governments to be transparent about land deals, consult local communities and defend womens rights to own land. Countries such as Ethiopia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone were mentioned to have signed land deals with the so-called foreign investors. It is a pity that after waging a bitter protracted liberation struggle against the western European colonisers, we have developed short memories to such an extent that we have forgotten the purpose for which the Berlin Conference was held. The leasing of land for 90 or 100 years to foreigners is nothing other than a form of colonialism. The question is who are the authors of leasing laws or agreements? Is it not the same people or countries that convened the notorious Berlin Conference? In fact, this serves as an indication of how much Europeans, through their long-term perspective, concluded how best they can re-colonise Africa, first by destroying our culture and secondly by orchestrating a stranglehold over our land and its natural resources.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 14:19:17 +0000
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