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Leaders should save Africa to preserve Kwame Krumah's legacy

Sandile Gumede Image: File 'Do you like Kwame Krumah?' This is a question that was asked by George Apple-by-Smith to Makhaya Maseko in Bessie Head's book called 'When Rain Clouds Gather'. In this fictional situation, the policer in question was asking Maseko this question so that he could decide whether to grant him a political asylum after escaping from South Africa to Botswana, at the height of political chaos, with apartheid forces pouncing on those who fought injustices. Maseko, who understood the tricky question as an activist and a journalist, simply answered: 'No'. However, this is no book review, but it is meant to emphasise the role that the likes of Kwame Krumah played in the liberation of the African continent. Krumah and others like Julius Nyerere, Idi Amin and Patrice Lumumba to mention a few, played a crucial role in mobilisation of African leaders in efforts to unite the continent for its prosperity. In pushing the Pan Africanism agenda an Organisation of African Unity was conceived, which expedited the project of winning back Africa from the colonial masters – at least this is what they thought. I am not oblivious of the fact that these leaders were fallible – of which it is a nature of a human being. But they did a lot of groundwork, and had great vision which could have helped the continent from being too dependent on handouts from Asia and the west. The continent currently needs courageous leadership, who will be brother's keepers, not people who keep quiet, yet human rights are violated, or corruption happens unabated. African countries are rich in mineral resources, but these hardly benefit the majority of citizens except providing labour for European or Chinese companies. Instead, there are coups in our continent. We fight each other; not because we are trying to rescue the lives and livelihood of the people simply because the next leader feels that it is his time to benefit. There are leaders like Paul Biya who has been in power since 1982, but not much is being done to change the lives of Cameroonians. This results in compatriots emigrating to the very same France that had oppressed them. In Zimbabwe we have a similar challenge; the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans mean nothing. They end up emigrating to Britain and neighbouring countries. One of the biggest challenges is that every now and then these African leaders would meet in AU summits or SADC meetings cheering each other; dining expensive cuisine forgetting to address the core issues faced by their people. The reality is that Zimbabwean issues become our issues as people flee the country for various reasons. Even the situation for South Africa is getting worse; with infrastructure dilapidating and scarce job opportunities there is growth in South Africans emigrating to Asia and Gulf states to teach English and other subjects. Whatever that Yoweri Museveni does in Uganda, it affects neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Kenya in that East region. Issues in DR Congo, also affect Rwandans and other neighbouring countries; therefore, the entire continent is interdependent. And this requires bold leadership from all walks of life whereby they can be honest with each other. That is what the AU summit should be about – not just talk shop and to be a boys' club with no clear vision for the continent. If we are reclaiming mines owned by foreigners in our countries, that should be the African agenda not just General Ibrahim Traore or Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's pet projects as this will result in their countries being alienated by the west, whereas if this is done in unison it will be difficult to sanction the entire continent. This cannot be achieved by leaders who are there for themselves instead of the people. This cannot be done by leaders who are afraid of calling their counterparts into order. They should use the AU and other regional economic bodies to develop Africa, not buying properties in foreign countries or travelling abroad for shopping sprees or medical attention. This should be done by all those who claim to hold leaders like Kwame Krumah in high regard, not those who pay lip service. Sandile Gumede is sociopolitical writer and PhD candidate at the University of Witwatersrand in the Media Studies Department. SUNDAY TRIBUNE