|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Moderated by: Saida.M, safetyblitz, Raven, Miss Brighter Days, LadyDay, Kunjufu, Kibibi, Happiness, Dillinger, Breadfruit, Backatya |
|
|
| Author | |
|---|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday September 22nd, 2006 01:12 |
|
Vubundada (VKs) New Model for African Development and Governance:
"What we need is a vision," Fifty years ago, we had Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela and they had a vision to free Africa from colonialism, People said then - 'They are youngsters. What do they know? Colonialism is a humungous beast you will never defeat.' It looks as though they had a clearer struggle than we have, but that is only because it seems clear looking back. Now we are taking over the torch. What we need now is a vision of Africa in the future." Erik Charas investments director of the Foundation for Community Development.
Education: African Nations should dedicate 20% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) anually/yearly that should be set aside for Free Universal Education to unable Africa to produce an educated population and to take advantage of a knowledge based economy to improve Productivity. Africa (African Nations) should focus on improving the Educational system at all levels; and emphasis should be placed on ensuring that all children attend elementary (primary) education, Junior Education and compulsory High School Education. The governments should provide and guarantee free lunch for poor students who cannot afford lunch, as no student can learn while on a hungry stomach. Money should be spent on building public libraries, printing of textbooks (pamphlets) for all students at all levels of Education, improving College and University system and equipping Universities with the appropriate Research facilities and High Schools with the appropriate laboratories.
Money should also be spent on building Technical and Vocational Colleges in every city and town to train a skilled workforce. To reduce the effects of Tribalism and to produce Good future leaders and an educated and patriotic population in general, Pan-Africanism, Business Entrepreneurship, Good Governance and Leadership must be made compulsory as part of the curriculum starting from grades five (5) up to the University level as a requirement for graduation.
African Society should only support Individuals and Political parties that support and value Quality Education not only in words but in deeds. There will be no Economic Development in Africa without Education of Africans for African purposes, no can there be Democracy and Peace without the populous prepared to be both self governing and mutually respectful with a commitment toAfricanization leaving behind the divide and conquer hatreds of colonialism which are the source of so much current internal strife. African Nations should offer education that provides adults with the skills and knowledge they need to secure a job and to compete in the technologically advanced world economy. And it should find a way to reward those (teachers and others outside academia) who have contributed positively in creating new ideas and jobs in the society.
Political Governance: Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote: To stamp out insatiable greed, ignorance and corruption in the polity and affect positive changes in the society, the people must act. The people should vote only those with integrity to political office, because as Jean-Jacques Rousseau notes, "it is only men [and women] of integrity who can administer the law." (Rousseau, trans. by Betts; 1994, p.14). Africa needs to incorporate its systems of African Tribal Governance into our modern Political system to develop a system that works best for us. This involves choosing elements and values from Capitalism, Socialism that we think is good for us and incorporating it with our African Tribal Governance practices to create a unique system specifically for us similar to the below model.
Create (1) An Upper House or the senate, (2) The House of Chiefs and Tribal Elders and (3) A Lower House (Congress). The House of Chiefs and Tribal Elders will consist of all the chiefs and Tribal Elders chosen by their constituencies and they will represent their tribes in government and all tribes will be represented equally regardless of how big or small they are. It is here that all the issues affecting all the tribes (conflicts, development, education, business, equal representation, political representation, and equal distribution of Resources etc, etc) are discussed and, debated and resolutions passed and voted and presented to the government. That way no tribe will complain of being left out of power or why development is not taking place in their area. The chiefs and tribal elders will answer to their people. If a certain tribe or people have a problem with the government then the elders will bring the issue up in the House of Chiefs to be discussed among other chiefs and the government.
Economic Development:
African Nations should focus on developing World Class Infrastructure and Industrialization to encourage Manufacturing clusters. African Nations should utilize education, research, and policy analysis as a catalyst for developing the human and material potential of Africans to enable Africa to become a Diversified Economy. African Nations should challenge policies that have led to the stagnation of Africa's development and develop alternative strategies towards continental self sufficiency. A system of Economic Reform needs to be instituted emphasizing Export and the development of Small Business firms (backbone for economic growth in Singapore, Malaysia,Hong Kong and South Africa), labor intensive light Industries, promotion of Heavy and Chemical industries as well as basic consumer electronics, and information Technology couple with Financial Institutions strengthened with Economic Flexibility.
African Nations and Governments should enact strategic programs and resources to deliver direct investment and technical assistance to Africa’s business sector. A portion of the revenues from the GDP should be set aside annually to be used as loans to finance New Business investment projects per year and to provide loans to the citizenry to start New Businesses and to strengthen Existing Businesses. To ensure fairness and avoid tribal politics, a lottery system should be used to assign loans to New Business Startups and Existing Businesses and only citizens who have demonstrated competency in Entrepreneurship should be considered.
A system of checks and balances should be put in place where the citizens of the Nation are the ones Auditing and Evaluating their government and its performances. That way no penny or dollar will move with-out the people/citizens knowing about it. A special Auditing and Transparency Department would be formed with special powers to oversea all the various governmental departments and to fight corruption (we have this in various African Countries but they are toothless). For instance; in the Ministry of Transportation and Communication a branch of this Auditing and Transparency group will monitor and audit the Ministries offices in every City, Town or Village.
Another auditing group comprised of Private Citizens with no ties to the government will audit this ministry; this way they can compare notes with the governments auditing offices and see if there are any discrepancies. This way the citizens of the country would be ensured that civil servants are working a minimum of eight (8) hours a day and coming to work on time; doing there jobs serving the nation. With this in place the nation will be ensured of who is stealing money, and who is performing as expected including the presidency. The summary and results of bi-annual audits will be published in the news media for everyone to see for themselves how the government is performing.
If money is allocated for a new road to be build then everyone in the nation will know exactly how every penny of that money is spend. No new development will occur without careful research. A special ministry should be created for Research and manufacturing where all the best brains in Engineering and Science are assembled (America did the same with the Secret Manhattan Project and various other projects). It is here where they will build all the necessary equipments and machinery needed for any projects. If the city of Lagos needs a new Sewage Treatment Plant/Facility then it is here where the plant would be build. Instead of spending $500 million dollars buying the machinery and equipment from Japan, it would be build and designed locally. They would only buy the parts they are unable to make locally. People would be surprised to find out that instead of spending $500 Million on a sewage treatment plant, the government will end up spending $90 million or less.
Industrial Harmony (Work Ethics): Africa needs to develop a new Industrial Harmony in relation to manufacturing. Japan was able to Advance because it developed a unique work ethic for the entire Country that was started around 1820. In short we need a new Cultural/Industrial Revolution or Industrial Harmony. A similar concept was designed by University Students in Mozambique using Ancient African Tribal concepts and it has worked miracles in that Country in regards to Economic Growth. Our Bad habits of not honoring TIME must be thrown out and replaced with a culture of PUNCTUALITY.
Before Japan developed rapidly, a common theme was observed during the 1860s. Both Japanese and foreign observers commented on Japanese workers' lax attitude toward punctuality, their "shockingly low" ability to save, and their jealous guarding of traditional holidays. Observers also reported on the Japanese version of "Blue Monday," the days after payday when workers spent wages on drink, gambling, and prostitutes and when attendance fell sharply. African Workers must be paid a reasonable wage and they must be trained to follow rules, come to work on time, never loaf, and everyday sought to double their output.
Agriculture and the Environment: Africa should be self sufficient in food and there is no reason why Africans are starving in a continent blessed by nature. It has been proven that Africa’s low Agricultural productivity is a result of Political and Social upheavals. Hunger is the product of poverty rather than a reflection of country's ability to grow enough food. Many East Asian countries grow little of the food they consume, relying on imports to feed their people. From the point of view of national security it is preferable for a nation to produce most if not all of its food consumption, therefore each African Nation should produce all of its food for domestic and international consumption.
African Nations need to invest in Modern Technology, to bolster and enhance labour and physical inputs. Modern Technology will quickly boost agricultural production to meet domestic needs and to compete with the International Market. It is important to stress that Technology must be appropriate, but appropriate does not mean low Technology or solely organic. African Nations should trade with each other, first and foremost. Once there is trade, we should buy whatever is cheapest from which ever African Nation that does it best. Cooperatives should be developed to Assist, Service, and Finance the needs of farmers and help them with channeling Agricultural produce into sizeable commodity chains. Africa must utilize biotechnology to improve food productions.
Africa’s Environment must be Preserved and Enhanced. African Nations should employ and encourage the use of Natural Gas and Electricity for domestic consumption and in the future prohibit or severely limit the use of charcoal for domestic consumption. Our Rivers, Lakes, Beaches, National Parks and Forests should be protected. Every citizen must be required to plant a minimum of Ten (10) Trees per year as matter of public service. For every Tree cut down, ten (10) more trees should be planted to replace it
Public Health and Justice: Africa must drastically improve its health and human service sectors and 20% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must be spend on health annually/yearly, building better Hospitals and establishing Pharmaceutical Industries to produce all the drugs/medicines a Nation needs. New and better hospitals should be established in cities, towns and villages to cater to the needs of the people. The Foundations for Economic Growth and improvement of the Economy is Public Health. In essence Health leads to prosperity. African Nations should provide basic health services, upgrade and renovate existing commune health centers and improve the skills of health care workers. "Poverty and health are closely interrelated in an often vicious cycle, with one being the cause or consequence of the other," says Indu Bhushan, ADB Senior Project Economist. "Improving health care is thus important to the prospects for economic growth and poverty reduction."
African Nations must respect the rule of law and every citizen must have the right to Free Speech and Due process. Every citizen should and must be treated equally before the law of the land and all citizens are innocent until proven otherwise. All citizens and individuals are given the same rights without distinction to their social stature, religion, political opinions, etc etc. A person who is arrested has the right to be told what crimes he or she is accused of, and to request that his or her custody be reviewed by judicial authority. Persons unlawfully imprisoned have to be freed. Last edited on Sunday September 24th, 2006 00:59 by Vubundada_Kandaba
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
FredB
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday June 10th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1408 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |    |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Friday September 22nd, 2006 02:36 |
|
@VK said 'In my opinion, the only way to do this is by us (those who are enlightend) taking things into our hands. We need to go out and establish an organisation based on the concepts of Pan- Africanism and then go into the community to educate the population about their responsibility. We need to teach them about how governments operate and how people should use their power to control and keep the government in check. We need to teach them to see beyond Tribalism (I hear several Caribbeans refer to Tribalism in the islands, although I believe it refers to similar behaviors). We need to teach them that their destiny lies in their hands and if they want to improve their situations then they should act accordingly and vote Men and Women of Vision and integrity into office, otherwise we will remain in the situation we are in.
------------------------------------------------------------
Totally agree and that is what a group of us have been doing near on 15 years now. That is developing a strategic group who has over the years implemented various projects and programmes, starting with economic and business ventures first. Because you need your money supplies steady strong and forever growing.
These are used as also on the job training opportunities for brothers in the first instance back home. We have them on our pay roll and they are paid well as a matter of policy which means we can train them both on the job and after. The same way we learnt in the movement.
The best way to instill values is by exposure to a different and superior way of working. Now the core group of our guys have been together for over twenty years and are movement vets and highly accomplished. So organisationally we make a very impressive impact not only how you operate, do work, leadership ethos, standards of operations and values, but simply how we work and cooperate together. Reward people for their work and educate constantly.
That is so alien that it makes a massive impact. So does the fact that most of our guys are highly educted and very deep in their understanding of many things, but are humble down to earth and open kind of brothers. You have to compare this to the elite arrogance and incompetence and intimidation they are used to. Big people are big people in the Caribbean and their is a natural fear bred in the first instance by slavery and then the colonial and neo colonial masters.
We don't drive massive foreign cars, peruse materialims or have an contemptuous attitude to our own woman and all that sh*t which naturally comes from the middle classes and others in colonial countries etc. Our wives do not look down on brothers from poorer circumstances or stand offish and not helpful and that kind of thing..
The brothers who really stand out as potential leaders we target and train them appropriately. The benefits are massive not only to their own self esteem and stature in their local communities but also in a million ways.
One of the things that I am personally proud and has gone so well is that from the start we have always had brothers from the continent come back home with us, Pan Africanist like us from the movement and tried and trusted brothers. And that really has been a revellation and the source of much fun. A real education from ordinary brothers and sisters who usually have no idea they are from the continent and when they do get guest of honour status, because there is a million and one questions people want to ask.
For example some rasta bredrin demanded that we brought our brother from Gambia and Nigeria to come and reason with them and when we got there there was hundreds of them and we were up all night, eating food, cooking food and reasoning. The brothers really want to know about what is going on in the African world and come from far to attend. When progressive and open minds meet you build power and strong networks..We also take young brothers with us and encourage other here when we do our work for various community organisations or project to travel and experinence these things and meet other young people back home. Ghetto and Africans are not synomous we need to stretch our legs and minds...
The objective is to develop our human resources in depth and constanly reinforcing it with brothers and sisters from abroad, until what you achieve is an almost complete skills and knowledge transfer and to the point those who we have taught can in theory run sh*t themselves.
You name the key area from security and policing or matters military, commercial stuff, education and technology even scientific stuff. We have people with expertise which allows us to develop our people quietly and carefully. We are not interested in politics if you take my meaning we are interested in business and technical stuff just like every other group who comes into our country and controls our political system.
The first phase is building your machinary and testing and extending its capacity. The politics is for the youngsters because all of them are born there and that weakens the amunition and angles open to governnment because we are not foolish and do not know our enemies.
But you put in place the mechanisms which will not only produce the leadership needed tested by people who know how to lead in fire, but also know how to maintain them. Then we go out and start to win hearts and minds like that is going to be difficult when you can employ and educate people and give them real opportuniites in ways these lazy good for nothing status quo cannot and would not even know where to start.
It's simply about building a powerful and enduring machinary as a key strategic bridge head, so others can join in knowing that point is completely taken and locked off..
So with you down the line there.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 14:26 |
|
@All & defyfear.
Please visit this link at IndiaMart; http://www.indiamart.com/ to see some of the Technological innovations made by Indian companies. This does not include Information Technology in which India is a leader. Look particularly in the area of machinary and Technology. What we see there can be replicated in every African Country.
Let me attempt to first answer your previous question regarding why certain nations prosper while Africa falters and then I would answer why our backward progress is mostly the results of the leaders we have. Many econmist will hail what is commonly called the ‘Tiger Economies� or the East Asian model of development and they would claim that this is the model for Africa to adopt. The East Asian model is one that is based on the concept of the government playing a stronger role as a leader in Capital, Research, and Development. The East Asian model also allows Banks and Private Companies to play a stronger role in the Economy. East Asia was attractive to Foreign Investors beause of their level of Education and the abundance of citizens with greater technical expertise to support whatever busisnesses Foreign investors wanted to set-up.
African Governments must work in conjunction with Banks and realize what is positive for development and they must support financially those entrepreneurs that are willing and able to provide business expertise that will stimulate the economy into one of successful growth. Africa at this very moment can accomplish what East Asia accomplished if our leaders are willing see beyond personal ambitions and greed.
An African Information Technology Entrepeneur Lester Tandwe was interviewed on why Africa was finding it hard to innovate and here is what he had to say. "The biggest challenge is access to capital. It is difficult to obtain loans through the Banks for indigenous entrepreneurs and instead the banks insist on a house as collateral, and I had no house at the time. They simply refused to help.� "Without access to finances, indigenous companies cannot go far despite the many big ideas. I think the government has a lot to do here. First, government must stop underrating local ICT firms.
We often see it contracting foreign companies at the expense of locals. This is a drain on forex. The second critical issue has to do with tax. Government slaps a duty of 30 percent on imports of all computer accessories, yet a finished computer unit is duty-free, which in turn kills innovation and makes local ICT firms uncompetitive to the multi-national computer firms." The above example by this entrepreneur illustrates that our Governments are the ones stunting our real Growth and Potential.
Now let me argue my second point here. I don’t agree with the arguement that Africa (African Nations) cannot be like the Asian Nations of India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and the South American nation of Brazil because of the policies of the West and some other factors. To me such arguement is synanymous with saying that we Africans are inferior and can not progress on our own unless someone comes from the outside to do it for us.
I also don’t agree with the arguement that African Nations are not progressing because the Nations in present day Africa are the product of colonialism and they are bundled together from various Kingdoms and tribes against their will. Malaysia is a country formed by colonialism from people with different religious beliefs (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam) and different Ethnic/Racial groups which unlike Africa they have distinguishable racial characteristics. Some people in Malaysia have Chinese characteristics, others have characteristics of people from the Philippines, and others have East Indian characteristics, unlike in Africa where we pretty much look all the same and that is black with almost non-distinguishable characteristics from the point if view of outsiders.
The leader of Malaysia at independence Dr. Mahathir Muhammad had the vision and common sense to rise above the petty politics of Ethnicity and relgious divide. Africa has he potential to rival the model countries I listed above only and only if we had leaders who have vision and some common sense. Let us look at the two(2) nations of the Philippines and South Korea. The Philippines was taken by force from Spain by the Americans and it became an American colony from 1898 until its independence in 1946. America came to the aid of South Korea in the 1950s when that nation was invaded by North Korea. Today South Korea’s Economy rivals that of some European Union countries whereas the Philippines is languishing in poverty and nowhere close to South Korea. The question that arise is why the sharp contrast between the two (2) Nations and rationale should dictate that the Philippines should be the better Nation in terms of development.
The answer is really simple. While the leaders of South Korea in the early 1960s had vision and common sense, the Philippines on the other hand was governed by Ferdinand Marcos who is a fool, and more interested in stealing money and he stole billions of dollars. Instead of spending money on building his nation and utilizing his connections with America, he spend the money on himself, his family and other corrupt officials. His wife spent millions of dollars buying $10,000 shoes and she accumulated over 300 of the most expensive shoes in the World, not to mention other amenities. On the other hand the leaders of South Korea did the opposite of what Marcos of the Philippines did.
Africa is stagnating because people with first class education are leaving the continent en masse. Africa will only make progress when Africans begin making Innovations and Inventions. Dr. George B N Ayittey (Ghanaian) an Economist at American University and President of the Free Africa Foundation developed a blueprint for Africa's Economic development. He visited all parts of Africa and upon his return back to the America, he launched a vicious critic of all African governments past or present and no government was spared.
Here he goes:“What exists in many African countries is a vampire or pirate state—a government hijacked by a phalanx of gangsters thugs and crooks—who use the instruments of the state to enrich themselves, their cronies and tribesmen. All others are excluded. And quite often the chief bandit himself is the head of state. Their primary instinct is to loot the national treasury and perpetuate themselves�. As the saying goes: The wise learn from the mistakes of others, while fools repeat them.�Last edited on Saturday September 23rd, 2006 16:33 by Vubundada_Kandaba
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
ayanfe2006
Villager
| Joined: | Friday April 7th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 177 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 14:40 |
|
Vubundada_Kandaba wrote: As the saying goes: The wise learn from the mistakes of others, while fools repeat them.�
====================================
The reason why I have not replied to your thread, (and believe me, I have dealt with this topic exhaustively in my discussions with Professor Ayittey, whom you quoted,) is that YOU HAVE COME TO A MESSAGE BOARD HOSTILE TO AFRICANS, AND YOU HAVE MADE AN OFFENSIVE THREAD TITLE. We are pan-africanists, but your brand of pan-africanism makes you naive. If the thread had a less offensive title, perhaps I would have answered your question to your satisfaction!
Last edited on Saturday September 23rd, 2006 14:42 by ayanfe2006
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 15:02 |
|
ayanfe2006 wrote: The reason why I have not replied to your thread, (and believe me, I have dealt with this topic exhaustively in my discussions with Professor Ayittey, whom you quoted,) is that YOU HAVE COME TO A MESSAGE BOARD HOSTILE TO AFRICANS, AND YOU HAVE MADE AN OFFENSIVE THREAD TITLE. We are pan-africanists, but your brand of pan-africanism makes you naive. If the thread had a less offensive title, perhaps I would have answered your question to your satisfaction!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@ayanfe2006. Since when did BNV became hostile to Africans? This thread is not an attack on Africa or Africans but it is about African leaders. Let us leave our bad habits and emotions of defending corrupt leaders because others are criticising them and because we feel they are one of us. The only people who will be upset and support our leaders who are selfish and corrupt and driving Africa further into poverty are Africans who are the relatives and friends of these dictators. For instance people who are related to Charles Taylor and many of the dictators in Africa will be upset at this thread because they have benefitted in way or supporting their henchman. A person who loves Africa will want to see change and they will come up with solutions. If you are tired of the corruption, mismanagement, lack of adminstration etc, etc then you will voice your opinion and work for change, instead of sitting back and rushing to the defence of the Mobutu's, Abachas, Beshir, Mengistu's etc etc. So which side of the fence do you sit in?
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
FredB
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday June 10th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1408 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 15:10 |
|
@Afenye2006 said'The reason why I have not replied to your thread, (and believe me, I have dealt with this topic exhaustively in my discussions with Professor Ayittey, whom you quoted,) is that YOU HAVE COME TO A MESSAGE BOARD HOSTILE TO AFRICANS, AND YOU HAVE MADE AN OFFENSIVE THREAD TITLE. We are pan-africanists, but your brand of pan-africanism makes you naive. If the thread had a less offensive title, perhaps I would have answered your question to your satisfaction!
-----------------------------------------------------------
I have just gone through each page of this thread to see if I have missed something you have said earlier and unless I am blind I have not. If I have missed something and am being presumptious let me apologies in advance and go no further.
But with respect bro/sis I am offended by your post and you want to know why. You sound like some immature little child. So regardless of your political beliefs if you are so immature you are no good to man nor beast or this discussion.
You post to say what?...This forum is anti African based on what evidence given the massive amount of issues or times Africa is mentioned. Did somebody hurt your feelings or what? I trust you have serious evidence to support that and if we ran a search you would be justified by the preponderance of evidence in your favour.
Then you share with us that you have spoken in great depth with a professor mentioned. Well that can be useful or just showing off take your pick. Then you make it worse by acting like a child and said in effect even though I have spoken in depth with this eminent professor I am not going to share it with you, like some silly little girl playing games flashing her tits and arse. So why waste your time to post just to say I know something you don't know Nah nah nah...Then you come and diss VK and call him naievette.
Bro, if you knew what the word radical meant in real life and practice you would not be acting like such a fool and see it your duty to inform the discussion. Not to come here like some sexual pervert to flash your penis and claim you are a radical. I don't like the title of this thread. Sound like some girl. Show me skill and intellectual leadership talent and turn and shape the discussion. Don't b**ch and then say I am a radical or Pan Africanist.
You are a radical and want serious people to view you that way and don't even know what your basic duties, responsiblities or obligations are and come here and flash your tits like some lap dancer. Bro I am offended because this is a serious discussion.
Where I am from if you are not up to the task sit down and shut the f**k up. Don't be disrupting serious people with your offensive and immature behaviour. Because as god is my witness you will be told to sit down shut the f**k up and check your behaviour or you will be put out.
FB
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 15:38 |
|
@FredB. The worst mistake Africans made (despite Good intentions) when the OAU was being formed was the policy of non interference in fellow African Countries. As a result when Mobutu was looting the Democratic Republic of Congo, African leaders kept silent and nobody said anything. When Arabs are massacaring millions of Africans, all African leaders keep quit and nobody says a word, example Darfur, no reaction from the rest of Africa. It is all because of the attitudes demonstrated by ayanfe2006; the attitude of "oh let us not criticise one another, and instead let us hush hush the theft of money because we don't want people to know". This is what is killing us in Africa. Who in their right mind will think the leaders we elect really care for us? Why should I defend them when they refuse to build hospitals, fix the schools, the roads and instead fly themselves and their families to World class Hospitals in Britain and America for a simple medical treatment and spending millions of dollars in the process while my fellow Africans lack adequate hospitals. Last month Fidel Castro was sick and he stayed in Cuba and sought medical treatment there instead of flying to spain, Britain or China. Contrast this with our leaders.
I want to know who gave these leaders this right ayanfe2006 to rob and then I am being held responsible for their actions by the West? Who gave thm the right of stealing money that is not theirs and depositing it in foreign bank accounts while my people are dying from simple preventable diseases such as Malaria? What do you suggest we do about it brother ayanfe2006? Should we keep quite and hush hush about it, or should we educate the people about the abuse of power and empower the people through education and information so they can go out and educate others to make better choices for the future generation? How do we proceed, you tell me and I will listen?
Last edited on Saturday September 23rd, 2006 15:41 by Vubundada_Kandaba
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 15:45 |
|
Part II, Vubundada(VK's) New Model for African Development and Governance:
Citizen/Public Responsibilty in Development:
African Nations and Africa in general must make an attempt to incorporate our African Tribal practices(which are in danger of being forgotten) with our Modern ways of living. Both Urban and Rural Areas must be developed and the citizens must be included in the development and upkeep of their communities. For example in both the Urban and Rural areas, the citizens must be responsible for the upkeep and general cleanliness and sanitation of their areas. Roads, Markets, and Public & Community places/communes must be kept clean and neat and School children must pick up any trash by the road side on their way to and from school similar to what school children do in Taiwan. Adults must be required to keep streets, roads and public places adjacent to where they reside/live and work clean, by sweeping up the road or Public and Community property every day. A similar concept was employed in Malawi during Hastings Banda’s Rule. Those who fail to help in the upkeep of their environment will have to answer to the District Community Officer.
Rather than have the continous movement of people move from rural areas to the cities in search of jobs and creating slums and ghettos in the process, African governments should take the towns and developement to the Rural areas. By this I mean government must enact projects in Rural Areas that can provide jobs to the people. A system such as the one developed by Kwame Nkhrumah the “Town Development Committee (TDC)�which is now long abandoned in Ghana should be employed. The Town Development Committee (TDC) system was designed to fully empower the villages to govern themselves through communal labor. Villagers were required to attend weekly communal meetings to keep the villages clean and the people made responsible for their sanitation. Weekly Communal meetings must be mandatory and villagers who fail to attend must be made to answer to their chiefs and village elders. The people in the Urban and Rural areas should assist with development projects and the government would have the responsibility of providing Materials, Technical Expertise and all the necessary Equipments.
Trade, Transport and Infrastructures:
African Nations must trade among themselves first and foremost before trading with countries outside of Africa therefore inter-African Trade should be highly encouraged. African Nations should create a system of open borders to allow Africans, Trade and the flow of goods to move freely to and from one country to another. History has proven that without good infrastructure and roads, development will be severely handicapped.Therefore as a matter of urgency, every, city, town and village must be linked with World class Highways linking every part of the country by road and rail which should be interconnected to Neighboring countries. A road tax system should be put in place to collect revenue and the roads and rails must be maintained and upgraded every year. This will require both cooperation from the Government and the citizens of the nations, A system must be put in place where one weekend every three months, all the citizens of the Nation will work on cleaning and upgrading roads and cleaning up their environment.
Trade is the engine of economic growth, and reliable and efficient transport is essential for successful trade. Transport is needed to facilitate production and exchanges, enable farmers to produce and bring their products to markets, and provide the basis for private investment. The poor state of transport infrastructure (roads, rail, water and air transport) impedes Africa's development and obstructs poverty reduction. One of the main reasons for the poor performance in transport has been inadequate institutional incentives for improving infrastructure and infrastructure services. Experiences from developed countries dictate that good Infrastructure is the prerequisite to massive investment.Last edited on Saturday September 23rd, 2006 15:57 by Vubundada_Kandaba
____________________
Runaway Mayhem; Sonja Wanda, the Next Naomi Campbell & the face on London Double Decker Buses, Spring 2004.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
FredB
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday June 10th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1408 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 16:09 |
|
@VK was going to comment on the issue of technology and development strategy as it related to the link you posted. Because these are the same things we have had tp takeg on board but interestingly our leading brain and talent on this matter is one of our senior brothers from West Africa, who really has educated us and opened our eyes when we are in the Caribbean.
But my man really upset me with this immature outburst. We have a fundamental responsibility to be not only the voice of open dissent, but practical action and leadership. Every black/African government, including those who we pratically supported in Zimbabwe or South Africa etc are open to srcutiny and must always be so.
No government whether it is Haiti, Jamaica or any Caribbean or African country is beyond our scrutiny or criticism. I like most of us have family in various functions in government, whether it is police or armed forces, civil servants or whatever. That should not stop us from saying or doing what we have to do.
Pan Africanists are also nationalist and that means to put the interest of the nation above any tribal, class or clique interest whether they like it or not.
Make no appologies. If the brother/sister felt there was a more prudent way for us to address the matter, then he is duty bound if he is commited and serious regarldess of his levels of skills or competence to do his best. Knowing that other serious brothers and sisters will respond in the most beneficial way, given what we all claim to believe and share.
No appologies.
FB
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
rammcsnake
Villager
| Joined: | Tuesday May 31st, 2005 |
| Location: | The Jungle |
| Posts: | 611 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 17:18 |
|
Vubundada_Kandaba wrote: Alright, my Good people, please lets keep this civil and no name calling and insults. I know what Slavery and Colonialism has done to Africa, but we can not really use this two aspects of our history as an excuse over and over again to explain why Africa is in the shape it is in today. Honestly I think it is time we start facing our mistakes and inability head on and address them right on. It really pains me to see the rest of the World progress whereas Africa at times seems to be moving backwards. In my honest opinion, many Countries in Africa have the potential to be as advance as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Germany, France,United Kingdom and even Canada. The question then remains, how come we are not at the levels I listed? Lets look at some examples at how other Countries did it and why it is possible any Country has the potential to be like Singapore and France. I picked these countries below because they all had corrupt rulers but despite this; these corrupt and dictatorial rulers had a vision which many or our leaders in Africa seem to lack.
South Korea
Korea was a peninsula that has been occupied by outside forces for most of its 2000 year history. Japan occupied Korea from 1905 until 1945. After the Korean war of of 1950-1953 the Peninsula was divide into two, North Korea ( Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea/Communist Korea) and South Korea (Republic of Korea).. In April of 1960,Major General Park Chung-hee led a military coup and overthrew President Syngman Rhee . General Park was assassinated in 1979 and a powerful group of military officers led by Leutanant General Chun Doo Hwan, declared martial law and took power. Since the early 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy under the military regime. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined the trillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita is equal to the lesser economies of the EU. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption.
Taiwan
Lets now look at Taiwan, a Country with a population of 22.7 million. Taiwan was occupied and Colonized by Japan from 1895-1945. After the expulsion of Japan, Taiwan reverted back to Chinese Rule under the Nationalist Chinese KMT adminstration. Through nearly five decades of hard work and sound economic management, Taiwan has transformed itself from an underdeveloped, agricultural island to an economic power that is a leading producer of high-technology goods. In the 1960s, foreign investment in Taiwan helped introduce modern, labor-intensive technology to the island, and Taiwan became a major exporter of labor-intensive products. In the 1980s, focus shifted toward increasingly sophisticated, capital-intensive and technology-intensive products for export and toward developing the service sector.
Taiwan has transformed itself from a recipient of U.S. aid in the 1950s and early 1960s to an aid donor and major foreign investor, especially in Asia. Taiwan is now a creditor economy, holding the world's third largest stock of foreign exchange reserves ($253 billion as of December 2005). Taiwan firms are the world's largest supplier of computer monitors and leaders in PC manufacturing. Textile production, though of declining importance as Taiwan loses its competitive advantage in labor-intensive markets, is another major industrial export sector. Imports are dominated by raw materials and capital goods, which account for more than 90% of the total. Taiwan imports coal, oil and gas to meet most of its energy needs.
Brazil
On March 31, 1964 the Brazialian armed forces launched a coup led by President Humberto Castello Branco, followed by Arthur da Costa e Silva (1967-69), Emilio Garrastazu Medici (1969-74), and Ernesto Geisel (1974-79), all of whom were senior army officers. Geisel began a democratic opening that was continued by his successor, Gen. Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo (1979-85). The military regimes developed a plan that made Brazil one of the most advanced industrial sectors in Latin America. One of the most important aspects the military put in place was the development of renewable fuel and today Brazil does not import fuel; instead the Country now uses Ethanol from Sugar cain to power its economy. Accounting for one-third of GDP, Brazil's diverse industries range from automobiles and parts, other machinery and equipment, steel, textiles, shoes, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, and petrochemicals, to computers, aircraft, and consumer durables. Most major automobile producers have established production facilities in Brazil.
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy grew, on average only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed a series of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazil absorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to the resiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put in place by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LULA DA SILVA. In 2004, Brazil enjoyed more robust growth that yielded increases in employment and real wages.
Malaysia
Malysia is a country with a population of 25.6 million. Malaysia was occupied from 1511 by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British until 1945. During the 1960s Ghana was well off than Malaysia. Today Malaysia is a leader in the Semiconductor industry and the economic growth of Malaysia is due to the government allowing Foreign Direct Investment. Malaysia today is way advance than all African Countries with the exception of South Africa by developing its Electronic and Semi Conductor industries. The Government of Malaysia has taken an active role in guiding the nation's economic development. Malaysia's New Economic Policy (NEP), first established in 1971, sought to eradicate poverty and end the identification of economic function with ethnicity. In particular, it was designed to enhance the economic standing of ethnic Malays and other indigenous peoples (collectively known as "bumiputeras" in Bahasa Malaysia).
Malaysia successfully developed from a commodity-based economy to one focused on manufacturing. Today the Government of Malaysia seeks to make the leap to a knowledge-based economy. At independence, Malaysia inherited an economy dominated by two commodities--rubber and tin. In the 40 years thereafter, Malaysia's economic record had been one of Asia's best. From the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, the economy experienced a period of broad diversification and sustained rapid growth averaging almost 8% annually. New foreign and domestic investment played a significant role in the transformation of Malaysia's economy.
Cuba
Do I really have to say anything on Cuba. Look at the progress Castro has achieved in the field of Education and Literacy despite US Foreign Policy. Today Cuba manufactures all the vaccines and medicines it needs.
References from the State Department and other Sources.
They do not lack common sense for doing what most of them are trying to do and that is please the United Nations and saying the heck with whats good for their representing race.
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
ayanfe2006
Villager
| Joined: | Friday April 7th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 177 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 17:21 |
|
I see there is constant theorization and questioning of my motives. In that case, perhaps I should make a contribution.
VK, as well intentioned as he is, is taking the route that has lead African nations to fail. In other words, rhetorical speaking and infrastructure proposals, all which will fail again if implemented. Post-colonially, African elite established industries which could not be supported because we lacked the foundations/back bones to keep the engine of industrialization running.
So to help you all out, I will begin by asking you a question. "What is the back bone of any nation/community?"
Last edited on Saturday September 23rd, 2006 17:25 by ayanfe2006
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
FredB
Villager
| Joined: | Thursday June 10th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1408 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 17:31 |
|
@Ayenfe2006 said 'I see there is constant theorization and questioning of my motives. In that case, perhaps I should make a contribution.
------------------------------------------------------------
It is not an unreasonable response my brother. But I am glad you have shown the discipline and maturity to enlighten us. If you have ideas express them because many of us are interested.
We are serious about our lives and people or we are not.
Look forward to reading your contribution.
Peace
____________________
www.blacksearch.co.uk - Helping to promote Black African and Caribbean Websites
|
ayanfe2006
Villager
| Joined: | Friday April 7th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 177 |
| Photo: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 17:34 |
|
FredB wrote: It is not an unreasonable response my brother. But I am glad you have shown the discipline and maturity to enlighten us. If you have ideas express them because many of us are interested.
We are serious about our lives and people or we are not.
Look forward to reading your contribution.
Peace
================================
Indeed, I will begin by asking everyone a question. "What is the back bone of any nation/community?"
____________________
Click here for your Black Profile
|
Vubundada_Kandaba
Villager
Click here for your Black Profile
Search for Black Sites
|
Posted: Saturday September 23rd, 2006 18:06 |
|
ayanfe2006 wrote: I see there is constant theorization and questioning of my motives. In that case, perhaps I should make a contribution.
VK, as well intentioned as he is, is taking the route that has lead African nations to fail. In other words, rhetorical speaking and infrastructure proposals, all which will fail again if implemented. Post-colonially, African elite established industries which could not be supported because we lacked the foundations/back bones to keep the engine of industrialization running.
So to help you all out, I will begin by asking you a question. "What is the back bone of any nation/community?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | |
