NATION IN VIEW: ZIMBABWE

AFRICA’S RETURN TO GREATNESS

The change we need in Africa will not necessarily come from African leaders, but it can be given a face by them. The truth is that the unity and greatness of Africa and, by extension, the purpose of Africa is not within the African Union building in Addis Ababa (unfortunately the building was built and donated by the Chinese government to the AU) nor can it be accurately captured in the national policies of the African heads of state and government. The purpose of Africa is written in the DNA of every African and the greatness of Africa is right in the hands of every African. So, with a conscious ploughing of our hearts and a coming together of like minds, Africa will rise to the peak of its purpose in no time.

Third World is a state of the mind and until we change our
attitude as Africans, if there is a fourth, fifth and even sixth
world, we will be in it.

Patrice L. O. Lumumba

I am an African. I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the
mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the
flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the
face of our native land.

Thabo Mbeki

According to data from the AU, by 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42 per cent of the world’s youth and account for 75 per cent of those under the age of 35 in Africa.  That number, for me, is a powerhouse of unimaginable things that can happen in this continent and the world, if only we go forward united by a common purpose.

The greatness of Africa is not just found in the historical antecedents of the ancient past but also much more found in the minds of the Africans, both young and old, who are giving their best to change and redirect the narrative of the African people. There is a massive awakening of minds in Africa and if both the people and their governments can come together in unity, then the sky will be a stepping stone for Africa in a very short time.

You will notice, in this issue of the magazine, that we have more voices from Zimbabwe who have joined us in the movement to see a better Africa and this makes us very proud that Africa shall surely be great again.

Zimbabwe for us has become a shining beacon of hope for Africa. It gives joy to see our Zimbabwean brother Rutendo Matinyarare take the battle against GMOs fighting for the health of the African people to the very doorstep of those distributing the evil in the continent. It pleases the heart to hear of guys like Maponga Joshua reshaping cultural and social narratives while giving some freshness to African spirituality. Talk about Zimbabwe’s prolific inventor Maxwell Chikumbutso who developed a cordless powered television set. His TV is powered by a radio frequency (RF) device called an MSED. And the list of such amazing Zimbabweans is getting longer and it’s such a beauty to behold.

When the news of Maxwell’s cordless TV came out, we reached out to him for an interview which we were to have but somehow, we lost communication with him. It was months later that we read he was poisoned and was very sick. Who would want him dead? Well, your guess is as good as mine. We simply believe that those who feel threatened by the rise into greatness of Africa will do everything in their power to shut down anything good coming from Africa. We saw what happened with the issue of COVID-19 and how the natural medicine from Madagascar was completely berated and shut down and what happened when Magufuli took their samples to a lab to challenge them. But why is this the constant case?

First, it is considered that any new invention from Africa that does not carry a European or American tag cannot be allowed to see the light of day. In their heads, how can a so-called African third-world country lead the world in innovation and technology? Second, why should an African who is not a member of the “Big Boys Association” that purportedly rule the world, come and offset the timing of the release of new innovations and technologies?

But these things and how they play out should be what should help Africans all the more determined to offset the world balance. In case you have not noticed, the world is generally afraid of the awakening of Africans and the rise of Africa into her true place. But it’s a thing that will happen whether the world likes it or not.

African Youths

One of the stonewalls you meet when you speak to young Africans about the greatness of Africa, as found in history and even in present-day Africa, is this strong facial expression that  seems to be asking “What the heck are you talking about?”

But like they say, no kingdom lasts forever and that was the destiny of every kingdom that has passed through this earth.

So, you cannot really blame the modern-day African youth if they have no clue that at some point in the history of Africa, there were kingdoms and empires that spanned centuries and covered massive territories.

However, the beauty that is emerging out of Zimbabwe that we see in the various Zimbabweans who are doing amazing things that are changing the popular narratives is the same beauty we see emerging among many Africans both at home in the continent, and in the diaspora and among people of African descent across the globe. But we must be willing to come together to do more and effect deeper changes.

Prayer for Zimbabwe

The road to a better Africa is loaded with great opportunities for better choices and decisions that will help Africa grow. But as we have seen, in many instances, there are those from among us who keep sabotaging the destiny of the African people.

So, I pray for you great people of Zimbabwe that you will find multiplied grace that will help you stand tall in the face of every opposition that may come your way. You have become a beacon of hope for the African people and such a leadership role must be backed with deep intentionality to see Zimbabwe grow in leaps and bounds, even as you model a great path for all of Africa.

May the Almighty bless you with the strength to do what is right and also give you what is required for shaping the future of Zimbabwe and Africa at large.