Modern Day Berlin Conference in Dar!

[Rev. Kishoka]

At Berlin Conference for Scramble of Africa in 1884-1885, Africa had no representation. It was occupied and exploited through colonialism. Today, Africa is actively represented, through Davos, Doha and now Dar World Economic Summit and it's embracing of WB, IMF and FDI policies which have strenghten economical expolitation that has taken Africa's production, export ability and Africa's purchasing powers!

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Ukweli wa wazo hilii kwa kweli unatisha na hasa maana yake kwa wanaanchi wa Tanzania.

 

[Companero]

Wasamehewe kwa maana hawajui walitendalo!

 

[magee]

At Berlin Conference for Scramble of Africa in 1884-1885, Africa had no representation. It was occupied and exploited through colonialism. Today, Africa is actively represented, through Davos, Doha and now Dar World Economic Summit and it's embracing of WB, IMF and FDI policies which have strenghten economical expolitation that has taken Africa's production, export ability and Africa's purchasing powers!​

............We dont have to sit back and wait for them exploit us,thats the most unjust we can be to our mother Africa,its high time to say NO!!
Its no use kulalamika tu,mbaya zaidi kwenye platform ndogo hvi,embu tusimame pale JANGWANI na kusema ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAPIGANAJI MKO WAPI TUUNGANE TUUACHE UOGA TUSIMAMIE UHURU WETU???WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.................
​

 

[Kinyambiss]

I beg to differ. This is too radical and completely hyperbolic in nature. Oscar Wilde said on cynicism that:

" A cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing." Discussions on how to eliminate malaria and improving our agriculture equal to the Berlin Conference...!! And Prof Shwab ndio Bismark sio?! Can someone tell me what alternative we could employ to foster development in Africa.. And no Marxism please unless you also suggest a remedy for the inherent flaws of the philosophy..

 

[Ndahani]

Wametuletea foleni tu hakun a lolote la maana. Nini tusichojua kuhusu malaria na kupunguza umaskini? Wanaopigia debe mkutano huu pengine wana posho maana watanzania huwa hatuna agenda pana zaidi ya kipato binafsi!

 

[Koba]

mnalalamika sana huku mnasahau 50% ya budget zenu ni hao wanaowasaidia na mnaleta bogus politics zenu za kusingizia foleni kwa ajiri ya huo mkutano wakati foleni ni order of the day kila siku,hizo foleni hazitakwisha mkutano ukiisha kumbukeni na sijui mtamsingizia nani?kwani nani kawazuia kufanya mikutano with your own representative & own money,own agenda?watu mnafikiri kubadili nchi lazima ukamate ikulu au cheo,matatizo mengi katika society zetu ni ya kujitakia tuu na uzembe wa hali ya juu,watu wanaweza kuchangiana michango ya harusi lakini kujipanga na kuziba mitaro ya kuzaa mbu inayozunguka mitaa yao wanasubiri serikali,can you imagine shule ya watu mia sita na walimu 50 haina choo wala maji kwa miaka zaidi ya 20 na wanashindwa kutafuta solution within their means wanabaki kusubiri pesa AKA fungu kutoka makao makuu wizara ya elimu ambazo hazitafika milele wanaishia kujisaidia porini kila siku,hawaogi na kunywa maji machafu maisha yao yote,watu lazima wajue security na quality of life katika community zao ni wao wenyewe ndio wanaweza kubadilisha sio ofisa wa serikali na kulalamika lalamika tuu bila mpango

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

This case its in two folds. On one side you have the Capitalist Imperial powers which are pushing to maintain their status quo through complete global economy (and so is political, social and cultural) dominance and on the other hand you have African countries which are aggressively playing their role as inferior and underdeveloped.

Let us ask ourselves why Asia and Latin America countries have already moved towards becoming complete developing countries and Africa is still under developed? Especially the Sub Sahara Africa (south of Sahara)?

Why is Africa being outsmarted everyday and subject itself to be bulldozed in every direction without having a strong stance?

In Berlin during the Scramble and Partition for Africa conference, Africa had no way to represent itself and everything was dictated to Africa including methods of economic production, political structure and cultural behavior.

In modern day, Africa has continued to be bulldozed through a structured economic production which is tailored to enrich the former colonial masters, while Africa is buckled to its knees depending on handouts, continue to produce raw materials and semi processed goods which offer no true value or return that can expedite the economic growth through massive production of goods and services in addition to exportation of finished goods.

For instance, Tanzania's exports are solely raw materials and not complete consumer goods. Our production is limited to initial stage which will grant us basic income and not secondary or market value income that will be sufficient enough to rid ourselves of Foreign Aids and dependency on Wealthy Nations to bail us out.

Is it exploitation? Yes it is, since we have given up our bargaining power by subjecting ourselves to terms of World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the so called Investors who have been parachuting in Tanzania to scoop every ounce of our natural wealth through Foreign Direct Investment and Globalization schemes that are trumpeting free market economy.

However, we do not have control or say to the price of what is being produced in Tanzania, in addition, we are granting Tax and Duty exemptions and accept petty fees and royalties and willingly we are happy with the little that we get under pretext of stating "something is better than nothing"!
Think about what happened in Dar, just before the start of the Economic Forum. The President issues a forceful ultimatum to the poor workers to accept poor wages that have continued to escalate abject poverty of Tanzanians. However, two weeks before his muscled speech, his government failed to pass a better law that could guarantee more earnings through mining by merely increasing the royalty by 30% instead of 500% which would have given Tanzania at least 15% income out of mining industry.
At this pace and these circumstances, it will take Tanzania 1000 years to be where Japan, Brazil and United States of America are today economically!

There is significant lack of motivation, creativity, bargaining power, proper marketing, evaluation of our capabilities and absolute ignorance and incompetence due to poor political system and our acceptance of such system.

Yes we are happily, eagerly and actively participating in Modern Day Berlin Conference by taking an active role of even planning and hosting the event on behalf of the Super Powers to our own demise. At the conclusion of the Summit, we will shout "we need equal trade rights", "We need to respected and recognized as the engine that fuels world economy"! But in reality, we are happy to adhere to terms dictated by the same people we are asking to give us an equal opportunity in SILENCE!

 

[Chapakazi]

tupe (quote us) hizo terms za World Bank na IMF zinazotugandamiza...otherwise this becomes another meaningless discussion in JF. Bring the subjective terms, lets break them down and have a discussion. Otherwise the argument becomes weak, and too general, that even a standard seven child could have made it! Au tupe the points discussed in the WEF hapo Dar zitakazogandamiza wananchi. We want some data to discuss...

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Ahh, my dear friend Mtoto is back! Umesahau zile SAP/ERP zilizoanza na Mwinyi kwa Tanzania? Je suala la kusukumiza FDI kama namna ya kutupa mikopo au kusamehewa madeni si njama ya kutufanya tuendelee kuwa tegemezi na masikini wa kudumu?

 

[Kapinga]

Nachojua mimi ni kwamba CEO's wa banks and parastatals na Wakurugenzi wenigne Serikalini na Private Sector wananunua 400-1000 hectares of land, left right and centre on a daily basis..na bado raisi ana offer hizo 2,000,000 for foreigners waje kuziendeleza...nchi inauzwa na matajiri wataendelea kutajirika..hatujamsikia raisi akiongelea what to do with those people living in those 2,000,000hectares of land. Tutakuja kujuta hivi vitu..tumeshindwa ku control mining to benefit the average tanzanian, tumeshndwa ku control and collect taxes from the lucrative telecoms business..why are we soooo damn sure that we shall benefit from this agricultural revolution 'kilimo kwanza'. Tatizo sio Investment tatizo ni Uongozi wetu...lets sort that out and the rest shall fall in place. Tuache kuota Watanzania.

 

[cammory]

mnalalamika sana huku mnasahau 50% ya budget zenu ni hao wanaowasaidia na mnaleta bogus politics zenu za kusingizia foleni kwa ajiri ya huo mkutano wakati foleni ni order of the day kila siku,hizo foleni hazitakwisha mkutano ukiisha kumbukeni na sijui mtamsingizia nani?kwani nani kawazuia kufanya mikutano with your own representative & own money,own agenda?watu mnafikiri kubadili nchi lazima ukamate ikulu au cheo,matatizo mengi katika society zetu ni ya kujitakia tuu na uzembe wa hali ya juu,watu wanaweza kuchangiana michango ya harusi lakini kujipanga na kuziba mitaro ya kuzaa mbu inayozunguka mitaa yao wanasubiri serikali,can you imagine shule ya watu mia sita na walimu 50 haina choo wala maji kwa miaka zaidi ya 20 na wanashindwa kutafuta solution within their means wanabaki kusubiri pesa AKA fungu kutoka makao makuu wizara ya elimu ambazo hazitafika milele wanaishia kujisaidia porini kila siku,hawaogi na kunywa maji machafu maisha yao yote,watu lazima wajue security na quality of life katika community zao ni wao wenyewe ndio wanaweza kubadilisha sio ofisa wa serikali na kulalamika lalamika tuu bila mpango

Zitakuwa zimekwenda wapi? Kodi si inalipwa? serikali kama haitaki kumsaidia mwananchi itamke wazi kuwa "JISAIDIENI WENYEWE SERIKALI IMESHIDWA"

 

[Mkandara]

Kimsingi serikali yeyote ambayo ipo chini ya kiunzi cha maendeleo (third world), yaani bado tupo ktk uchumi hasi (negative) tukivuta pumzi ya uchumi kwa support ya misaada utafikiri mgonjwa yuko maabara hatuwezi kufikiria njia mbadala ya kukuza uchumi wetu kirahisi kama tunavyofikiria. Tanzania na nchi nyingine zote maskini, sisi ni Kama wagonjwa wa vichaa ambao wamewekwa ktk maabara tunapewa dose ya kututuliza vichaa vyetu. Sasa ni jukumu letu wenyewe kutoamini kama sisi ni vichaa na kukataa kuendelea kupata dose inayotudhoofisha zaidi na kutoroka mahabusu haya ambayo nchi tajiri zinafikiria zinatusaidia..Kuwepo sisi ktk mfumo wa IMF ni kukubali dose ya umaskini (vichaa) ambayo tunapewa hali waganga wenyewe hawajaugua kichaa kujua kama dawa hizo zinaponya, ila wanachojua ni kwamba zinatufanya mazuzu na tunaacha fujo.

Hii ndio concept ya Umaskini wetu. Na kama mnakumbuka niliwahi kusema kwamba inahitaji sisi tufahamu kima cha umaskini wetu kutuwezesha kubuni ama kutafuta mikakati yenye tija kwetu, na sii kufikiria maendeleo sawa na nchi ambazo tayari zimekwisha ondoka ktk Umaskini. Jamani hata yule maskini omba omba mtaani akitaka kujikwamua toka hapo alipo hawezi kufikiria kama Bakhresa mwenye utajiri tayari au kukaa kiti kimoja na Bakhresa kujadili umaskini wake..Ama hata kuiga mbinu za Bakhresa alipoteteleka kibiashara ili kuzitumia yeye maskini hali hajawahi kutajirika..

Kuna gap kubwa sana ya uuwiano (inequality) ktk makuaji ya uchumi wa nchi zetu. Na tusitegemee kabisa kwamba nchi zilizokwisha endelea zinaweza fanya biashara nasi hali sisi ni maskini.. tunatumiwa na tutaendelea kutumiwa huku tukipewa dose kila siku sawa na wale vichaa. Katika mfano ule wa Kichaa, sijui kama kuna mtu kati yetu anaweza fanya biashara na mtu ambaye unafikiria kuwa ni mgonjwa wa akili? Acha kichaa, nani kati yetu anaweza fanya biashara na maskini ombaomba? Ukweli ni kwamba hakuna.
Na maajabu ya Mussa, nchi zetu viongozi wote wanafikiria ipo siku hizi nchi tajiri zitakuja ku hand over opportunities na incentives ili nasi tuwe sawa nao ktk Ubepari au niseme kuwepo na uuwiano ktk ushirika wa biashara ndani ya mfumo huu wa Utandawazi - haitatokei na wala HAIWEZEKANI.

Tatizo kubwa la Ubepari, fikra hizi za maskini na vichaa upo toka ngazi ya chini kwa watu binafsi. Yaani Matajiri watawaona maskini hawana uwezo wa kufikiri na vichaa wanaohitaji msaada kila siku kupewa dose na kipande cha mkate. Gap baina ya maskini na matajiri itazidi kuwa kubwa na ubaya mkubwa wa Ubepari huanza ndani ya nchi toka watu binafsi..kwa sababu mfumo mzima wa Kibepari unatazama maslahi binafsi na faida..Ubepari msingi wake ni ku pursuit self-interest and profit as its guiding light.

Sasa tunapojitazama sisi na umaskini wetu ni muhimu kujua depth ya umaskini wetu kisha tunabuni mbinu zetu wenyewe za kuondoka ktk umaskini..Kama wahenga walivyosema Necessity is the mother of invention, haya Shida tunazo sisi lakini utatuzi wake tunategemea IMF kuyatatua badala ya sisi wenyewe kufikiria mbinu za kuondoa haya matatizo na ndio maana IMF hutupa dose ya kutuliza au kupunguza matatizo kwa sababu hakuna pragmatic fact kwamba mikakati yao inafanya kazi..pengine sisi tupo ktk majaribio lakini hakuna fact zozote zinazoweza kuthibitisha kwamba misaada yao inaweza kuondosha umaskini. Mikakati yote ya IMF inalenga kupunguza Umaskini na hakuna utaratibu wowote ktk Ubepari (ideology) unaozingatia kuondosha umaskini - hakuna.

Hivyo, Ubepari unatazama yule aliyenacho na jinsi gani anaweza kukiendeleza. Ubepari unatazama kina Bakhresa jinsi wanavyoweza kuendeleza utajiri wao kwa faida ya familia zao na sii kina Yakhe sisi maskini ombaomba ambao tunatakiwa kufikiria mbinu za kimaskini nje kabisa ya fikra za kina Bakhresa..Na kibaya zaidi ni kwamba hao kina Mkapa pamoja na umaskini wetu walitaka tuishi Kizaire yaani tuonekane mitaani tunazo hali hatuna kitu..lakini kama tutakuja fikiria kama maskini na tukaanza kujipanga kama maskini Mchagga aliyetoka Machame akaingia mjini akiuza vipodozi..Akajipanga kulingana na uwezo wake, kipaji chake na akaijui thamani ya shilingi ktk maisha yake basi bila shaka Tanzania tutatoka ktk umaskini kirahisi sana pasipo msaada wa IMF au matajiri kina Bakhresa. Umaskini wetu unatakiwa kutupa nguvu ya kujikwamua toka ktk shida hii na sii kusubiri misaada na mijadala mingi utafikiri vijiwe vya kahawa uswahilini.

Nitarudia kusema hivi vikao ni sawa na vijiwe vya uswahilini, kujadili na kuzungumza sana kuhusu kuukata (one day yes) hali vijana wa Kichagga (Vietnam na Rwanda) wanafanya kweli pasipo kutegemea misaada inayowadhoofisha zaidi. Sina maana tusichukue misaada ila nachosema tuchukue misaada kama mtaji kwa malengo tuliyokusudia sisi kufanya ili tuondokane na Umaskini. Vita yetu ni kuondokana na umaskini kwanza, tusiwe misguided na ukweli huo. Muhimu sana kuondoka kwenye umaskini wa ombaomba kujipanga msikitini au makanisani (IMF na WB) na mabakuli yetu ya kuomba sadaka. Tudai kufundishwa, kuwezeshwa kuvua samaki sisi wenyewe na sii kuendelea kuomba chakula kila siku.

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Bob Mkandara,

Umenena!

 

[Chapakazi]

Ahh, my dear friend Mtoto is back! Umesahau zile SAP/ERP zilizoanza na Mwinyi kwa Tanzania? Je suala la kusukumiza FDI kama namna ya kutupa mikopo au kusamehewa madeni si njama ya kutufanya tuendelee kuwa tegemezi na masikini wa kudumu?

Sasa ulitaka uchumi ubadilike bila kuwa na structural changes? Kwanza mkubali the economy structure under Nyerere ili fail remarkably! Hivyo SAPs were intended to help the country recover from failed practice. Sasa swali linakuja implimentation yake by us. Kama unataka a beneficial discussion, maybe tuangalia implimention yake. Mbona nchi nyingi zimepokea misaada na kuweza kuiikomboa? Je...Greece na yenyewe pia inaingizwa mkinga? Je FDI zinazuia nchi kuwapa priorities wanachi wake katika ku-invest? Ujinga ni wetu, and how we implement their recommendation. Hao ni opportunists, and if u allow them, they will take full advantage. I believe unaishi abroad, na unawajua hawa watu well. Ukiwa ****, they will take advantage, lakini kama unajua what u r doing, they will fear and respect u. Kwa sasa leaders wetu wamekuwa mafala na wanapelekwa puta. Its that simple. Mfano mzuri angalia Japan after WW2. Je wao hakupewa misaada? Na baada ya hapo?

 

[Mkandara]

Mtoto,
Hapa hatuzungumzii Nyerere na Ujamaa kwa sababu Ujamaa haukuwa ktk kujenga Uchumi bali kujenga jumuiya ya Watanzania na kulinda mali na haki zao. Kwa mtu yeyote mwenye kufahamu anaelewa kwamba Ujamaa ulijihusisha zaidi na ujenzi wa Society badala ya ujenzi wa Uchumi hivyo posibility ya Ujamaa kushindwa kukuza uchumi ilikuwepo.
Kitu tunachoongelea wote ni kwamba maadam tulifahamu makosa ya Ujamaa Kiuchumi na tukabadilisha mfumo mzima kwa kuelewa makosa ya Ujamaa iweje tena tumeshindwa kuondoka ktk adha hiyo hiyo! Hivi tulipoondoka ktk Ujamaa lengo letu lilikuwa nini kujaribu mifumo mingine ya Kibepari au tulijua kwa uhakika kwamba ni Ujamaa uliotufikisha pale tulipokuwa.

Mkakati wa SAP Ulipangwa na IMF na wao walifuatilia kila hatua kuhakikisha tunafanikiwa. nakumbuka wapo wasomi wetu walipinga sana hatua zilizopendekezwa. Na kama sikosei Mwapachu alikuwa mmoja wa viongozi waliokuwa against SAP from day one lakini walionekana hawajui kitu. Sasa Ajabu tunapojikuta tumeshindwa tunatafuta sababu za Implimentation yake hali ktk Ujamaa hatukubali kabisa kusikia kulikuwepo na hitilafu ktk implimentation.

Swala la Greece halihusiani kabisa na sisi kwa sababu Greece sio nchi maskini kama sisi ila kumetokea kushuka kwa uchumi wa nchi hiyo kiasi kwamba wanafilisika. Na kama ujuavyo kufilisika kwa tajiri sio sawa kabisa na maskini ambaye ni muflisi miaka yote. Kisha basi umeona mwenyewe upinzani mkubwa uliopo huko Greece tofauti nasi tuliopokea SAP kwa mikono miwili tukaibeba mikakati kichwani na viroba vyake mikononi..
Mkuu wangu Tanzania sii nchi maskini yenye ulemavu wa rasilimali, maliaasili au laaana isipokuwa umaskini wetu unatokana na sisi wenyewe kutotambua kina cha maji haya. Maadam tupo chini ya maji (below the bar) tukipiga mbizi kutafuta hewa ya kupumua, itachukua mbinu tofauti kabisa za kuogelea maji haya tofauti na Greece ambao wako juu ya maji (above the bar) ya umaskini wakiogelea pamoja na kwamba nguvu zinawaishia.
Mkuu wangu sisi kwa kila gain ya GDP yetu ni kupunguza minus kurudi 0 hali wenzetu kwa kila positive inaimarisha Uchumi wao, hivyo ukitazama sana mpango wa SAP ulikuwa kuimarisha uchumi usishuke zaidi pasipo kuzingatia kwamba sisi tayari tumezama kiuchumi tuna kunywa vikombe kujaza matumbo ambayo mwisho wa siku yatafunga kupumua kwa lungs.

Matatizo yetu ya kiuchumi tunayajua sisi, weakness zetu tunazijua zaidi ya IMF na wazungu hawa kwa sababu wao hawajawahi kuwa umaskini. Umaskini ni maradhi ambayo hawajawahi ku experience ndani ya Ubepari isipokuwa wanajua jinsi ya kuwatumia maskini kujiendeleza. Toka enzi ya Utumwa hadi vita vya kwanza vya Ulaya Ubepari ndio ulikuwa mfumo unaotumika na hata hii globalisation sii mfumo mpya ila ulikuwepo ukitumika miaka ya awali. Huku kwetu Waajemi na Waarabu wakija na mali zao wakibadilishana na mali zetu at free market bila control ya serikali..We were at better position then!

Lakini baada ya kuingia haya maswala ya tawala na koloni, ubepari ndipo ulipopata somo, hakika asili ya Ubepari inatokana na tawala za makoloni. Na bahati mbaya sana wengi wetu hawajui kwa nini mfumo huu unaitwa Ukoloni mamboleo. Mbali na kufahamu hivyo wapo wengi hawakubali kabisa kwamba kuna kitu kinaitwa ukoloni mamboleo kwa sababu ya Umaskini wa kufikiri na ukosefu wa kumbukumbu za kihistoria.

Haya mabishano yote hayawezi kuleta tija kwetu ikiwa sisi wenyewe tunashindwa kuelewa maradhi yetu...Japanhawakuwa maskini hata kidogo as a fact wao walikuwa mbele ya mataifa mengi ya Ulaya ktk technologia, wakipigana vita walikuwa na ndege zao, meli, submarine na vifaa vyote vya kivita. Ukiondoa Ujarumani na Marekani Japan walikuwa tishio la super power kuliko hata Urusi..walikuwa develeoped tayari isipokuwa kulitokea uharibifu kubwa ambao uliwarudisha nyuma kiuchumi. Sii kweli kabisa kwamba Japan waliweza kuendelea baada ya kusaidiwa mikopo...

 

[TIMING]

Nachojua mimi ni kwamba CEO's wa banks and parastatals na Wakurugenzi wenigne Serikalini na Private Sector wananunua 400-1000 hectares of land, left right and centre on a daily basis..na bado raisi ana offer hizo 2,000,000 for foreigners waje kuziendeleza...nchi inauzwa na matajiri wataendelea kutajirika..hatujamsikia raisi akiongelea what to do with those people living in those 2,000,000hectares of land. Tutakuja kujuta hivi vitu..tumeshindwa ku control mining to benefit the average tanzanian, tumeshndwa ku control and collect taxes from the lucrative telecoms business..why are we soooo damn sure that we shall benefit from this agricultural revolution 'kilimo kwanza'. Tatizo sio Investment tatizo ni Uongozi wetu...lets sort that out and the rest shall fall in place. Tuache kuota Watanzania.

Kapinga,

I wish tungeweza kuweka hii post yako kama waraka na kuijaza facts and figures, nakuunga mkono haswaa and whether we like it or not, we, tuna malengo mazuri lakini hatuna strategies zina-empower locals kwanza... mkapa juzi alijibu swali vizuri kuhusu nini tufanye kupambana na hawa watu? alijibu "TUWE WATANZANIA"!!!! SIJUI KAMA TUMEISOMA HII

Tanzanians are in huge trouble na kama tulidhani kenya wamemaliza ardhi basi afadhali walimaliza na majority kwa wao wenyewe, sisi tunagawa nje kwa lugha hii ambayo kwangu ni neo-colonialism

nina hamu ya kuona watanzania tunasimama, na tutake tusitake, mfano mdogo ni hili la srdhi.. tunauza kwa strangers in the name of tanzanians ni kwa vijiji na local authorities kununua wenyewe adhri na kubakiza kwa wakazi

 

[Abdulhalim]

Wametuletea foleni tu hakun a lolote la maana. Nini tusichojua kuhusu malaria na kupunguza umaskini? Wanaopigia debe mkutano huu pengine wana posho maana watanzania huwa hatuna agenda pana zaidi ya kipato binafsi!

Aahh..hata mi naona ivoivo..

Kwa kifupi mikutano kaa hii haina faida yeyote, maana ndio juhudi zilezile za kutaka kukata tawi la mti unalolikalia. Mikutano kaa hii haina impact yeyote kwa sababu inajengwa kwene fallacy kwamba the current status quo and state of affairs is capable and adequate enough to tackle the problems in hand, what they fail to see ni kwamba kuchimba principalities za umaskini ktk bara la Africa it takes more than this gullible wanasiasa ambao kwa asilimia kubwa ni wachumia tumboni. NUKTA.

 

[Ben Saanane]

At Berlin Conference for Scramble of Africa in 1884-1885, Africa had no representation. It was occupied and exploited through colonialism. Today, Africa is actively represented, through Davos, Doha and now Dar World Economic Summit and it's embracing of WB, IMF and FDI policies which have strenghten economical expolitation that has taken Africa's production, export ability and Africa's purchasing powers!

Rev Kishoka and other contributors,May God Bless you all for your valuable contribution.

Now,
Singling out colonialism as the root of problems in Africa is akin to calling a dog a bad name. Colonialism has its merits and demerits. We have been independent since 1961, and what do we have to show for gaining independence

While I applaud Nkrumah for his attempt to foster unity in Africa, at the same time, his regime was dogged/besmirched with stories (true or false) of torture against his opponents, and corruption.Also, Tanzania's case,we have choosen to abandon Jk Nyerere (RIP) and his african socialism doctrine.Azimio la Arusha lilikua haramu some few years after adoption

Sometimes,we are sideling with our Enemies. I mean the greatest weapon in the hand of the "masters" are the African leaders. these brain dead people are used to destroy the continent further. wanna know how? their nefarious appetite plunged the continent into debt. the borrowed money which the west knew was not being used to develop africa and the money ends up in european banks. Just recall Our former Attorney General (Chenge's) saga and BAE scandal.europe gains while african dies. frustration sets in violence brews and with it the arms trade. where do the arms come from. it is complex my dear, the african leaders are culpable,yes. but they are brain dead. however the west knows the consequences of this situation and yet they encourage these african fools(leaders). that is pure wickedness. Tanzania is a good case study.Mr.President is ok and feels more comfortable to side with a bunch of bandits in the govnment but he's active in unleashing terror against government servants.Just recall,TUCTAs Episode.

I dont even know why are we not weaving our flags upside down matching with our priorities

So, lets forget about the ills of colonialism at the present time and work on how to achieve peace and prosperity in our continent. Lets stop blaming the white man for past faults. Our 'brothers' in government, some of them are worse than these imperialists that we have singled out for our diatribe.

 

[Kinyambiss]

Well said Ben. Ukweli ni kwamba right now the problems of the 21st Century cannot be solved by socialism. What we need is controlled capitalism. By this I mean not that we should just let FDI come in without control and regulation and give out 99 year leases for land without first calculating the gains for the nation and abuse of human rights, no. What we need is to build consensus amongst Africa itself about how we are to deal with China, EU, US, India, Brazil and the rest of them when it comes to trade... We need to reduce barriers and promote intra-African trade, invest in infrastructure (which we cant afford without the grace of Aid and IMF and WB loans), capacity building of our human resources.. (tujenge world class centres of excellence)... lakini here is where the trouble comes. Bila FDI to pay these experts they will all moce to Dubai and Hing Kong and Singapore and London and NY... we need to build capacity and fund the result to avoid brain drain.. And African leaders need to forget about buying private jets and expensive military hardware for a while, shopping trips to 5th Ave and New Bond St. kidogo tuachane nazo.. (gone are the days of Mobutu et al. the eccentric African dictator stereotype )

In the West and East, they are thinking about the future, energy, what will power the 21st and 22nd Century... Fusion power ( ITER research), Bill Gates funded research of more sustainable nuclear power. Nuclear fusion uses sea water as a source and will power the world for the next 500 years perhaps.. The point is they are investing in the future, but also the mid term.. 'last minutes of oil' up to between 2050 and 2070.. What is African doing?

We need to focus on agricultural technology in Africa, energy for the rural areas through solar and other means, things that will be of practical use to Africa in the next 50-100 years. I mean, we cannot even feed ourselves. And we talk of colonialism being the problem! I think the problem is that we have never really taken our destiny into our own hands, always preferring fate/God which really means opening up Africa's thighs to be molested by anyone else who has a bigger gun (not so hard if all you have is a spear)..

So it is easily inferable that we need to invest in Africa, trade amongst ourselves, (although it has been the norm that some countries do not mind exploiting others in African ..SA for instance..), develop our capacity and voice in the world. We are 1 billion strong, just like India and CHina... the only difference is that we actually have the resources that they usually have to look elsewhere for. So we must partner with ours in our development, but that has to be under terms that are favorable to us. The time for socialism, colonialism, pacifism, extreme religions sentiments, war, unbalanced exploitation, is over.. The 21st Century is about development.. in Africa.. initiated and spearheaded by... AFRICANS