BOKAMOSO | The Africa I see.
Today is Africa Day, commemorating the founding of the Organisation for African Unity on 25 May 1963. It invokes the hope ignited by a wave of decolonization that freed successive African nations half a century ago. But also the despair as successive liberation movements-turned-political parties succumbed to the temptations of power.
Today we must renew our vision for Africa. The Africa I see is a prosperous, peaceful, united continent whose democratic nations thrive on individual freedoms, constitutionalism and the rule of law. Economic growth is rapid and inclusive enabled by free trade and willing collaboration, integrated infrastructure and shared knowledge.
The fact is that while this vision for Africa is eminently achievable, there is an element of urgency that is new. We can no longer defer this dream. Today, Africa stands at a critical juncture, facing one stark reality: over the next generation, Africa’s population is set to double to over two billion people. The majority of these people will be young, urbanised, and connected by smart phones. Under the wrong conditions, they constitute a ticking time bomb of unemployed, disaffected youth with the means to wreak major destruction. Under the right conditions, they are a “demographic dividend” that can drive Africa’s rapid development and realise the continent’s immense potential.
Our actions in the next decade will determine whether this population boom becomes Africa’s nemesis or her saving grace. Our urgent project is to lay the foundations for rapid economic growth that can create the jobs and the conditions that channel this youthful energy to positive outcomes. Clearly, the old order – economies crippled by Big Man, patronage politics, cut off geographically and culturally from the rest of the world – is just not going to cut it. Africa needs economic growth and job creation on a vast scale and only a new political order can bring that about.
The fact is, Africa’s future hinges entirely on its politics. Democracy and development are indivisible. Africa needs to move beyond the stifling, traditional thinking of the old order of liberation leader, more tribal chief than president. Our population is young – the median age is just 19,5 years old. We need a wave of new, young leadership that “gets” democracy. We need leaders in their 30s, 40s and 50s with their modern education and their modern thinking, based on global realities. It is quite frankly unacceptable that Africa is still being led by, or rather, held hostage by, leaders who are well into old age, many in their 70s, 80s and even 90s.