Is Africa really free?
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Richard , Lusaka: May 24 2008
Made Popular May 25 2008

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It is Africa freedom day again on May 25. But I have a lot of questions on my conscious and sometimes I grow angry with all this.
Many years ago, “freedom is coming tomorrow” was among the popular songs on the Africa soil.

These songs have now died out because people say Africa is Free. But I think the songs should not die because Africa is still in bondage and the fight must continue.

And I ask this question that what is the point is being free when you can’t get a job, when you cant get food, no shelter and you are always running for your life. And I ask this question that what would you rather be, a well slave or a hungry free man.

I think Africa did not choose to be a well-fed slave but rather, we opted to be hungry free men when fighting for freedom.

As African commemorates freedom day, we must ask ourselves certain questions like celebrating freedom from what?

Look, Africa fought for its political independence for many years. What was our purpose of getting independent? Was it to plunge the continent into civil and cross border wars as it is now? Was it to achieve the highest levels of poverty currently obtaining in our countries? People, especially women and children are dying everyday from hunger, guns, disease and other atrocities.

Out freedom fighters had a dream when they shed their blood for Africa’s emancipation. They had a dream that one-day, Africa was going to be free from colonialism, hunger, slavery, disease, crime and other invectives. And I know this dream is a dream that many people who are alive now have. But look, this dream is as good as dead at the hands of politicians, full of avarice and too much power in their hands. In as far I am concerned, Africa is not a free continent. We need to free ourselves from neo-colonialism, we need to get rid of these super capitalists and imperialists that have scrambled for Africa’s own resources.

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1 Stars
Lalit
Kanpur, India
If you look at the problems with sub-Saharan Africa, you would understand why it is so. Disease, despotism, civil wars, rampant poverty, corruption etc is omnipresent. The main solution lies with what the people of Africa really want? Why there is so much intolerance amongst tribes? Why there is no common mass movement to fight a common cause even if it for such a cause as AIDS? It is the mentality that the Africans need to change before we can hope to see positive changes happening in Africa.
1 Stars
Yash
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
I met a guy in California last year who came from South Africa. He was not proud of his country despite South Africa being the most powerful and presumably the model for democracy and equality. He was worried about South Africa's foreign policies, he was worried about outrageously high crime rate in the country, he was pessimistic about poverty, AIDS etc.
1 Stars
Jodie
Sydney, Australia
By free one has to understand what is the meaning of freedom? Political freedom? Economic freedom? Freedom from disease? Freedom from poverty? In every count Africa has failed miserably to stand up to the freedom index if there is any. Africa is in a quagmire that it cannot come out of by itself. It is now with the world community whether they would like to see the great continent slips completely to labyrinth where there is no way out. It is not too late now. It would be so if it is neglected in the next 20 years.
1 Stars
Audry
Brussels, Belgium
one possible fast track solution would be the intervention of international force under UN mandate to throw out despots and neutralize the warlords. then the UN can help the countries build a stable government with fair representation of all warring parties.
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Tommy
Berlin, Germany
I agree. Take one step at a time. First remove dictators and warlords. When there is peace the world can have a chance to bring change. This is getting too much in the whole of the continent as we see it now. The worst thing is hunger and disease and they can only be tackled when there is peace and peace will elude as long as these dictators and warlords exist.
1 Stars
Sarkis
Abuja, Nigeria
Africa is free only in patches. It isn't free as a whole. Then of course the answer to what really freedom means isn't there. The picture might seem bleak but when we see what could be achieved like in relatively prosperous countries like Zimbabwe we can't help but think pessimistically.
1 Stars
Juzer
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
It does not really matter to me whether there is political freedom or not. What matters to me is whether we can free ourselves from civil wars, AIDS, hunger and misrule. So far Africa is not doing all things right.
1 Stars
Achala
Colombo, Sri Lanka
africa was always in some kind of problem or other. in fact the misery of africa can be attributed to the colonial rulers who plundered it, raped the resources and the women alike, enslaved millions and then left the countries in the 20th century with guns behind in the hands of mad dogs.
1 Stars
Shahalad
Montclair, United States
Africa will never be free until Africans own (or, at least have some influence over) the banks and multinationals doing business on the continent. Political freedom means nothing if someone else controls your economy. Also, because the borders were drawn by Europeans, ethnic tensions run rampant. Those borders will have to be re drawn.
1 Stars
Africa is a beautiful continent, having lived there I can say it has warm people, and rich culture, the only thing they need is to get rid of selfish politicians, who are corrupt to the core. The dream of free Africa will be achieved one day.
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