Africa must be honest and sincere with its partners

By Retlaw Matatu Matorwa

It was another feast of three course meals, bed and breakfast, and per-diems discussing and penning solutions for the poor African.

In the city of Valletta in Malta, African leaders signed 1.9 bn Euros financial aid from the European Union the fund is geared towards aiding Africans improve their economic and social conditions. It is envisaged that the financial assistance will help reduce the influx of African migrants into Europe.

Addressing a consortium of African and European representatives, Chairperson of the African Union Dr. Nkosazana Zuma re- affirmed her commitment of the African Union to improve the economic conditions of African states and to curb migration. However she appealed to the European Union not to close borders on legal migrants. Zuma encouraged Africa and Europe to engage in partnerships and deliberations aimed at enhancing industrialization.

Before attempting to analyze how effective the financial package will be in curbing migration, it may be very interesting to interrogate whether or not the African Union had or indeed has any strategy in place to address the migration challenge. In other words, by receiving this aid, how does the AU hope to ensure implementation of the ‘Malta project package’ (a) to improve African economies and (b) curbing Africa-Europe migration?

Africa has been recipient of donor funding, financial reprieve and loans since 1960’s.  Countries such as Malawi, South Sudan, Somalia and others are dependent on donor aid and yet not much in terms of economic progress has been achieved. It is in Africa where some leaders have billions of dollars stashed in banks abroad, enough even to finance their national budgets and yet their countries depend on aid.

Moreso, most if not all African countries have at one point received one kind of aid or another for developmental purposes. Needless to say, billions of aid have never translated to the developmental plans associated with such assistance. The question then is, how different will this assistance be from the one given to the continent before?

It may be wrong to assume that European Union lacks understanding and appreciation of the challenges affecting Africa. Despite the many opportunities in European countries, life is not that rosy to many of our people in the Diasporas. The reality is that Africans do not migrate to Europe by choice; rather it is limited opportunities that compel them to take these treacherous choices.

Seriously, International office for Migration (2015) reports that 86% of immigrants from Sub-Sahara Africa died on the Mediterranean voyage in a bid to reach European soil.

Arguably, African economies are struggling to provide basic necessities, employment and social security for their people. To state the obvious, Africa is suffering structural challenges of both political and economic nature. Absence of democracy and good governance (“government by the people for the people) in many African states is the cause of instability, civil disobedience and wars.

The nonexistence of a respectable constitutional culture, impunity, lack of checks and balances has ushered in corrupt governments further disenfranchising the masses. To make matters worse, inadequate systems ensuring transparency, accountability and civic engagement has inhibited citizens from airing grievances and contributing to national decision making processes.

African governments are popular for investing huge sums of money to thwart opposition politics and discerning voices, rigging election- in fact closing all avenues of expression. In essence, dictatorship, bad governance, corruption, civil wars, hunger and lack of opportunities amongst others are the reasons Africans are running away in numbers out of the continent.

African leaders have no moral authority not to reject the 1.9BN Euros, but accept it for their own selfish interest. The benefits will not trickle down to ordinary Africans feeling the pinch. Instead, this financial reprieve will create other avenues for African leaders to feast in Addis Ababa and fuel corruption. There is no mechanism whatsoever, to demand transparency on how individual nations and citizens are to benefit from his fund. How does this trickle down to affect and change the lives of ordinary Africans? Will this fund usher in a new democratic dispensation in the continent? How will this fund enhance and create citizen space in democratic processes?

At the same time, are our African leaders being honest with their partners? Nkosazana Zuma and her cronies, in their conviction are they truly believing this fund is even closer to resolving challenges related to Africa-Europe migration?

Whilst the positive contribution of aid must be applauded, some African governments are neglecting their roles and obligations. The reality is that aid has not empowered but created dependency syndrome in African states. Ironically, if one observes the bank accounts of leaders in these countries one cannot help wondering what will happen to the 1.9bn Euros.

In conclusion, I argue that Africa does not need aid to solve most of her problems. She needs honesty and sincerity in understanding, articulating and resolving her own challenges.The shameless absence of honesty and sincerity explains why, after many decades of receiving aid we continue believing it will help us deal with migration and other issues. Migration is only a symptom of broader challenges and therefore focusing on it at the expense of addressing the root causes is deceptive.

Ndomafungiro angu!

@Black September 2015

No to vending People's Lives.

By: Retlaw Matatu Matorwa

The ultimatum issued by the Minister of Local Government and National Housing, Ignatius Chombo  to vendors demanding that they vacate the streets of Harare attracted mixed reactions from stakeholders.Interestingly, the Minister resorted to employ the services of the national army to enforce the order. Why not municipal or metropolitan police?

In response, the business fraternity view the sporadic mushrooming of vending throughout the city as a threat to their enterprises. OK Stores pays rent and taxes to local authorities; a vendor comes to the streets selling the same merchandise, cheaper because he does not pay overheads costs. Motorists and pedestrians have their own set of challenges related to parking and overcrowded pavements.Vendors  dared the Minister not to vacate the streets they emphasize their occupation is their only means of survival.Notably,The Zimbabwean economy has  nosedived, unemployment rates are soaring  and reaching ubiquitous levels. 

However,does this justify the presence of  illegal vendors in the city center?

Vending is not peculiar to Zimbabwe, it is an acceptable occupation whose method of selling are recognized and accepted world over.  In developed countries, vending machines are placed at street corners, trains stations and other public places. However, these informal sector enterprises are subject to by-laws and regulations. 

By-laws are designed to ensure public order,environmental, health and safety. More so, regulating products which  befits to be sold on the streets, otherwise there is a risk of illegal products finding way into the public hands. It is illegal in most developed to sell pharmaceuticals in the street corners. This is one example of regulating such products in the interest of the public. Vending must be subjected to rules and regulations. 

For Zimbabwe, the issue of vendors requires careful and constructive thought and therefore civil society, government and all stakeholders MUST be honest in conjuring up a solution! We must learn at all times to substitute emotions with reasoning/ critical analysis.

The level of dishonesty and deception exhibited by stakeholders in handling this issue is alarming. Far from seeking a sustainable solution, interest groups seek an opportunity to advance their political mileage and social relevance. The threat of this matter getting hijacked risk affected parties getting a sustainable, long term and futuristic solution. Vendors must never forget the voice which gave them confidence to move into the city center, is the same voice  controlling the army. 
Civil society and representatives of Vendors accuse authorities of breaching their constitutional rights and civil liberties. To clarify this debate of rights and civil liberties; rule of law is a cornerstone of  any democracy, this entails all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law. The Law must be fairly  applied and enforced; the principle of government by law. Put simply the government, agents and its officials as well as individuals are held accountable under the law. So how can we leave vendors to flout the law under the guise of fundamental rights and freedoms? 

Vendors surely have rights but they come with a  corresponding set of responsibilities. They have the responsibility to respect and operate within the framework of the law. Basic guideline to exercising one’s right entails that; one must not infringe upon the rights of others. Vending in front of another persons business does infringe on the rights of other tax payers? 

Civil society must desist from knee jerk reactions in their commenting of issues. No one has done any research on the challenges associated with lawless vending viz-a-viz organized and orderly vending where vendors are allocated stalls and other social amenities like toilets.
Walking the streets of Harare, waste of different forms is all over the city- does this not pause a health and environmental threat? Businesses have resorted to leaving the city center due to the chaos caused by this unregulated practice, real estate industry is crying foul as a result of reduction of property prices in the capital. The few bona- fide businesses remaining compete with vendors selling the same merchandise. 

To this end, Vendors must take a moment  to reflect. Discourage attempts of their agenda being hijack for political expediency on their clock. It is strategic for them to positively explore possibilities of coming up with a win-win solution through engagement and dialogue with authorities. 

Above all I urge Zimbabweans to take stock of our past experiences; history has taught us that national challenges are usually high jacked for political expediency relegating to spectator status those really affected. Government must resolve this matter with the seriousness, honesty and sincerity it requires. Civil society and opposition political players must be objective and responsible in their utterances- it is not a matter of proving a point- Yes we have challenges as a nation, but we must be left with a dignified understanding of differentiating right and wrong.

That is just my thinking- Mafungiro Angu Zvangu!

Black September (2015)