China-Africa Relations - A leech Or A Partner?

The slogan “Africa Rising” has become the drum beat of many African optimist and political opportunist. The rapid growth pace of Africa’s GDP has been touted as a success and hope for a new Africa but what pundits fail to observe is where is this growth coming from and at what price to the ordinary African? This brings me to the new found Sino-African relationship. Many analysts are of the view that this new economic nuptial is a good partnership with Africa and I sarcastically opined; at what price? In life, we don’t get what we deserve but we get what we negotiate for. China like the Europeans before them are only interested in African raw materials to fuel the surge of industrialization taking place in mainland China. Therefore it remains to be an extractionary policy whereby raw materials are extracted out of the continent and brought back as transformed goods to be sold to  Africans whose insatiable appetite for Chinese products are inexhaustible. 

Chinese companies under the banner of the People’s Republic have been signing contracts with African governments to extract natural endowment without recourse to the environment, fiduciary diligence or human rights record. Well as purchasers of African resources, they are not obliged legally to be the moral police for the citizens of Africa whose leaders have often railroaded them as it relates to the public interest in selling off our collective endowments. Our leadership have once again failed us in the dispensation of its duties as it relates to being the custodians of our collective wealth. Natural raw materials are depletable assets therefore proceeds derived from the sale of such assets should be spent on long term fixed assets so that future generations of Africans can benefit from the resources extracted on their behalf. The lesson learned from the Chinese invasion of Africa is that the Africans still have weak institutions and strong leadership and the collective interest of society is yet to be protected. Therefore China’s presence in Africa has done little to change the economic fortunes of the ordinary African citizen or better  yet it has transformed the ordinary African citizen into consumption junkies whose appetite for consumer goods such as cell phones, tablets and flat screens are leaving the continent with a current account deficit which encourages capital out flow as import surges over exports.

I am of the view that trade is good but it has to be fair and mutually beneficial. Therefore our new found arrangement with China has to be revisited ex ante with new condition precedent that implore on them to engage in  value transformation for the raw materials purchased by building factories in Africa. This will ensure sustainable livelihoods for Africa’s lot whose hopes are dashed by empty promises and rhetoric being spewed by our political class. China has bribed its way to the top by building the new African Union Complex in Addis Abbaba therefore most if not all of Africa’s constituents are in the pockets of the Chinese interest. Hence my view of China as an extension of  our former colonial masters. The only difference between the Chinese and the European position is political power. They have no vested interest in how the political dispensation is managed. 

Gambia A Case Of Social Disconnect Guised In Political Immaturity

The social fabric of Gambian society though thin is woven with intricate yarn that often gets tangle as the loom patiently weave it together yarn by yarn. This fabric looks appealing in the eye of the beholder but its composition lacks cohesion and fortitude as an entity.

We often blame politics for our societal woes but the ills that plaque us are deeply rooted within our social sphere. Social cohesion fosters unity of purpose and Gambians as an aggregate do not have a common unity of purpose. The absence of a common social denominator bring to light many nuances that we ascribe to politics but they lack any political confluence. Pre Independence Gambia was made up of the colonials at the apex of the social hierachy and the Creoles/Akus as their surrugate and proxies. The Wollofs acted as conduits/interlocutors between the appointed proxies and the general population. Bulk of todays inhabitants of the Gambia were considered protectorate subjects and limited power was vested on them. The coming of age of the sons of the protectorate brought about the formation of the PPP. The mandinkas were the majority but there were fulas, sarahules and Jolas in their midst. The organizational effectiveness of this new entity upsetted the status quo in Banjul and finally led to a government led by the PPP. The social dynamics shifted as the sons of the protectorate spearheaded the affairs of state. They invited influential wollofs and Akus to be part of the government. This arrangrment diluted the objectives of the protectorate agenda and promoted a special interest agenda. This might not have been by design but it became the order of the day. Fast forward to 1985-87 malfeasance and political decadence gave rise to the likes of Assan Thicks Manneh who was disenchanted with the political dispensation of the time. His sentiments were echoed by the general public and this gave rise to a social divide who saw themselves as social under dogs pegged against the priviledge and entitled. This notion not only gave a stamp of approval to the events of 1994 but entrenched its existence. The heart and soul of the support base of J22/94 is the ordinary citizen whilst the upper crust of society wanted a resumption of the status quo pre J22/94. This notion has spilled into the new mellenium and widening the social divide of the country we all claimed to own. Our social realities are varied and depending on the lenses we looking from, the vision can be blurry for some and clear for others.

Going forward, it is incumbent on all and sundry especially political incumbents and aspirants to help promote and foster a cohesive Gambia whose unity of purpose is the promotion of a common ideal in furtherance of the nation we all claim to love. Peace is not just the absence of war and a nation at peace with itself will love, honor, celebrate, promote and champion the cause of its sons and daughters. Hatred for eachother is clearly manifested in the deep rooted perceptions we have towards each other be it the semester syndrome, rural versus urban, educated versus uneducated, opposition versus incumbent etc. The sooner we collectively realize that the interest of our dearly beloved Gambia is greater than that of an individual or the sum total of the 2 million inhabitants, the better. The sooner we work towards closing the socioeconomic divide, the sooner we build a nation whose fabric is woven on an unbreakable yarn that will never disintegrate nor stretch out of its demarcated parameters.

The jealously, hate, disdain are all anchored on on a rocky social contract that lacks merit and equity as its base. An equitable society breeds sustainable development and sustainable development promotes economic prosperity. Lets purge our minds and hearts in a bid for a lasting national unity were the motto is one for all and all for one. For the Gambia ever true and we MUST pledge our firm allegiance to COUNTRY and honor