Nice piece! The real challenges of any African country (as well as
continental Africa) can't be put any better. It is important to dream big,
but it is prudent to think small in our execution - tackle the relatively
and seemingly straight forward issues first. To realise any sustainable
progress and respect, I believe African countries need to work diligently on
making key institutions - such as judiciary, political, financial/economic,
education, etc. - work adequately well. (they do not necessarily need to
work "perfectly").


>From: Thomas Forster <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: (Fwd) AFRICA : THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES  (MOVING INT
>Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 10:56:07 +1200
>
>Africa has always boasted of being the eye of the world (beginning of
>civilization).But flushing out the past-glory ego, we all know that the
>reality of the valley of under-development, disastrous management,
>conflicts, corruption, hopelessness, chaos, poverty, starvation, disease
>and
>bankrupt economies stares us in the face. Some of us are just trying to
>keep
>the lid on (just surviving) and the rest have abondoned all hope.We used to
>boast of strong families,good moral upbringing, proper training for our
>children,strong values and above all, a God-fearing spirit.Today, it is
>very
>evident that African leaders have sold our nations and economies for a
>pittance, gaining nothing from their sale for the African people.But what
>really is the solution to all this mess?
>
>Valley situations represent conditions of dishonour and of the lowest
>standing.Bones signify death, and even worse are very dry bones which are
>scattered.This is the true representation of Africas valley situation which
>has almost all her inhabitants weary, in total frustration and without
>hope.
>
>Africa, the great continent with enormous resources and resourcefulness ,
>has remained faithful on the track of desired development. However, she has
>never seriously paused for a deep reflection and an honest assesment of her
>actual condition. Thus, the continent has not realised that though on the
>track, she has been running in the wrong direction and with the wrong
>rules.The result has been that, she has been moving round the race tracks
>without any finishing line nor measureable results.This has disqualified
>the
>continent from serious development and attaining an honourable place in the
>global move.
>
>As we come to the end of one millenium and entering another, it is about
>time we stopped running through purposeless motions, do a critical
>observation and assesment of ourselves as well as our condition. When we
>look at ourselves, we realise that we are left far behind (very dry bones).
>All that we used to pride ourselves in are not with us today. We have gone
>down so low to such an extent that, even when moving from nation to nation
>on the continent, africans do not want to be identified with nationalities
>on the continent. We are ashamed of being Africans.
>
>There is a very serious question which has been going through our hearts
>and
>minds secretly, and which should be dragged out into the open for serious
>discussion--CAN THESE BONES LIVE?-- Is there any hope of us surviving and
>having an honourable presence in the new millenium? Is there any hope of us
>having our voice heard in the world? Can we ever be noted for anything
>positive and significant? Will the stigma of all the evils associated with
>Africa ever be removed? With all our education, why have we not been able
>to
>transform our continent into a powerful force like other third world
>regions? What can we boast of? Can we ever have the right leadership and
>structures for true stability, investment and serious development? Can our
>judiciary ever be trusted as being autonomous and offering fair judgement?
>Can corruption, starvation, lack of serious productivity, poor family
>structures and the chaotic condition on the continent ever be eradicated?
>Can we ever back our prayers to God, conferences, workshops, seminars,
>sub-regional and regional protocols with serious, concrete action? CAN
>THESE
>BONES LIVE?
>
>African leaders are bewildered when they are asked to explain the reason
>for
>our embarassing and humiliating situation or to suggest a direction for the
>future.The citizenry, who are under the highest disposition of helplessness
>and hopelessness have resigned everything to God Almighty because they have
>been without credible as well as capable leadership for about a third of
>the
>closing century. Most of us are praying to God without following it up with
>concrete, well-planned action. What we have failed to realise is that God
>works in partnership with man and this explains why we have human
>management
>structures on planet earth. If God wanted to do everything for us, there
>would have been no need for leadership on earth. He is the real estate
>owner
>and holds the title-deed to planet earth but he has handed over the
>management contract to man.
>
>For every hopeless situation, there is a solution of hope. But without a
>proper, non-partisan and honest diagnosis of the situation as well as a
>serious price-paying search for answers by every african, we will never
>execute the right prescriptions to bail ourselves out of our catastrophic
>situation.This simply means that in each one of us is the ability to change
>the situation. God has given us the required tools, skills, talents,
>abilities, gifts, brains, wisdom, experience, the dynamic capability to
>change our beloved continent from its catastrophic and totally humiliated
>state to a very powerful base.Africa should be reminded that it is
>resourcefulness, not resources that will determine winners in the new
>millenium. Our focus and confessions should now change from the search for
>resources to the discovery, harnessing and use of resourcefulness.
>
>For change to begin, there must first be the coming together of the
>scattered dry bones which make noise and represent an awakening. We need to
>take serious steps to come together in terms of geographical territory,
>development-oriented groupings, sharing of ideas, concensus building,
>discovering our individual and collective roles as well as purpose in the
>new vision. This would fit ourselves or position ourselves properly in
>readiness for action. The rattling noise, as the very dry bones come
>together, could also represent the fact that we may knock against each
>other
>in the process, tread on each others toes and have disagreements because,
>we
>are all different in personality and have divers backgrounds. This can be
>handled maturely and should not prevent us from moving forward.
>
>After the dry bones come together, they need flesh on them which signifies
>the beefing-up of our coming together through dialogue, putting the right
>structures in place, a change of negative attitudes, a renewal of the mind
>and putting our house in order. Flesh needs skin to protect it from
>external
>dangers and this represents the concretizing of our plans with agreements
>etc. sealed with a covenant of protection from negative infiltration.
>
>Breath is necessary for human existence and life comes from God. Bones,
>flesh and skin need life to make them complete. It is imperative for us to
>put ourselves, continent and plans before God Almighty, cut a covenant with
>him through prayer of one accord, for him to bless our efforts by releasing
>the wind of resurrection power which is the spirit of life. The spirit of
>life will energise us and cause us to rise from the cursed, grave situation
>to conquer all our enemies. Our enemies are not our colonial rulers or the
>developed world, but rather, arrogance, laziness, deprivation,
>unemployment,
>immorality, corruption, wrong economic policy prescriptions, bankrupt
>economies, under-development, indiscipline, lawlessness, self-centredness,
>the get-rich-quick attitude, oppression and all other evil vices. The
>spirit
>of life which releases ressurection power, will cause us to rise up on our
>feet as an unusually large and powerful army which is ready for victory.
>
>I believe, with all my heart, that Africa can be transformed into a major
>service international spot with offshore centres for all kinds of financial
>institutions, captive insurance, resorts, international conferance venues,
>meeting point for major world leaders and events, conflict prevention and
>conflict resolution research/execution centres, international golf
>courses/sports centres, data processing centres (like Jamaica), major
>touristic activities, world-class agricultural projects, world-class
>educational institutions, major recruitment point, a new industrial
>revolution and much more.
>
>It is time for us to rise up as movers and shakers in order to keep at the
>developed worlds pace.Lets not blow this opportunity for there is hope for
>the future of Africa.
>
>AFRICA IS THE VIRGIN TERRITORY OF THE MILLENIUM!
>
>God Bless Africa
>CHARLES SAM
>President
>African Hope International
>
>Kindly pass on this message to every African and media channel on planet
>earth for the greatest explosion.
>
>______________________________________________________
>
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