What is it that we are doing wrong? Or what is it that we are not doing at all? How can there be so many sufferings in the Mother Continent after so many years of struggles, and eventually Independence and Freedom were obtained by the heroes and heroines of our great land of Africa. Like in the 1970's as the Irish were asking 'What can we do?' when the height of their riot season in Northern Ireland arose, the 'Troubles', as it was known. So we too, Africans should ask, 'what can we do?' 

Let's look at Dr. William Nkomo of South Africa, who had been one of the founders and became the first President of the militant African National Congress Youth League, is recorded as to be one of the prominent leaders of our times. He was a spokesmen of the South African 'unusual' group, that visited Northern Ireland. To help the Irish in their struggles. The unusual group included white farmers, ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church and black headmasters. So it was thought that if the Irish were no longer prepared to listen to each other, perhaps they would listen to South Africans. Do South Africans listen to each other now? Do Africans listen to each other perhaps? A story is told about Dr. Nkomo. One day he was driving in his home city, Pretoria. Not realizing that some roads had been rerouted for a civic occasion, he drove the wrong way up one-way street. A white policeman, quite rightly, stopped him, but then began abusing him and finally hit him in the eye. That reminds me of Dr. John Kani as well. Nkomo then took him to court. Just before he was due to leave South Africa for Europe the case came up for trial. The policeman was found guilty but discharged anyway.

Why am I reminding you about this story? Simply because we are still doing the very same thing that were done to us by our oppressors. We even add to the oppression. Here is an example, today in South Africa, and in other African countries as well. A person would kill another, and be arrested, in few days or so they are released, they are free. Not that they were not found guilty, but because they have rights, they are free, they are independent. Are we not saying to them, continue the evil mission? Are we not fueling the fire of cruelty to the nation? Should we not be also charged for not saying anything? Tell me, are we in the right path to success,? To development?

In our societies someone is raped at least every week, but no one gets arrested, if there are, they are released. Very soon than expected. Haven't we taken too much to God? Mustn't we take this to blood? I am not proposing war, hear me well.

I do not only speak on political perspective, but on moral obligations too. I do not just speak of political choices, vital though these are. I think, rather, of how people react in a pressure situation, their motives, compulsions and their aims. These I think, will decide what system evolves.

But where is the world heading to? The Soleimani assassination, of Iran? Is that the relationship we want with other nations? What does it reflect? Mankind's capacity to destroy itself has become a commonplace. In the coming years it is possible that some dedicated or unbalanced guerilla group will get its hands on nuclear weapons and use them regardless of consequences. You have only to shut your eyes as you hear men and women of Southern Africa, and of Africa at large express their honest feelings and you can picture yourself listening to Protestant and Catholic in South Africa Black and White in South Africa. French and English speaking communities of our decent, Australian and Aboriginal and so on and so on. The list is endless. Maybe it will have more effect if put in ancient version, the Jews and the Gentiles, the circumcised and uncircumcised, the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, again, the list goes on. So allow me to say, we face a universal need to rectify the wrong doings.

I am writing this, in a moment of reflection as we begin the year 2020, remembering the giant President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, being reported as saying, '…it preferable for anyone to live in a country ill-run by his own people than well-run by someone else…'. One comprehends his point, but trust me, we would be in a very devastating moment if that would be the only alternative. On the other side, for a white man, there is another dilemma. Which could be the fact that he sees Communism's bid for his country and rejects it. But mere anti-Communism serves the communist purpose.

Many people ask, 'Which way will Africa go?' I am aware that Africa has been through a lot, and that there are developments successfully archived. But Africa is rather confused, there is a crisis in character. I am saying this because, men who were united when they fought for the freedom of their continent and countries have now allowed self-interest to take precedence in their lives. Is that what they were aiming for? Is that what they wanted? Unless we can get an incorruptible type of leader who will not be bought with money, with position, with fame, with success and with promise of other things, then Africa would be doomed. The natural self-interest of great powers adds to this. I think we need a new ideology, the ideology that begins when a man listens to God.

Two thousand years ago, a man called Paul put it nicely, he wrote, "My own behavior baffles me… I often find, I have the will to do good, but not the power. That is, I don't accomplish the good that I set out to do, and the evil that I don't really want to do I find I am always doing… it is an agonizing situations. I thank God there is a way out."

I wish that we come to discussions on what change do we want, what kind of Africa are we building. I am saying a discussion because it may happen that the Africa that I want is the Africa that you don't want. And that will lead to a conflict, and that will lead to another, and another and another. It's time to wake up Africans, it's time to be in the forefront and take our own decisions, that will move Africa forward, that will make the next generation proud of us.