Africa has always been a great continent. The only thing that
derails our development is poor leadership. We are a region with talented
youths with innovative minds and our lands are rich in minerals and other raw
materials.
Nigeria is an oil producing country but somehow poverty is a menace.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in minerals but somehow its citizens are
wallowing in poverty with endless war tearing apart the country. Kenyans are hardworking
people but corruption is costing us our development.
When Covid-19 was declared a global pandemic, Europe and the
US were experiencing alarming death tolls. The virus has killed thousands of
people and it continues to unless a cure or helpful treatment is discovered.
Health systems in the developed countries are struggling with
overwhelming numbers of Coronavirus infections. With the virus penetrating into
local communities in various cities in Africa, the world is worried about the
continent having more infected people, which will be a disaster considering the
poor health systems in Africa.
It has reached a point where every country has to help its
own people because every government is struggling. Some time back, the US was accused
of diverting cargo meant for another country due to the shortage of masks and
other personal protective equipment.
Nevertheless, despite Africa being a disadvantaged continue thanks
to poor leadership, there are positive things to point out following the outbreak
of the virus that has caused thousands of deaths.
It is obvious that Africa has the minds and capacity to improve
the tough life its citizens are experiencing. Madagascar has discovered a tea they
claim might help manage Covid-19, although more scientific research is required
about it and the WHO has said the tea is not a cure for the virus. Nevertheless,
it is an effort.
Kenyatta University students invented ventilators to help
reduce the shortage of the equipment in Kenya. The Kikotec company in Kitui is
doing mass production of masks and PPE’s for the country. The Cabinet Secretary
for Interior Fred Matiang’i says police overalls will no longer be imported but
will instead be made locally.
Safaricom announced making profits from data services and
M-Pesa a the government encourages Kenyans to work from home and maintain a
social distance. A tailor in Kibra started making cloth masks and distributing
them for free to many people who could not afford them. Children have invented
hand-washing tools considering running water is not a privilege for every
Kenyan.
These are a few of the things happening in Kenya, which show
that Africa can do well with minimal help from the developed countries. We have
the resources, the manpower, and brilliant minds to invent the technology we
need to push ahead.
It is high time Africa started investing in its own people, manufacturing
more items locally, and collaborating to boost development. Just because some countries
developed before us does not mean we should remain where we are. They are not
any better than we are. We need to have the yearning to do better and live
better lives.
It all starts with electing the right people for political
positions. We have a long way to go but we can do it if we believe in ourselves
and stop relying on western countries to help us with everything. We can do
better and even compete with developed countries. They are not better than we
are.
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