The Zairean Tragedy: A Lesson For Africa

Prof. Bedford Nwabueze Umez

I was moved to tears while watching the CNN evening news (Nov. 6, 1996) about the killings, the starvation, malnutrition, diseases and death tolls in Goma, eastern Zaire. As I was watching these atrocities -- akin to the ones in Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan -- being committed by these Africans against their fellow Africans, I was also considering a general rise in unemployment, closure of schools, increasing hunger and starvation of civil servants, galloping inflation, mass exodus of youths, and shameless lack of consideration for others in Nigeria. While brooding over these brutal facts (amidst the thought that Mobutu is now enjoying his huge mansion in southern France, following his treatment for cancer in one of the best hospitals in Switzerland -- a hospital built and equipped directly or indirectly with the money stolen from the people of Zaire, and many other African countries), I was equally asking myself series of questions:

What is going on in Africa? Who will save Africa? Why is it that most African leaders (like Mobutu) have huge bank accounts in foreign countries such as Switzerland and France, live in extravagant mansions (with gold bathtubs, like that of Mobutu shown to the whole world in the same CNN evening news of Nov. 6, 1996), while their OWN African people are dying of hunger, diseases of all kinds, and malnutrition? Why are these Mobutu-like leaders of Africa so MINDLESS, RUTHLESS, SAVAGE, DEADLY and downright STUPID? Why should they use their nations’ funds to buy guns and bombs (from the West) just to kill their own people, and use the rest to build safe-havens abroad, while none is invested in their economies? Are these people (we call leaders) really sane human beings, or are they simply sadists deriving enormous joy by inflicting acute, painful and chronic wounds on their own people?

My fellow Africans, while the above disturbing questions may seem difficult to answer, there is, in my view, a simple solution to them, namely, TRUE EDUCATION. As I have said before (and will continue to say until our ills are adequately addressed), Africa must be ruled by TRULY educated Africans: those who are not driven by meaningless and senseless titles, and extravagant display of ill-gotten wealth, but by humility and service to their own people; those who cannot stand the shame of seeing their own people being leaked to death by flies while they are having parties and enjoying life; those whose visions and missions go far beyond their narrow, selfish interests, and self aggrandizement; and those with common sense to understand that Africans are ONE all over the world, and that what is destroying and tearing Africa (and Africans) apart is mostly Mobutu-like mentality of "charity begins abroad," and the general lack of patriotism. Africa is overdue for the captainship of TRULY educated men and women.

I am therefore appealing to all Africans -- African leaders, African elite, and ordinary citizens of Africa -- to understand that Africa needs REAL educated men and women. We must start practicing charity begins at home, not charity begins abroad. That is what others (of the nations we call "developed") are doing; we should not be different. Our education should no longer be defined by nominal degrees and titles, but by the substance of what we do for Africa. Our education should no longer be controlled by colonial mentality, inferiority complex, and ethnic patriotism. We must say NO to those (of us) who are building (and developing) other people’s homes while we have no home. Africans must work together and help one another build and develop the continent of Africa. Africa deserves the best in us, namely, our common sense, our commitment, our vision, our patriotism, and hence, our REAL education. May God bless Africa with men of decency and common sense.
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*Note: Dr. Umez is a Professor of Government, Lee College, Baytown, Texas, and University of Phoenix, Houston Campus.  He is the founder of Liberating the African mind, LAM, and Nigerian Leadership Council, NLC. His latest books include, Nigeria: Real Problems, Real Solutions, "Educated" to Feel Inferior, The Tragedy of a Value System in Nigeria: Theories and Solutions, and Your Excellency. These books can be assessed from his web site, www.umez.com or www.lee.edu/~bumez. His contacts are listed below: