By Dr. David Matsanga in United Kingdom
I write this article with tears in my eyes as I see Africa going back to days of recolonization through neo-colonial agencies. My tears make me bold to help Africa. I write based on my own country Uganda and give comparative analysis of why we must communicate instead of violence. There is a difference between types of political science-communication is always a key to salvation.
I will first look at the obstacle that kills Africa- lack of unity. Conventional wisdom dictates that Nkrumah was right in calling for Africa’s Political Unity.
Of course, the results of our refusal to unite in 1963 as Africans are now being felt 61 years past. All our states are fragile and we must be bold and educate the young generation across Africa.
Our failure to communicate is turning into a political disaster and humiliation for almost all Africa countries. In my country Uganda the opposition communicates more with outsiders than with the voters. In Nigeria for example the government is clueless on what communication is with its people. The killing in these states in Africa worry me.
The events in the South African elections tell a story of lack of political unity despite the free and fair elections that were conducted. It brings me to the truth that our founding fathers refused to listen to Nkrumah.
Nkrumah had good reasons for calling out Africa to get political unity before economic integration -we should have fought the Brentwood institutions as united people.
Why do I agree with Nkrumah? First, I agree with Nkrumah in identifying the need for political unity before economic order because if we had United we would speak with one voice
Our AU or AUC have been captured and we are never United. Second, Nkrumah was hamstrung by a seemingly unrelated issue of future strings of Brentwood’s agencies on Africa -He was right
Truth be told that his call for unity was mistaken and USA called him a communist CIA planned the first coup in Africa in 1965. Nkrumah died in exile without seeing that unity.
Another son of Africa who talked about political unity was the late Gadaffi who died in the hands of French President Sarkozy. What is killing Africa today is the lack of political Unity to speak with one voice.
I want to bring to my African people that even in the Bible or the Koran -taxation was a challenge to the followers. God Himself knows why he brought taxation. Most empires collapsed in Europe because of Taxation.
I mention this because tax locks – that is, pledges not to raise specific taxes or to lower specific taxes – are nothing new. So, my people of Africa don’t destroy your countries because of taxation- it is written in the Bible &the Koran.
I will prove my point to those who doubt my words that in Mark 12:17 Jesus’ was asked about taxes response is: ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. ‘ As Christians we cannot cut ourselves off from the affairs of the world, but we should never compromise our beliefs and values.
Africa, must change its course like China changed its course 40 years ago. China was sharing with us rice from our country to feed its people. But they did not wait to store up problems for the future by constraining the choices made available to the next people.
I did not study economics but I follow what the Institute for Fiscal Studies does in London, when it comes to tax locks all African countries fail. They don’t give enough bold education on the matter. There is no place on earth where one is not taxed.
I am frank and as a volunteer tell the truth that the main problem of being complicit in a “conspiracy of silence” by some governments or officials of governments in Africa on their spending plans,
consequently, creates a “knowledge vacuum”. That is where chaos comes in -Let us learn to dialogue on issues that we don’t in our countries.
I don’t have want to “poison the political debate” by claiming to have radical ideas “which can realistically make a positive difference, No! But I want to say we must dialogue and find ways to some of the issues that might be wholly unattainable”.
Fellow Africans I might be wrong but all I can tell you is that Nkrumah was right about lack of political unity in Africa -Therefore there is no government in Africa and the world that will not increase taxes. As Ugandans we must prepare like the economist Paul Krugman said, politics isn’t a morality play. Virtue isn’t rewarded and vice punished. Don’t destroy your countries.
The writer is a Pan Africanist based in London, Political scientist & International Relations expert, studied conflict Resolution, a member of Royal African Society (RAS) Founder /Chairman Pan African Forum (UK)Ltd @MatsangaDr
