By Lello Mmassy
There is no universal definition of anything, that is
the fact. Every society define things according to its culture, traditions and
background to fit it. It is the society itself that may agree to import a
certain definition from other society to define their things. However the issue
of importing definition is questionable as who has the legal or moral authority
of importing a certain definition from other society so as to be used within
its society.
For decades now, education system has been used as a
tool of defining things universally. That it is agreed if it is taught that for
example democracy is the system that power is vested in the people then it has
to be that way. There are other so many definitions of things spread by
education system. Now, it depends which education system you follow it is how
you will define things.
For the past three to four decades now African leaders
have tried to re-define things according to what suits them. Some of the things
they tried to re-define are democracy and development. They are quite different
from the definitions we used to know from what we have been taught. They came
up with their own definitions and perspectives. They are trying to make them
understood and followed. Well, it is a good approach as they are trying to
emancipate themselves from imported definitions but unfortunately they
don’t fit and being accepted with their
societies as they are too selfish forms of definitions.
Starting with democracy they shifted the meaning from
power vested in people to power vested in themselves. They are the one who
decide what to do and how to do it, when to call for elections and how to do
it. They decide how long to stay in power and when they decide to live whom
relative to hand over power to. They decide which media to ban out, which news
to broadcast, how many times to amend the constitution and so many other
things which pleases themselves. The are promoting tribes and social conflicts
so as when people are in conflicts they get an opportunity to rule. That is the
meaning of democracy they decided their society to implement.
With no fear African leaders has decided to convince
their societies that the so called western democracy is sinful, unwanted and do
not fit for our continent. That we as Africans we should not allow ourselves to
be enslaved by western definitions of things rather we should define things for
ourselves. That is good but do those definitions for decades now harvest any
good?. How many opposition leaders have been killed, exiled or jailed so as to
preserve the so called African democracy?,how many times do African presidents
forceful interrupt judiciary system or parliament to comply with their demands?,
how many Africans have been marginalized by the name of African democracy?, is
this the definition of democracy we as Africans want?.
Moreover, the issue of development has also been re-defined.
From the process of improving life standards of people to economic growth based
on numbers. It is not surprisingly to be told that we have grow economically by
6% or 7% but at the same time so many people die because of hunger, poor health
services, lack of pure and clean drinking water, illiteracy, lack of shelter
and so many other problems.
In their meetings they proclaim growth growth growth
but with no tangible things to their citizen. They define development as the
ability to accumulate wealth for their families and siblings, as who have
strong army, who has more foreign investors and so on and so on. That is their
new way of defining development and they are proud of it, so proud.
It is not surprisingly to see the president’s family
own almost half of the country’s economy and when asked give the simplest
answer “who do you want to own it?”.When we don’t have access for education
their children are in abroad studying and so many other inequality things.
Then, we as Africans we should sit and ask ourselves
if at all this is the definitions we wanted, that which definition is better
the so called western or the so called African. Are we ready to tolerate this
type of definitions simply because they are our leaders’? or we should say no and continue using the so
called western definition?. What should we do if we say no?, that is probably
the big debate Africans should start to discuss before its too late.
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