It Starts with Respect

The nations patch worked across the vast continent of Africa each have their place. Benjamin Franklin aptly said, "A place for everything, everything in its place." The nations which make up the African continent do indeed have their place, but often things in the countries may not be in place. This displacement breeds problems. A person, nation or thing in its rightful place brings about a sense of security, serenity and stability.

Within any nation there are certain key elements that must be in place for that nation to feel secure, serene or stable. The first element necessary for the security of a nation is the citizens sense of safety from violence. A second element fastened in place and certain to bring serenity is the promise of medical care for all in need. A third and final element nailed into the structure of stability is integrity amongst the leaders.

In Africa, the practice of showing respect is very important. The younger generation must acknowledge the presence of their elders when they pass them on the street, whether they know them or not. They must listen to the advice given, whether they think that advice is good or not. Greeting is a form of respect and is an important part of the African way of life. Emmanuel from Zambia sent in his view on greetings to the Why I love Africa BBC forum:

"One day my Mum sat me down and told me the importance of greeting. She told me that 'true greatness doesn't lie so much in what one achieves as in how thoughtful you are of others. You owe each person you meet a greeting,' she said. 'Every person is entitled to a place in the heart of your hearts.'In Africa, small things such as saying hello or not really do matter and that's what has held us together as one"


When this integral part of the African way of life is in place, then there is a safety net against the fear of harm or violence. Unfortunately, this safety net has developed a series of holes as tribes have risen up against tribes, as in the case of Rwanda and the mass slaughter of the local tribe of Tutsis people. In Rwanda in 1994, two extremist militia groups comprised of people from the Hutu tribe attempted to wipe out the Tutsis tribe and also any Hutu tribal people who were sympathizing with them. Wikipedia’s reference to the Rwandan Genocide sheds reveals how the hundreds and thousands of the Hutu people responsible for the killings fled over into Congo. They helped to fuel the first and second Congo wars. If the respect for others had remained in place the tales of bloodshed would not have to be told.

Ruthless leaders rising up to exploit their countrymen rather than show them the respect they are due have led to the further crumbling of people’s security. Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is an example of an African leader who refuses to acknowledge the respect so ingrained in his culture. The recent beating he ordered to be inflicted upon Zimbabweans opposing his dictatorial rule, in particular to the leader of the opposition party Morgan Tsvangirai, prove his total lack of respect for his countrymen and their traditions. How can a person feel safe if they never know when they will be tortured with electric shocks? How can a person feel safe if they think that the next time they go out on the street they will be raped? How can a person feel safe in a society that encourages their citizens to report on each other? People are no longer important, but rather are shoved aside by political agendas and racial programs. People lose their place and this shifts the very foundation of security.

Keith B. Richburg said in his book Out of America: A Black Man Confronts Africa, “Africa’s children are the most likely on earth to die before the age of five. Its adults are least likely to live beyond the age of fifty. Africans are, on average, more malnourished, less educated, and more likely to be infected by fatal diseases than the inhabitants of any other place.” How can a person feel at peace when plagued by sickness and death? If proper medical facilities were available the situation would be different. A doctor friend of mine in Ghana once told me, “If you ever get sick buy yourself a ticket on the first plane out of here!” That advice was fine for me, but what about the thousands of people who can’t afford to purchase a ticket out of Africa?

People often romanticize death. There is nothing romantic about sitting next to a patient dying of kidney failure. It is especially gruesome when the biggest hospital in the country has only two dialysis machines available, and treatment will cost a patient over US$ 2,500 every month. On an average month income of between US$100 and US$150 there is no peace of mind for the patient needing to use one of those machines. The treatment is simply not affordable, so the only option faced is certain death.

Some of the African nations are putting national health insurance programs into action. These programs are a start on the road towards serenity. There is much more that would need to be done before things are in proper balance. Beyond the necessity of making sure that medical treatment is affordable there must be enough medications available and sufficient salaries paid to vital medical personnel. In Zimbabwe there is no medicine, no vaccines and no anesthetic. Last week a little girl went to hospital with a broken leg. It was amputated after she developed gangrene because there was no disinfectant to keep the hospital clean. No doctor or nurse, no matter how passionately committed to their work he or she may be, will be able to work under adverse conditions. The doctors are disheartened, and faced with those conditions and a monthly salary of just US$50 who can blame them? Unfortunately, while I was in Ghana a hospital clerk turned me away with a fatally ill patient because the doctors were on strike. Hearing the medical staff are on strike while holding a dying child in one’s arms does little for one’s peace of mind.

Finally, integrity must be in place for everything else not to collapse. A nation whose leaders lack integrity is an unstable nation. Corruption permeates a society and creates imbalance. A July 6th 2005 report in the International Herald Tribune stated, “Corruption has not only robbed Africa of money to help lift some of the world's poorest people out of poverty. Around the world, it also stalls economic development and tarnishes people's faith in government and, often, democracy.” Leaders and officials who continue to allow corruption are doing a great disservice to their countries. In the Africa issue of Vanity Fair magazine it reports that in the last 50 years US$500 Billion in aid money has been diverted into corrupt leaders and officials’ pockets.

Despite the appalling signs of corruption there are a few glimmers of light. The July 10th 2007 BBC business report stated that Africa’s corruption is actually on the decline. The report stated that from 1996 to 2006, in comparison to other countries around the world, Africa has shown the greatest improvement as far as lowering their corruption level. If Africa can continue in this positive direction, it will promote more investment opportunities which will filter down to the rest of the population.

Africa is a beautiful continent: from the vast Saharan desert down around the coasts lined with gold and through the diamond laden nations, right down to the tip of Aghulas. In order for the people of Africa to continue to enjoy the bounty of their continent they must strive to have “a place for everything, everything in its place.”

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