Surely some revelation is at hand

I 'met' William Butler Yeats for the first time in a Literature in English class at Gaborone Senior Secondary School. The year was 2006. Poetry and I had known each other before then but it was only on this year that we would fall in love. I remember an exam question that asked that we select a poem to recite and explain in detail, 'The Second Coming' was my poem of choice and it gained me most of my marks. In hindsight, I doubt my young mind really understood what the poem was really about. 

When I read it again two weeks ago, the world was not in a good space. I was not in a good space. I was in deep thought about Gaza, about Africa and what had happened to the 200 Nigerian girls. I was in deep thought about the future of Africa and whether we will ever find a way out of colonialism. Mr Gomolemo Motswaledi had just passed away in a car accident and I was deeply concerned about the future of Botswana. I felt as if all was falling apart and this poem was just a perfect description of that.

Two years ago, I had the opportunity of listening to President Thabo Mbeki give an address at the University of Western Cape. He opened his address with this poem, it was then that I began making sense of it. I believe that was the first time I got to fully appreciate this poem, especially in the African context.

    The Second Coming

    Turning and turning in the widening gyre
    The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
    Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
    The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
    The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
    The best lack all conviction, while the worst
    Are full of passionate intensity.

    Surely some revelation is at hand;
    Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
    The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
    When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
    Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
    A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
    A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
    Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
    Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.

    The darkness drops again but now I know
    That twenty centuries of stony sleep
    Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
    And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
    Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

I do not know YET

I find myself in a space where I am asking (myself) a lot of questions but not getting any answers. It is such an uncomfortable, but necessary, process to go through. On the broader spectrum (of life), I am referring to a variety of reading material and consulting with a number of Teachers, something that can in itself result in confusion. One of these profound Teachers has advised that I enjoy the questions, another has advised that I not mind the friction for that's the only mode of polishing matter. I believe the Universe to be so divine that once a question is asked, an answer definitely follows. I believe the answers will come. Here are my most dominant questions.

On Reconciliation.

Last week I attended a round-table discussion at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) where the topic of discussion was "Is it time to forgive?" Given its complexity, many of the comments and questions deviated from the topic. I believe it to be complex as it is a multi-layered question, its components being more complex questions. This was (and is) my question: "what is reconciliation?" Given that the name of the institute is IJR and that we were speaking on a matter that directly feeds into the 'reconciliation' process, I really want to understand what this term means. Exactly what are we, as a South African society, trying to reconcile? I believe reconciliation to be a process of bringing together that which once was one? If at all our mandate is to bring together the blacks and whites of our community, should we then not consider whether they were one to begin with. A study of history will show that our people were never one. Black people have been the object of oppression from the very moment Jan Van Riebeeck arrived in the Cape in 1652. Is 'reconciliation' then the right term to use? Has the IJR been correctly named? Has the Institute at the University of the Free State been correctly named? A term offered at a 'reconciliation' workshop I recently attended was 'nation building'. The guest speaker offered that since we have never been one, then maybe we should busy ourselves with the business of building a nation from scratch. Were we to decide on this route, where would we start? In a country with a very diverse population of approximately 51 million with 11 official languages, where do we begin and how do we go about it? Who do we consult about this process? Do we have able leadership to facilitate such a process? Are we even ready for such a process?

On youth education and employment

I choose to call it 'youth employment' so as to affirm that which I want to see in our communities. For a long time, I have advocated for quality education as a tool for poverty alleviation. For me, education is not a mere attainment of a degree, it is rather a process of learning that leads to the attainment of a degree and an ability to actively engage in a democratic society. I believe education to be the one tool that can break the many chains of (different forms) of poverty in our communities, both black and coloured. I now find myself faced with another question, the first having been "how do we empower our youth and communities?" I'm in a space where I know and see that education alone is not enough, it is necessary but not enough. Once educated, what will happen to our youth? Do they then go about looking for jobs? What if they cannot find jobs? Why should they look for jobs? Is it the only thing that they can do? Has the education system equipped them with the skills to do more than looking for a job? Having emphasised the need for education so much, what will be the next step? What opportunities or initiatives are we going to create to ensure that our youth can engage in meaningful activity? In the case of Botswana, what happens when the two years of internship (that follow after university) come to an end? What then happens to the millions of youth than now sit in departments which in most cases are not relevant to what they studied for? What is it going to take for us to start thinking beyond 'job hunting'? Isn't there more?

London, Anger and the G8 Youth Summit

Just little over a year ago, I had the great opportunity of attending the G8 Youth Summit in United Kingdom. It was such an exciting time for me given what I wanted (and still want) to do with my life. I felt (and still believe) that the experience came just at the right time. The opportunity provided just the right conversations and just the right ‘friction’ to aid my growth. But before we go there, I need to tell you about the anger that I felt upon my return. I sometimes laugh at myself though! I mean, who goes to LONDON only to come back filled with emotions of rage!?

                                            

The trip to London was a smooth one, 14 hours of air travel if I remember correctly. I arrived just a little late for registration but was able to connect with the African Union and South African teams. The following few days would be filled with debates and negotiations about what we felt what the ideal way forward for the world. I found myself in the company of close to a hundred youth who had been sponsored because of their passion to make a difference, or so I thought.

This is what made me angry:

1. The whole thing; the debates, the negotiations, it felt like a simulation. In the previous article, I mention how I thought the summit would be of little consequence; this was in relation to this. Thing is I'd gone to that summit thinking I was going to take part in debates that would definitely impact change in the lives of many. After day one, I felt so discouraged. I felt we were only doing it for the sake of doing it, so we may have it on our CV's and so the world community may mark it done. I felt like we were working towards a document that the 'elders' would not even make time to read. Yes, we got to network and we learned a lot from each other, but I did not believe we would meet what I thought to be the real objectives of the summit; create a path for positive, sustainable change.

The Summit's Sherpas

2. The majority of the discussions were about Africa and it made me sad that these had to be discussed on foreign land with the majority of negotiators being non-African. It made me so angry to have people who had probably only heard about Africa on CNN or BBC attempt to map a way forward for Africa!! And this was only a ‘simulation’. I can only imagine what goes on in the 'real' G8 summits. I'm now reminded of the meeting that took place in FRANCE to discuss the fate of the 200 Nigerian girls earlier this year!! It makes me sad and very angry that Africa doesn't have much of a say in the running of her affairs.

3. I think it was on the first day when I learned that some countries, European countries, had paid their youth to take part in the summit. It had to be youth with experience in diplomacy, international relations and so forth. That's why the summit felt of little relevance and impact. It felt like a show, just something to tick off. I mean, were we not supposed to select youth based on merit and passion for global development? Were we not supposed to select youth that would critically engage to come up with recommendations for their governments? My expectations had been that that building in Greenwich University would be filled with youth ready to stand up to their governments on matters of national and global interest. Instead we had youth who feared to make policy recommendations not matching those of their governments. My expectation had been of a discussion on ways of holding our governments accountable and demanding able leadership and responsibility.

A picture with Big Ben

Getting back to Africa after a week in London was difficult. I now had to face friends and acquaintances who wanted to know about the London experience. It was difficult because people didn't really want to know how it was, they didn't want to know the truth. Most people only wanted to hear about all the touristy activities and whether I'd met Big Ben. I couldn't tell them all that I have written above. I felt a little depressed after London. One of my friends actually told me that my happy had diminished. I wish I had trusted him enough to tell him all was not well inside of me. I get the same question about Cape Town. I've struggled to settle here, but I'm able to tell the truth, even though not always.

I feel better now, about London. Writing forces me to engage in critical self-conversations, writing makes it better.

Afrique Affair

About a year ago, while applying for a scholarship, I was asked to write about “LEADERSHIP: A personal experience or an aspiration” where I had to describe a specific activity or organization, mine or another’s, in which I had been directly involved as an activist or leader. In 400 words, I had to outline the challenges I had faced, how I had resolved them and what I learnt about myself in the process. I was still a member of the SRC (Student Representative Council) of the University of the Free State (UFS) at the time so the SRC experience seemed most appropriate and relevant to write about. I struggled though, for about a week I could not put my ideas together, the essay required honesty but, most of the information I had to be honest about was still ‘classified’. The major challenge for me was that I could not share everything while still in SRC office and while still at the UFS. I also realized that I had not yet reconciled with the experience and with myself to be able to write about it. So on the very last day, six hours before the deadline, I decided to change my topic and by midnight I submitted the article below. 

After a rigorous selection process I was chosen to represent Africa at the G8 Youth Summit of June 2013 in London. My role in the African Union delegation was that of a Sherpa, to act as a go-between the Head of Government and the five Ministerial portfolios; and between our delegation and other delegations.

A Sherpa has no agenda points, this meant that only my colleagues would write and submit position papers. During the summit, I would realize that I too wanted to take part in the negotiations, I felt left out of the conversations of global change. I would also observe as delegations kept to their respective clusters and how many would give their governments’ existing initiatives as their positions. The summit was a platform for the youth to share their intentions for the world and hold governments accountable. I felt this goal was not being met. I would also observe that many delegates had very limited knowledge about Africa. This was a huge challenge as many delegations found it difficult to comprehend our positions on various topics such as the political climate in African states.  I harboured sentiments of the summit being of little relevance as no government was required to read our communiqué. I felt defeated, that my contribution would not have an impact in the global discourse.

Two days into the summit, I would realize the importance and need for the Sherpa role. I directly supported the Head of Government and my Ministers, and this was not to be taken for granted. We, the AU delegation, then approached other delegations and shared in detail on who Africa is. Delegations such as Japan understood Africa and supported us. A colleague and I approached Italy, China and other delegations and encouraged them to share their own views of the world as opposed to those of their governments. Upon my return, I would realize how limited my knowledge of Africa was. This has inspired me to research, read more and to ask more questions.

The experience has made me appreciate the power that I have as an agent of change. It has shown me that I can inspire and impact change, that I do have it in me to live out my principle of leading by service. I have since resolved to invest myself in Africa and fight the brain-drain that has had a negative impact on Africa’s development.

I could only write so much in the space that I had been awarded. I want to write more about this experience, so as to reconcile with it (having initially wanted to run away) and to also aid reconciliation with myself. Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world has not been an easy one, that very fact results in my having a complex relationship with the rest of the world, a relationship I am yet to understand and define. I find myself asking a lot of questions about these two relationships and I hope that through writing I will find my answers.

“Life is too short to be wasted in finding answers. Enjoy the questions!” – Paulo Coelho

Brain Drain: Do I stay or go back?

Brain drain (in the African context) is a matter very close to my heart. When used, it is often in that context, of Africa losing skills and expertise to other continents. In this blog post, I wish to focus on the loss incurred by African states to other African states. This form of brain-drain has rarely been the subject of discussion as I converse with friends and family. A few days ago, I had one of these conversations with a very close friend. The conversation had been sparked by an article on the South African critical skills list that has been released to the public following the amendment of the state’s immigration act. It seems the government will be making it more difficult for non-nationals to find employment in South Africa, and I believe this would be expected for any government that wants higher employment rates for its citizens.

The article got me questioning what my position was on the loss of skills and expertise by African states to one another. Specifically, it got me questioning what my stance was regarding the loss that Botswana is facing as thousands of its sponsored graduates fail to come back home. Most importantly I asked whether my future plans would exacerbate or curb this disturbing phenomenon. Like any Motswana studying away from home I find myself having to make a choice of whether I will be staying in my adopted country or going back home. For me, the initial plan had been to get my first degree and go back home. But I am still in South Africa, two years after the attainment of that degree, with hopes of working for some of her leading organizations.

The plan, as stated, seems like a very solid one. Many of my friends and family have suggested that I stay here, for better pay and greater opportunities. But, I find myself painfully torn between serving my home country and attaining some of these personal aspirations. As plans changed over the years I decided that I would work here for a few years and eventually go back home. I thought (and still think) that it makes little sense for me to go back home without any experience from some of Africa’s biggest organizations. It would possibly serve my country better were I to first learn from these organizations and impart the knowledge and skills attained upon returning home. Such a plan seems more sensible for it ensures service to my country and the realization of my personal aspirations (whatever these maybe). But, exactly how does one measure ‘a few years’. It does sound fair for one to propose such but before I know it I might just find myself driving kids to school, with a growing family and investments, and without an option of going back home.

I always try to bear in mind that this is a Choice-point that not only I will reach. Thousands of other Batswana students studying abroad will also reach this point and, sadly, many of us are choosing not to go back. These are the very graduates that the economy so desperately needs for growth and job creation for a reduction in youth unemployment. These are minds that organizations need for turnaround strategies. These are hearts needed for initiatives and innovations required for development. Yes, South Africa and the rest of the world are doing great, but how will Botswana get to that stage if I am not willing to create the platform for ‘great’? Who is going to create the opportunities that have got me wanting to stay in South Africa if I am not willing to go back? And, who better to create these opportunities if not the person who has been exposed to them?

I feel like I should want to stay. I feel like I should want to stay just for a little while. But, would I be willing to go back after this little while of possibly starting a family and building a successful career with an income bigger than anything I could be offered at home? And, what would this decision mean for the development of my home country?

Polling station exchanges

Election Day has come and gone, and all will be going back to ‘normal’ soon. All will be going back to citizens hoping and waiting for things to get better while politicians continue with their internal party battles and court cases.

Election Day was just another day of work in my world. Having been declared a national holiday, it only presented an opportunity for me to continue work on my programming assignment without worrying about class. I was still in bed when she got back home; having had been too lazy to get up to work on the assignment. A few minutes later, I was sitting on one of the bean-bags in her room, glad in pyjama pants and a t-shirt, eager to hear all about her experience. My housemate, Robin*, had just cast her very first vote as a South African citizen. She and South Africa’s ‘born free’ generation (who I believe are yet to be born) had just cast a vote for the very first time. That morning, she had left the house unsure of her vote only to have her vote decided by the polling station.

Robin, a third year Fine Art student, is a very well informed young person. Prior to the elections, she had done extensive research on the different parties with a presence in the Western Cape and she had eventually decided to focus her research on the ANC (African National Congress), DA (Democratic Alliance) and AGANG SA. We usually convene in the kitchen to discuss such matters, so on one evening we convened by the kitchen sink and she shared the findings of her research. Varsity, the campus newspaper at UCT (University of Cape Town) had also done a feature on the national elections and she had in hand the pages on which the party manifestos had been printed. Even with all this research she had still been unsure of which party to vote for. As a side thought, I wondered how many of us were (and are) willing to do research on our political parties and leaders so we can make informed decisions.

At this juncture, I must share that I find it rather ‘unsettling’ to have to vote for a party, as is the case in South Africa, instead of voting for an individual, as is the case in Botswana. I believe in being given an opportunity to vote for a competent individual to be my voice in government. Having been awarded this opportunity as Batswana, I find it sad that we continue to vote for parties. Anyway, upon arrival at the polling station Robin presented her Identity document to a member of staff of the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission). This member of staff was a Xhosa speaking lady and she made an error in assuming that Robin was also Xhosa. This is an assumption that had taken deep root here in the Western Cape. Upon presenting her Afrikaans surname and pronouncing her inability to speak Xhosa, Robin was given a sneer for a response and a minor gossip later ensued about just how coloured she was. We could each infer differently about Robin’s case, but she felt discriminated against by a fellow black person for not being 'black enough'. With this, her national vote had been decided. She decided not to vote for the ANC because she believes that after 20 years of democracy we should have bridged the gap between the black and coloured people of South Africa. She believes we are one people. It disturbs her how when speaking of poor people we only mention black people; forgetting about the millions of coloureds who struggle to make ends meet. She cited examples within her home town, Kimberly, where preference is given to black people by the ANC, with better investments being made in black settlements. Her vote was for the DA.

While in the queue to casting her vote, from behind her, a male voice expressed its gladness in having her present at that polling station and how things had really changes now that apartheid was over. It was only at that moment that Robin realised she was the only black person standing in the queue. The other black people present at the polling that morning were the security guards and the IEC staff members. She then expressed her understanding of why she was the only black person on the queue. Gardens, the area we live in, is a very white area, being close to Table Mountain and all. One finds that the closer they get to the mountain the more white the community becomes. It dawned on her that “Capetonian ‘liberals’ are racist and classist”. With that, her provincial vote had been decided. Here vote went to AGANG SA because she wants some change in the Western Cape, a change that will enable all to benefit. This reminded me of an article I had read a week earlier in the The Guardian (UK) about the pronounced social injustices of Cape Town.

I don’t know if I would have voted had I been South African. Had I voted though, it would have been for the DA at national level. I would have voted for the DA because I believe in the potential of the ANC as a party for the people. My vote would have been to serve as a wake-up call for the ANC and to have our party leaders up their game in serving the needs of the people. The ANC has gotten really comfortable in power, even the party leader believes they are invincible with statements such as “ANC will rule till Jesus comes”. It would have been to serve as a reminder to the ANC that they are not our only option, we believe in the ANC but we also have the power to make a different choice should our needs not be catered for. My provincial vote is undecided but I suspect I would have voted either for AGANG SA or for the DA. 

* Not her real name.

The Citizen and Freedom

Exactly a week ago I sat with other African youth in a panel discussion of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund to debunk “the myth that freedom is free”. This took place a day after Freedom Day, April 27^th; an annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994.

2014 is election year for both South Africa and Botswana; my thoughts were therefore more inclined towards elections and specifically to the role of the citizen during this election period. I believe it is vital that each one of us exercises their right to vote, but voting alone does not count much if it is not followed by effective active citizenry. Voting alone is not enough if after elections citizens do not take initiative to find out where the offices of their representatives are located and continuously communicate their needs and take necessary action to ensure they are met. It is not enough if we do not demand accountability and consultation from the individuals voted to represent us in government.

Many of us have chosen to be subjects in democratic states instead of accepting the responsibilities that come with such a freedom. When will we take initiative to understand the systems of our democratic society? When will we find it necessary to go through our national constitution and actually understand what our rights are? We are making it very impossible to be effectively governed. Ignorance has ceased to be bliss, especially when our democracy and freedom are being threatened by leadership that has lost its moral compass. How many have visited the national assembly, just to see what it looks like? How many have actually sat in a parliamentary/provincial/council session to investigate whether we are truly being represented? We need to be armed with the relevant knowledge and information so that we are in a better position to defend this freedom.

For many it is easier to sit around braai areas or at bars and complain about how things are not going right or about how government officials are squandering tax payers’ money. Before complaining, with the expectation that “they” will come to fix our problems, we need to first consider whether we have actively participated in our democracy. We have remained silent for too long about matters that matter. “They” are “us”. For the educated and those with access to information, your responsibility becomes sharing this knowledge with the uneducated and uninformed. We also need to realize the power that we have in our numbers and leverage on this. Calling a radio station daily to complain will not yield any results, except for being a favorite in the show, but a petition signed by 500 people might yield something.

I found the following while preparing for the panel discussion.

"There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. But Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done."

Freedom is not free. Men and women have lost their lives to ensure we have this freedom. Families have been divided and nations wounded. The onus is now on us to protect this freedom. As we go to the polls soon, let us remember that our role as citizens extends beyond the ballot box. We need to build our power beyond Election Day.