By Zulumathabo Zulu © 2015
With more than two-thirds of the African population under 30, we are definitely the continent of the future. The Agenda 2063 as a 50 year strategy is visionary. As the indefatigable strategist and leader of the African Union, Dr. Nkosazana Zuma is leading the African continent in the right direction and ensuring that, as people, we invest where it counts most which is youth and women.
A crash course on Agenda 2063 for those who care to know. The founding of the OAU (Organisation of African Unity) was ratified on May 25, 1963 by African signatory governments in the Ethipian capital of Addis Ababa. The architect of African unity was the perpetual legend and visionary Nkwame Nkrumah. It was under the OAU that the majority of African countries became emancipated from colonial chains.
In 2001, during the 38th anniversary of the OAU, the AU (African Union) was established in place of the OAU but inclusive of the original goals of greater African continental unity, solidarity and economic integration. The regional integration initiatives like the RECs (regional economic communities) are the mechanisms of implementing the economic integration and unity of the African continent. Africa has an impressive array of RECs as follows:
- SADC (Southern African Development Community)
- COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa)
- ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States)
- ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)
- IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development)
- EAC (East African Community)
- UMA (Union du Maghreb Arabe) and
- CEN-SAD (Community of Sahel-Saharan States).
The African Union, under the indefatigable leadership of the strategic architect Dr. Nkosazana Zuma, has steered the African continent in the right direction by focusing on the futuristic goal of a prosperous Africa by 2063.
Instead of just celebrating, the Africans reasoned that OAU achieved liberation in its 50th anniversary in 2013 and what kind of legacy should the African Union strategize for in the next 50 years? They decided that since two-thirds of Africa’s population was under 30 then we need to invest in our youth and women so that we can become prosperous. This means the greatest asset of Africa is its people.
This makes logical and scientific sense. Technology is touted as the greatest thing since toasted bread but it cannot replace human talent and brain. For example, a computer sucks when it comes to comprehending and manipulating natural language despite all the billions of dollars spent on artificial intelligence. In fact a modern super computer is outperformed by an under 5 year old when it comes to the command of natural language. A human will always trump technological gadgets. It is humans who can enhance technology which in turn can be instrumental in enhancing output.
Thus the Africans need to develop a strategic mindset. We need to pursue education, economy and culture not at an operational level but rather at a strategic level. This means we must embrace metascience above science, trans-disciplinary education above education and metaculture above culture. This will give us the necessary intellectual tools and the right strategic mindset to architect the best and most suitable education systems, economic systems and preserve our indigenous African culture that serves us and our future generations without oppressing anyone on the basis of ethnicity, gender, religiosity or any kind of classification.
Let us follow the African Union Anthem as we reflect on the above philosophical thinking:
Let us all unite and celebrate together
The victories won for our liberation
Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together
To defend our liberty and unity
O Sons and Daughters of Africa
Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky
Let us make Africa the Tree of Life
Let us all unite and sing together
To uphold the bonds that frame our destiny
Let us dedicate ourselves to fight together
For lasting peace and justice on earth
O Sons and Daughters of Africa
Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky
Let us make Africa the Tree of Life
Let us all unite and toil together
To give the best we have to Africa
The cradle of mankind and fount of culture
Our pride and hope at break of dawn.
O Sons and Daughters of Africa
Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky
Let us make Africa the Tree of Life
Madisebo University 