I thought that I should weigh in on what is happening in the United States of America.
As many of you know Barack Obama just sealed the nomination for the Democrats as the presidential nominee.
It is truly a historic time in the world and could be one of the most amazing stories of our lifetime.
I for one am happy for him as I’m sure are millions of others in the world. He did not win because he is black, as some in the US assume.
Obama won because of his message of change and hope. The world has been looking for a leader with a new tune. Our generation has been looking for a leader that we can identify with. A leader who is able to look beyond the age of our parents into this "new" century. Obama is offering America and the world just that. Hope and change for a new world, a world that we can shape into our own. I really hope that America is ready not just for a black president but for a leader who preaches a "new" message.
Let's bring things closer to home now. Some on our continent have called this century the "African Century" but eight years later here we are with no "African Century" in sight. I believe that it is because our African leaders are part of the older generation that has continued to do things in the same old way. Therefore it has been hard for them to bring about change and give hope because their methods worked for a different generation.
Africa needs its own Obama type leaders. Young people, yes at 46 Obama is still young, who will stand for change and hope. People who will stand and "call out" the things that are wrong in society, things that our elders have been wrong about.
Yes there is so much wrong in our own country, Mzansi. So much wrong in Zimbabwe and in many African countries. It also seems as if our people are without the will to change their circumstances. They have allowed themselves to be a "hopeless" people.
It is certainly unfortunate that many of our future leaders do not preach "hope and change". Rather they have studied the old ways and somehow believe that those are good enough to use into this century.
However there is hope, I believe that in the midst of all that is wrong and ugly, there is a generation of people who believe in a better future for all the inhabitants of Africa. Let us have the will power to spread that message of "hope and change".
