The visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to Ghana this past weekend was described as his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa. This means that the visit was not seen as just to Ghana but to this region as a whole. The excitement in Ghana reflected the excitement of many in the region. The choice of Ghana was significant because it was a focus on potential and capacity in Africa.
Ghana’s closely contested elections had the potential for violence, but the decision by the opposition leader to graciously accept defeat pointed to a capacity for new political consciousness that embraces democracy and puts the interests of the people first above party politics and personal power. By tapping into this capacity, President Obama was then able to connect with the people and present his ‘tough love’ speech to a receptive audience. His call to take responsibility for our own development and destiny was linked to the capacity demonstrated by Ghana and other countries in the region and brought a unique ‘yes we can’ message for Africa.
Aware of the legacy of colonialism, President Obama acknowledged its role but challenged Africans to work with this legacy without being fixated on it and blaming everything that goes wrong on the past – to take the negative aspects of history and transform them. This requires a collective effort based on belief in our capacity, taking responsibility, and getting on with the challenge of building strong institutions that benefit our people. It is no wonder that his speech was widely celebrated.
At the same time as President Obama’s visit, South Africa hosted Professor Muhammad Yunus (founder and managing director of Grameen Bank and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner), who providentially provided a financial framework for the next step and possibilities for building institutions and economies that benefit the poor who constitute the majority of our population. Yunas’ fundmantal business ethic is that investment in the marginalized is a way of creating wealth and combating poverty. Indeed, this past weekend we have been blessed by prophets of hope who have left us empowered and challenged to act!
The situation in Zimbabwe is stagnant and dynamic, which seems like a contradiction. Politically it is stagnant in the sense that there is a constant power tug-a-war between the parties with nothing new emerging. Socially there is movement as people continue the difficult task of taking responsibility for their own lives and communities.
The lifting of visa restrictions by the South African government has been a welcome relief that has allowed for the free flow of people between the two countries. This has generated business and availability of goods as the South African currency has been adopted together with other foreign currencies as means of exchange in Zimbabwe. Problems continue to persist as there is very little money coming in from the economy and investors. However, in this vacuum churches continue to play an important role in building ‘social capital,’ which in turn strengthens communities. In the next few blogs I will feature some of the work being done by Christians in their communities. Please continue to pray for Zimbabwe.
Nontando Hadebe, a former Sojourners intern, is originally from Zimbabwe and is now pursuing graduate studies in theology in South Africa.
