A comparative review of the wealth among Black Americans and their former slave masters is striking: Primary residence – 73% (Whites); 45% (Blacks); Vehicles – 90% (Whites); 73% (Blacks); Retirement accounts – 60% (Whites); (34%); Family-owned business equity – 15% (Whites); 7% (Black); and Publicly-traded stocks – 61% (Whites); 31% (Blacks).
Colonialism had the same deleterious economic impact on Africans; no single country in Africa (a minor variation for South Africa) can be said to be truly developed to the stature of former colonial masters. The same impact slavery had on America; colonialism has had on Africa.
After the abolition of slave trade and slavery, Black-Americans were deemed to have been “emancipated.” Similarly, after Independence, Africans were deemed to have been “liberated.” But what do we now know? Black-Americans are per capita under-developed in comparison to their White counterparts; and African countries are under-developed in comparison to their former colonial formations.
The argument that Independence liberated Africa (Zambia) is not founded. Rather, a form of colonialism still exists in Africa just like a form of economic slavery still persists in North America and Europe.
Covid-19 has been the latest revealer of this dichotomic historical symptomatic disparity. Hard work, diligence, good faith, education and, indeed, mental reformation, are necessary in the true liberation of Africans, but they are not enough.
Until historical – colonial and slavery – indiscretions are revisited, historical inequalities (in trade, business, investments, land ownership, resource availability, and etc.) and some form of colonial/slavery reparations are compensated, Africa (Zambia) will continue to be “developing”, poor, and under-developed, even if it may celebrate 1000 of Independences. This Independence (October 24th, 2020), it’s time to begin the real conversation!
By Charles M
What a vague headline! There is no true independence without correcting historical colonialism. What does that mean?
This is still the current trend in africa, people think having political power is the ultimate, WALA, WITHOUT ECONOMIC POWER YOU NOTHING , THAT’S I LAUGH AT THESE CADRES ALWAYS THINK ITS A GAME OF THRONES, BUT THE BIGGEST GAME IS THE GAME OF WEALTH. OUR FOREFATHERS FORGOT TO NEGOTIATE FOR ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE THEY WERE TOO PREOCCUPIED WITH POLITICAL POWER.
Ooohhhhh plezzz……..
If your leaders can sign off paying $42 million tax payers money for fire trucks that should cost $20 million , what do you expect ???
You are your own worst enemies…
Even if the whites gave repatriations and compansations , even free grants , you will still end up in high debt.
Look at how PF have taken Zambia back to debt after being wiped out ???
Take responsibility and stop blaming others
Just two paragraphs Mr, Charles M? This all so misleading. Just so you are aware Zambians were much better of in Northern Rhodesia than in zambia and this is is because of the different economic systems -the African traditional – that economists are trying to study today. As for post-independence poverty, you have yourselves to blame; the 27 years of rubbish did not do us a favor either, but if we follow Botswana, Singapore and South Korea we can overcome.
I agree with this article. However, how can we get better or even be at the same level playing field with our former colonialists when we have a minority of people who still fear and think that the former colonialists countries are better at everything from education, products, women etc. I am talking about the likes of the upnd diasporans who have moved to our former colonialists countries because they think things are better for them there. They are willing to take menial jobs there than work in a respectable field here in Zambia. Some were professionals here but are willing to follow their former colonialists and become toilet cleaners. Until we emancipate ourselves from mental slavery we will continue being second to them. Kz
You just have to accept that you are your own worst enemies ……..
Your debt was wiped out….. what is the status today ????
Which normal leader would sanction paying $42 million tax payets money for trucks that should cost $20 million ?????
Even if the former colonial masters gave you $300 billion , with leaders like lungu , in 10 years time , you would be back begging for bailouts and relying on aid…..
What the fvck is this now you PF? You start shifting the goal, from HH’s Privatization to white people’s colonization?
Set up Commission of Inquiry into Colonization now.
Colonialism can not be corrected. No ammount of compensation or reparations can put an end to the dark age of man to man injustice and oppression. To manage the negative effects of colonialism, African countries have to gang up and resist further domination by western powers and regain control of their resources. The goal of the entire continent should be to break free from economic slavery by 2030!
KZ , Who gives a F whether you AGREE with this article or NOT
For the Senior Citizens independence Commemoration is a time of great mourning. Most past glories are wiped out. How young graduates from various institutions would be straight away swallowed up in the various industries and institutions even in the civil service. To day all those industries are gone. Our young graduates don’t even know where to start from. May be am day dreaming!!!!!!!
Useless article, the writer fails to acknowledge the many reasons Zambia and so many rich African countries are in such a mess of our own doing. We can not blame colonialism on all our poverty. Since the 50z we have continued to elect thieves , where corruption, wako ni wako, tribalism is celebrated on a daily basis. In case of Zambia particularly, mismanagement from 1991 to 2020 is there, one does not need to look elsewhere. Some thieves are even online praising their loot. The author or the headline is misleading
KZ Bloody hell I thot you fell on your own sword !!
You hang around with colonialists and beg from them .. so what you on about ?
Kaizer Zulu must shut up. How can talk about developments when he and Edgar Zulu are actively involved in plundering Zambia. Can Kaizer Zulu explain to Zambians how he has suddenly become the second richest man in Zambia when he was simply a clinical officer.
Watch out Kaizer Zulu. All what you have stollen from Zambians would one day be confiscated and give back to Zambian. How do you dare to talk rubbish about Zambians. Those are hardworkers and not as corrupt as you.
Melvin I suspect you are a toilet cleaner in diaspora. You claim I am the 2nd richest man in Zambia without any evidence. And even if I was, is it any different from hh who claims to have gone from owning few cows and a house in kalingalinga to becoming a billionaire? It is fathomable when it is done by your fellow tribesmen tefyo?
Zambians like the criminals in PF have sold Zambia to China and signed on the dotted line. They have embraced economic colonialism to line their own pockets while they spit on the rest of our people living in compounds. Don’t blame ‘white people’, when they haven’t been in charge for over 60 years. What a disgrace. Take ownership for the corruption that exists in our own people. The tribalism that occurs in our own people.
We are just a dumb and stupid race add to this inherently corrupt and tribal inclinations = disaster.
How else do you explain 50 years of independence in most African countries but land is still in the hands of colonizers
There you go these backward Africans This thug KZ already claims he is being chastised because the other guy is supporting his tribesman despite the person being Melvin phiri his tribal inclinations, inferiority or superiority is so deep that he believes Melvin phiri is actually a Tonga. These are the traits that, hand in hand with corruption, contribute to the weakness and shithole this continent is .
This article is very right. Watch or read some ofDr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao’s articles. As for Spaka, he’s so colonised he believes any theory his master puts up-in China he would have been jailed or killed for being a traitor….
That was the very purpose of colonisation-look down upon ourselves and everything we stand for. Look at the comments of Spaka or Mushe. Colonisation was meant to make us believe we can’t govern ourselves!! Asia and China are more developed than Africa because they didn’t fall for that cr@p. Compare the change African leaders pocket as kickbacks and the $100bn imperialist multinationals ship out of Africa every years through misinvoicing, false tax declarations etc (money that never comes back into our banks or coffers!!!) and wonder why Africa remains poor??? Then some colonised i.d.!ot wants to cry bad leadership???