adminMuchadura Dube
THE outbreak of the deadly Ebola scourge has the potential to reverse all gains achieved and gained this far by the continent of Africa. It is one single phenomenon which threatens to decimate all Africans and ultimately all existing species as it has proved to be much deadlier than the current Human-Immuno Virus (HIV) which has also been an albatross to Africa in its developmental quest.
The extremely contagious disease usually begins with typical flu-like symptoms of fever, later vomiting, as the virus spreads inside the body causing people to succumb within days of its onset.
Those infected and affected die from internal bleeding which in the final stages can flow out of every orifice.
One commentator noted in bewilderment that the deadly disease has the trappings of a ghastly zombie science-fiction nightmare come true.
The elusive part of this disease is that at its genesis, it has signs and symptoms of a normal fever which, however, will evolve into the deadly monster that it is as it assumes its real dimensions.
That Africa has become the breeding ground of this toxic ailment which threatens the survival of the African raises more questions than it brings answers to the fore.
Theories are abound as to the origins of this catastrophic disease, with most fingers pointing to Africa’s former colonisers who still have an axe to grind with the continent.
The political freedom which all but one of the African countries ascertained has presented challenges to its former nemesis that are now facing challenges of siphoning resources as they wish to their capitals.
The imperial powers no longer possess the clout and stamina to coerce Africa to dance to their will, a scenario which used to be the norm during the days of physical and mental enslavement. The realisation by the West that Africa has come of age and possesses the potential to explode economically as what happened in Asia during the memorable days of the Asian Tigers.
The former Asian Tigers have evolved into world competing economies which hold their own with the world’s best. It brings into mind Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS).The BRICS are an economic powerful entity with potential to dominate the world economic issues in the not so distant future.
Imagine a scenario where the BRICS will combine with a robust Africa in the economic arena that will naturally pose as a threat to the already established economies.
Africa has been used as a source of raw materials and cheap labour by the West, so it’s potential to be self reliant in the event of it acquiring and adopting enduring technologies is a drawback for the West.
The West’s hope is for Africa to be perpetual aid recipients and eternal beggars. In line with that argument, there is a growing school of thought that this rapacious West is at it again in its bid to scuttle any perceived African economic revival.
The West can only retard the expected growth by creating this albatross in form of diseases, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids) and Ebola.
I had an opportunity to listen to Dr Randy Short, a political commentator who told the whole world on Press TV that Ebola is a creation of the West especially the Americans who want to use the outbreak to increase their presence in Africa where they now trail the Chinese whose sound policies have endeared them to resource-rich African countries.
The United States wants to increase its military presence in Africa as a response to the Chinese dominance and of late Russia incursions into Africa. So Dr Short reasoned that the Americans created the scourge so that they will then use their financial muscle to dangle aid.
What a diabolic approach to international relations!
Dr Short supported his stance by inferring that the US recently deployed 4 000 troops to Liberia to help fight Ebola.
Anyone with common sense will argue that Africa needs medical expertise instead of combat hardened troops who might be in reality spy personnel out to infiltrate Africa.
That people of Afro-American descent have been used as experimental objects in the testing of drugs in America is irrefutable, a scenario Dr Short believes has been extended to Africa in America’s biological warfare exploits. Surely Africa has to devise new ways of stopping this madness from America and curtail this hypocrisy.
It raises a lot of suspicion that nations which not so long ago were ravaged by war are the ones experiencing the most outbreaks of this deadly viral disease.
The vulnerability of these states is high hence they are likely to solicit for help from these same aggressors.
What has, however, taken these war mongers aback are the incidences of Ebola affecting their own nationals raising the possibility of the disease spreading in America and Europe.
They seem to be in a quandary as to what to do, whether to unveil the medication for the monster they created or letting the poor Africans succumb to the disease en masse.
The Americans are possibly creating a market for drugs manufactured by their factories for a disease which they created, in the process stifling the resurgence of the African economy since energy will be exerted in combating the disease instead of nurturing the economy.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has placed measures to prevent the occurrence of the disease by having a regional meeting of Ministers responsible for Health in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls.
In Zimbabwe, the country has purchased Ebola-detecting machines which it uses at its major entry points. The authorities have also trained personnel to help in the fight against this disease in the event of an outbreak. Instead of governments focusing on improving the livelihoods of its populace, effort is now being directed towards a man-made catastrophe.
Africa has to collectively deal with these former imperialists with caution.
Theirs are permanent interests and never permanent friendship. Certainly, the leopard will never rub off its spots. Africa has to be alive to the imperialists’ evil machinations.
Muchadura Dube is a Nyanga-based farmer and political analyst
Online Reporter