New Africa Blueprint (Population Control)

 

TRANSITIONING SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA TO DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY (NEW AFRICABLUEPRINT)

By: Samuel .B. Yonga

Introduction

That Africa has lagged behind in social and economic development is no debate the debate is on real development in Africa, Is the continent truly developing or are we being fooled by numerical data? African nations perpetually occupy the bottom of the UN Human Development Index and the root cause is associated with geographical factors like climate and historical factors like the slave trade which robbed her of the most productive population, Philip Curtin estimated that by 1850 the population of Africa should have reached 100 million. But this is not the subject matter for now. Before revealing the solution we must first dispel the myth that the growth witnessed is of real value. As an African native I can say with surety that in most sub-Saharan countries the growth rates are not a true reflection of the economic reality on the ground .The quality of life began to decline when development could not match population growth. We are not allowed to process most of the raw materials we produce to finished products as this would upset the world economic status quo but there are other channels to use to develop. The current mode of economic growth centered around primary production and limited secondary production will not reveal real prosperity as the rate at which population is growing erodes economic gains such that by the time population steadies the number of people will have far outstripped resources available as the economic situation is far more competitive and less conducive than that of developed countries when they were developing. In short sub-Saharan Africa cannot achieve prosperity with the current policies. This brings us to first solution.

1. POPULATION CONTROL

African countries can transform impressive growth rates into real economic gains by controlling their population thus development is in tandem with population.

The very idea of population control is frowned upon by most but its morality is rarely explored. Having a child is one’s freedom but we know freedom implies responsibility and when one’s freedom injures another there is usually consequence as when you misuse your freedom of movement to intrude into other people property you are charged with having committed crime. If you know you do not have the economic capability to take care of a child and still have one you have most likely condemned that child to a life of poverty and suffering, is that no a crime? You’re freedom has harmed your child and thus there should be consequences as with the intruder, why are there none? One’s freedom of movement is limited and it follows one's freedom to have a child should be limited. What is the use of giving birth to a child that is going to live a life of poverty and struggle ,just because you want a child, is that not extremely selfish? This is the most heinous of crimes as it is condemning someone prior to birth for your own selfish needs.There are four primary principles that should be part of the new population control legislation. Those allowed to have a child should:a)

Only those capable of providing a child with all basic needs of high standards including a stable conducive social foundation, essential secondary needs and good education till secondary level.b)

Anyone who has a child without first getting a license shall be forcibly sterilized both man and woman responsible and part of their combined revenues used to sponsor the child’s needs.c)

People should apply to have children from a certified state organization that determines economic and social capability of a couple having a child before the child is conceived.d)

Anyone without a license to have a child that has one shall face fine sand part of their revenue coming under state control for the child's benefit.Now the question is what the economic and social benefits are. The benefits are far reaching and numerous but I will only state the main ones.First the quality of life will increase as the poor elements in society do not reproduce and hence the cycle of poverty is stopped as only those of sound economic and social health reproduce. In essence poverty is flushed out of society. Second Children are able to attain all essential needs of a high-quality. Third The average citizen is of a far higher quality as he/she has been brought up in a much better environment, this reduces crime rates.Another plausible query is how the general population may take it .Of course if it is implemented all at once there will be uproar and general discontent throughout the population that is why it is suggested that each

principle in implemented in pieces over a period of say 5 to 10 years such that the public find themselves in the situation without knowing how they got there in this way there will be less resistance and any defiance can be managed. The general public is ill informed and may not realize that in the end it is not only the moral thing to do but also best for them.

2. CURBING UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE

We know that many Western countries introduced universal suffrage in the twentieth century despite having democracy for centuries before that.Only when the general population was mature enough was the vote given to everyone yet here in Africa the vote is given to even those who know none of the running candidates. The ultimate result is that the ignorant, easily manipulated and less educated majority has the sway and thus you have countries run and controlled by the least equipped to do so .As I earlier said freedom is not without limits when it infringes on others rights as ones righto vote has a direct effect on others as it determines leaders. Hence voting qualifications should be as follows and apply to candidates as well:a)

One should have education till university or college)

One should have a steady income above a certain level)

One should be of sound mind)

One should never have engaged electoral malpractices The population will again never take this lying down it is thus necessary to modify the electoral procedures such that the general public elect people who meet the above qualifications these people now vote for the actual leaders.

Conclusion

The two solutions are from my observation of the situation in Africa and there are in my opinion necessary if Africa is to save herself from poverty and poor leadership that has bedeviled her.