Editor,

RE: "Tapping into the potential of Africa’s airline industry” (The New Times, June 10).

The author is flippant by asking to tap into the potential of the airline industry. What else has Africa been able to provide to its people, considering the numerous potentials that exist on the continent? Just cite one which has been unlocked for the betterment of Africans.

Africa has not been able to provide for anything, even for our physical security: I wake up one morning and I am convinced that I should annihilate my neighbour because he seems to be different from me; children are stunting at fast rate in their first two infancy years; thousands of young people are drowning in the Mediterranean trying to reach their colonisers of yesteryear; and we are the continent with the highest number of refugees and peacekeeping forces in the world.

In the Central African Republic, European soldiers are offering our young sisters to their dogs to have sex with and no single voice can oppose that; Africa is the most indebted continent per capital, yet the most rich naturally; its people produce nothing but consume everything; roads, railways, electricity, food security, healthcare, research, industry... (the list is endless) are all pitifully lacking, and you now talk of tapping into, unlocking the air potential!

In brief, our post-independence era has failed us miserably to the extent that we are the most despised race on this planet wherever you may go—from the time of the Arab slavery through the white slavery to the current modern slavery of economic and cultural subjugation.

Africans are just in a sorry state; so, no wonder that we are not air-connected or our artificial borders are not open all. It seems mediocrity is the order of the day. No offence intended.

Mukanyarwaya

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Everything you cited is true and your anger is justified. However, we cannot give up. We must start from somewhere and this time is now; the more reason why I support the views of Oscar Kimanuka.

Muhamud