Africa must own its challenges

Editor, RE: “Parents have primary duty over children - First Lady” (The New Times, June 19). Why only Rwanda rather than Africa, and why is it us joining the rest of the world rather than the rest of the world joining us? After all, isn’t it the African child we are celebrating? If so, shouldn’t it be us Africans in the principal celebrant’s role, with the non-African rest of the world in a supporting, subsidiary role? Looks like pedantry, but it really isn’t. Understanding that it is important for Africa to play the primary role on African matters is crucial, even in events that are of a global nature. We mustn’t join what is primarily about us; we should have the lead, and the rest of the world should, if it so wishes, join us. The problem is that everybody seems to believe they should be able to choose and do things for us, and we have come to accept this as the normal scheme of things. No; we should take back our own agency, welcoming any support that we receive if we ask for it, but refusing any that is hoisted on is without our asking for it. We shouldn’t accept to be put in a situation where some appoint themselves wards over our affairs. That is contrary to the notion of a free people. Mwene Kalinda

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Africa must own its challenges