Living expensively in the face of the global crisis

The word “economic crisis” has become monotonous; so much so that it now seems to have been a common vocabulary in the minds of people and because of that it has become an issue in Africa and particularly here at home. From the get go and despite the fact that the western world’s economies were failing, people in Africa, who largely depend on their own agricultural produce, did not generally feel the impact of the West’s problems. Except for a few business persons whose relationship with the western world for business was intertwined with their businesses. However, although Africa is not badly hit by the effects of the economic crisis, there has been a significant rise in the prices of manufactured goods. Even some companies have reduced on their labor force causing an increase to the number of those that take up to the streets every morning in search for jobs. The situations is not good but to some people think that “all this means nothing” as they continue to tend to live a ‘normal’ life. This is despite the fact that things have changed, economically. Many Rwandans have failed to adjust their ways of living in proportion to the ‘weight of their pockets’ and, as a consequence, have resorted to joining the cue for bank loans which they are not even sure they will be able to pay on time. A few weeks ago, when I saw a group of people in Czech Republic lining up for a spoon of soup on BBC television I felt very concerned about the people living here. Can you imagine that we have people here who still go to a bar and spent not less than $ 200 a night? People are living as if there is no-while other people live lives that aren’t worthwhile. When I remember seeing those “white men” lining up for soup I shudder. Who are we to think that we are not going to feel the brunt of this crisis as well? Life is no longer the same way it was three or four years back but it is so disheartening to find people still behaving blindly. When this credit crunch finally “crunches” our pockets, our eyes may be finally opened. It is high time we opened our eyes and stretch our eyelids farther high in order to see and predict what the future seems to be carrying for us. A few days back I met a former college friend of mine in town. He had come from Uganda in search for a job here but I am telling you he was showing great unwillingness to go back to Uganda. He told me that the situation in Rwanda is far more promising than what it is in Uganda. He was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that it may be easy for him to get a job here than getting it in his mother land. His conviction was based on the fact there are thousands of university graduates looming in and around Kampala streets than what the experience seem to be in Kigali. Tom confessed to me that the impact of the global economic downturn has caused some Ugandan families to live on one meal per day. This may sound a horrifying situation for the people of Uganda but it is also what is happening in Rwanda and the whole African continent. It is paramount that our governments started sensitizing their people on the stance of the global economy and teach them to learn to adjust to situations of economic importance so that in the near future the governments are saved the blame of lack of proper management of the scarce financial resources of their citizens. It is indeed very important to have a citizenry that understands the way the economies of the world and of their respective countries are faring; otherwise we may end up having a population that can no longer feed itself and the governments may be tasked to do it for them. So the earlier we taught our people to live within their means the better. phatari@yahoo.co.uk