A newly founded Non-Governmental Organisation, The Voice of Africa, says it plans to rekindle oneness in the continent to arrest numerous problems brought about by animosity between Africans.
The civil organisation says most Africans are obsessed with identifying those thought different from themselves in a process that is likely to reinforce domination or subordination. This, in turn, has contributed greatly to intolerance.
In an interview with Mmegi, Voice of Africa spokesperson, Carol Kgomotso, said the NGO’s core mandate is to foster oneness as “much more could be achieved through a united Africa”.
The 23-year-old public relations specialist says the continent could grow and flourish if all Africans spent more time understanding and appreciating their differences as opposed to vilifying one another other. “We as Africans are really one,” said Kgomotso.
“It is very painful to see what’s happening in the continent. It would be pleasing to see oneness and brotherhood.”
She added that challenges such as gender equality, education and reproductive health rights among others could be better tackled in unison and harmoniously with the aim of advancing all Africans’ socio-economic position.
“With unity comes tolerance, and as a continent we could deal with issues with more tolerance. We can better listen to one another,” she said.
The NGO has already scored success with some projects in line with its pro-African unity stance and is preparing more initiatives.
Earlier this year, the organisation, which was registered late 2014 in Zimbabwe, initiated campaigns against child marriages and ethnic stereotyping.
In addition, during the height of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Voice of Africa produced a five-minute documentary featuring South Africa’s High Commissioner to Botswana. The clip was posted on social media to pen conversation around the attacks.
“The xenophobic attacks in neighbouring South Africa exemplify ‘othering’ and lack of tolerance harboured by Africans towards their kind,” Kgomotso said.
An upcoming project will see about 30 young people embark on a benchmarking trip to Lupane district in Zimbabwe where a centre there is empowering women socially and economically.
Voice of Africa is also drafting Vision 2030, which aims to address issues that affect the youth of Botswana.
“We hope that by 2030 the youths of Botswana could have quality education, be employed and have entrepreneurship skills that are technologically advanced.
“That is part of what the vision will entail and we hope that the government will adopt it and they make it a national vision known to all youths,” Kgomotso said.
