In the twenty-first century, Africa is a continent that is making an effort to shed its stereotypes and has all along been ready to compete with the rest of the globe in terms of embracing technology. The mobile phone industry’s enormous success has revolutionized how Africans live, work, learn, and communicate. While natural resources are still being exploited by foreign corporations with no benefit to the people, technology has changed the way business is done in Africa. Because the necessary skills are widely available, people now have the chance to benefit from this new revolution and realize their full potential.
As African countries we need to confront the never ending economic challenges by using homemade technological solutions that can also be exported somewhere else for foreign exchange. These homemade technological solutions have a potential in luring large international corporations. Because of globalisation the whole world is experiencing a meltdown economically and this calls for change in policy direction and dwell much on economic policies that will be responsive to the needs of all people at present. This demonstrates that if given the same possibilities as individuals in other parts of the world, especially the countries with large economies, Africans may become significant rivals in the global economy. The policy direction must focus on the economic dimensions of the current geopolitical situation, including the war in Ukraine and food prices. African economies are also fragmented by gender disparities lack of inclusion and diversity among others. For example in Eswatini we have Kwakha Indvodza which is male mentoring organization shaping men’s understanding on the importance of inclusion and diversity in relation to local economy and looking at women as partners in development and not otherwise. When men and women work in isolation we cannot achieve inclusive economic development, the need for creative and innovative approach to policy research and analysis when we are responding to social economic issues at all levels.
There is need for deliberate examination of the extraordinary nexus of geopolitical, economic, and technological factors facing the world today that could have long-lasting effects and leverage these for our own advantage here at home. We also need liberated and progressive cooperating partners like Crossroads International of Canada to continue with technical assistance in areas that will trigger both formal and informal domestic economic activities.
It is not unexpected that Africa is a continent embracing the technological revolution given that its population is among the youngest in the world, with an average age of 19.5 years and 60 percent under 35 years old. New technology ushers in an innovative era for millions of people in terms of access to knowledge about societal issues like health, gender based violence, agricultural, business, and educational concerns. It is ironic that the success of this new technology has created a child labour market in its own continent. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces half the world’s supply of Cobalt; a metal that can retain it magneticity at high temperatures, which is used in the manufacture of mobile phones, car batteries and computers. The 16 multinational brands that use this metal, are aware that the mines that they are purchasing from use children as 7 years old, getting paid $1 a day for working in life threating conditions. If our economic policies are aligned with progressive approach in implementation and prioritise sectors with huge return on investment while protecting children, building robust health systems, education and advancing empowerment for all then we will achieve great economic independence.
The current low economic growth rate is due to the oil prices and exports falling and the richer economies suffering from the after-effects of COVID 19, and now war between Ukraine and Russia. This trend can be reversed through technology that will ensure an economic and social change for African continent in the near future. We can also look into three possibilities, first, by having the largest working population. The second where the cities are becoming ever larger and becoming more productive and the third where technology will help bypass the infrastructure issues that are so prevalent within the continent. Although the situation is slowly improving, the living standard in comparison to the rest of the world seems bleak. Only through education and intervention from governments there can be social economic escalation.
