I’ll Probably Run for President: Promoting Sustainable Use of Natural Resources for Fostering Socio-Economic Transformation in Africa
When I was young, along with my friends, we used to play a game where we would connect two used batteries with a wire and a small bulb and we would be ecstatic whenever the light bulb came on.
We also played another game where we would create small wind turbines out of coconut broomsticks ‘chelewa’ in Swahili and leaves, — and then we would run around to make our ‘turbines’ rotate. We enjoyed the games, with little sophistication at that age to understand the significance of their symbolism.
As we got older, we stopped playing those games, probably opting for less ‘innovative’ pastimes.
In 2001, William ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ Kamkwamba, 14, from Malawi created a functioning wind turbine to power electrical appliances in his home from blue gum trees ‘mkalatusi’ in Swahili, bicycle parts, and materials collected from a local scrapyard (‘taka taka’). It is unlikely William just woke up and got this brainwave — he probably played chelewa back in the day and then allowed himself to continue being curious about his surroundings. Right?
If I were a President of an African country, I would be extremely interested in promoting sustainable use of natural resources for fostering socio-economic transformation in Africa, I would do the following;
I would encourage and promote the advancement of local innovations. There are many young William Kamkwambas in Africa; — they are ‘playing’ with things and not knowing they are on their way to creating local sustainable solutions to some complex problems facing our communities. Through supporting policies, community engagements, and localized initiatives, I would make it my priority to promote stimulating environments in and outside classrooms, in which young boys and girls would be encouraged to make their contribution to solving our local problems (like energy crises) and transform their communities.
I would incorporate the idea of promoting sustainable use of renewable natural resources into the education system at an earlier stage. Children too can contribute to the conversation on renewable natural resources if they are enlightened at the topic early. Children are the future. Their curiosity — can be harnessed to contribute solutions at a young age. If we wait until later, perhaps when they turn 16, that could be too late. I would promote the spirit of innovation to make sure that little boys and girls are not discouraged on taking a chance in the journey of innovation, and instead, they are the ones leading the conversation on how to promote sustainable use of renewable natural resources for fostering socio-economic transformation in Africa.
I would reform laws and create policies that seriously support the local methods of exploration of sustainable use of renewable natural resources and innovations. I was around 10 years old when I discovered that electricity can be created out of biowaste, my question was why are people in my country not doing that and instead, suffering from the erratic power supply from the national electric supply company. I would enact and push for laws that support private investment in power generation. I would push for laws that support such investments from the household level, if someone can create electricity from biowaste, solar panels, micro-hydropower systems, or local scrapyards for their household in a way that does not harm anyone, they should be allowed to do so.
I would invest in renewable energy. Africa is geographically located at a geographical area that receives a lot of sunshine in a year, that right there is an opportunity. I could heavily invest in solar projects such as Solar Mamas of Malawi, a project that trains typical rural Malawian women who lack traditional education to become solar engineers. We also have some deserts in Africa, we could install wind turbines and produce wind energy and benefit from the desert winds. I would work hard to make sure that Africa leads the journey of using sustainable energy and become a model for the rest of the world.
I would provide incentives to those who are already leading the way in using sustainable natural resources. Taxes are very high in many African countries, I would change that for the companies which are ready to use sustainable natural resources. I would also invest in helping them through consultations, loans, and innovation awards. As a leader, you need to give your people hope, especially those who show that they really want to do something that will benefit the community, as a leader you must make sure that they reach there, it’s your duty to take people to the mountain top,- I would take that duty with grace and grit.
For all these initiatives to be successful, everyone should be on board. It is a true test of leadership, but as difficult as it sounds it can be done with the right attitude, mindset, energy, and willingness to stick till the end. A leader’s greatest duty is to inspire responsibility in a way that it becomes everybody’s initiative and as you President, I would get everyone on board by making sure that everyone understands the costs and benefits of what we are doing and then lead by example.
