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Sunday C. Mbang
Chairperson of the World Methodist Council
Contacts between Europe and Africa, sometimes painful and regrettable, and yet necessary took place may years ago. The somewhat bitter experiences from some of these contacts will remain with the Continent and her people for a very long time. Probably the best of these contacts with all its imperfections was the religious contact. To this end, the relationships between many Christian denominations and their parent bodies in Europe and Africa have remained cordial and these have continued to grow and also been strengthened by many reasonable, beneficial and satisfactory means. Christianity came to Africa from Europe and America. Over the years, some of the denominations in Europe have given autonomy to their children in Africa, thus enabling them to manage their own affairs and sing the Lord�s song in familiar tunes, ways and forms. The Churches in Africa have undergone processes of indigenization in the areas of administration, music, worship, theology, ethics and liturgy. These Churches, to all intent and purposes, have become African Christian Churches. The new relationship is not that of a master to a servant, but a relationship of equals in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ sharing information, experiences theological researches and resources. Each partner therefore has become the other�s keeper. The benefits of these new relationships are there for people to see and they are unimaginable. The same cannot be said of politics and economics. I am wondering whether any African country had been given independence freely and peacefully. Some of these countries had to fight their way to freedom. South Africa apartheid policy was supported and kept alive by Europe. The bone of contention has always been the God�s given national resources in these countries. The wars and conflicts in many parts of the continent today, who is really to blame? All the weapons, some very dangerous and sophisticated, used in these conflicts and wars who are the manufacturers and suppliers. To date, I am not aware that any African country, apart from probably South Africa, has any reasonable Defence Industry. Worse still, we hear of foreign mercenaries from Europe fighting in these wars and conflicts. When will Europe be willing to allow her former colonies to be free to manage their own businesses without any interference of any kind? Africa is the poorest and most backward part of the world with all her human, material and natural resources. This had been the case because of the attitude, policies, ways and means by which Europe relate to the African Continent. Let me briefly catalogue a few of the road blocks militating against African�s new dawn: 1. The subjugation of African currency and refusal to accord it to same status to that of the Europeans. 2. The unfair and inhumane policy in the area of trade, forcing the countries in Africa to earn less than their counterparts in Europe. 3. The aids and donations, which should have been given freely are so manipulated by Europe in favour of the donors. 4. Africans suffer all forms of indignities at European Embassies and High Commissions in search of Visa to travel to Europe, only to be denied the visa. Many Embassies and High Commissions treat African visitors as if they are worse than their dogs. 5. African countries are castigated by European countries as corruption infested. An impartial examination of this belief will reveal two important fallacies namely: 5.1 That corrupt Africans, in most cases, are encouraged in their evil deeds by the assistance and participation of the sons and daughters from Europe and; 5.2 That revenue corruptly acquired and accumulated by corrupt leaders in Africa are banked and invested in European countries with the connivance of their governments. 6. Pledges promised on African issues are usually not redeemed. African countries are usually the last served in many of the situations and areas of need. 7. Africans are made to pay more for all goods and services emanating from Europe. 8. There are built in injustices everywhere against Africa and her citizens by Europe and their friends. 9. The United Nations which was set up to provide a level playing ground for all members has become the world�s highest manipulated institution. The motto of some members of the organization today is� might is right�. What then should be the new sympathetic approach? Earlier on some comments were made on the new approach by the Christian denominations and the Christians in Europe to their counterparts in Africa. The same model with a few alterations and additions here and there will give the relationship between Europe and Africa a new lease of life. Many African countries are said to have had Independence from their Colonial Masters. Are these countries really independent? Has the relationship between the Colonial Masters and their subjects change from that of �masters� and �servants�. It will be necessary for European countries to take a new look in the areas I had listed as areas militating against meaningful relationship and proffer a new and sympathetic approach. Europe must be willing to sincerely deal with Africa as equals. Assistance to African countries must be without strings. There will be no law against the donor monitoring how the money is spent. The idea of using nationals in the donor�s country to manage such donations has always been counter productive. European nations must assist African governments in eradicating corruption by identifying their nationals who aid and abate corruption and sanction them. Europe must be willing to assist all the African countries suffering from financial mismanagement as a result of the financial corruption of their sons and daughters to recover the monies and businesses corruptly acquired with minimum difficulty. The old order in all directions, be it trade, visa requirements, currency, will need to be completely overhauled to give a fresh impetus to a new, sympathetic and just approach. Finally, Europe and Africa has to become each other�s keeper in the field of science, technology, medicine, economics, etc, for the benefits of the two continents. There can be no other way to redress the obstacles of the past than a completely new approach. Thank you and God bless.
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