Haiti: Wade and Zuma Should be Emulated

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and Jacob Zuma of South Africa have done Africa proud by demonstrating the Ubuntu spirit and offering leadership in the wake of the Haiti earthquake tragedy.

Senegal has offered Haitian survivors the chance to resettle in Africa, the land of their ancestors. According to Mamadou Bemba Ndiaye, Wade's spokesman, “ Senegal is ready to offer [Haitians] parcels of land, even an entire region. It all depends on how many Haitians come.” On the other hand, South Africa has taken a contingent of 5000 health workers to assist Haitians.

Haitians are our brothers and sisters who were forcefully removed from the African continent during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. We are consequently duty-bound to identify with them and creatively seek ways to help them at this moment of grief.

In Martin Luther King's Acceptance Speech, on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo (December 10, 1964), he said: “Every time I take a flight, I am always mindful of the many people who make a successful journey possible - the known pilots and the unknown ground crew.” Senegal and South Africa have started the journey. It is upon the rest of Africa to make it successful by giving Haitians and Africans in diaspora a sense of belonging and promise.

James Shikwati
Every Wednesday is The African Executive Day!
www.africanexecutive.com