Since World War I through to the Cold War between West and the East, Africa, especially Southern Africa has always, through its natural endowment of minerals, been strategically positioned to counteract the economic crisis and political conflicts as has been experienced during the financial crisis that set in 2008. The South African gold boom, which was triggered off in 1933, made it possible for the country not only to counteract the effects of the world economic crisis but also to stimulate the restructuring of the economy by promoting the expansion of the industrial sector in the towns. The euphoria of post-war reconstruction is tantamount to the euphoria of post-economic crisis of 2008 by the West, North and the East. During post-war Africa was the enemy, a play ground and source of wealth for imperialists. There are no militant and armed wars in this era, but the structural 'wars' of economics. Now, Africa is the panacea. In the 1930's the restructuring and reconstructuring was employed for the benefit of the settlers and the colonialists.
In the 21st century the reconstrunction is disguised in the form of institutionalised globalism with pacts formed to ease trade among the world's regions and sub regions. And gues what, Africa is the target for growth. Now, all the developed countries in the world are looking to Africa for their own growth, China being the first in line. If as Africans we are not awake, we will point far at a distance, a slipped economic opportunity in the hands of the Asians, Americans and Europenas much as we let slipped the socio-economic-political power when Europeans settled on our mother land. Economic colonialism is looming. Wake up Africa! Tsoga moAfrica! The wisdom of our political and business leaders is on trial.
