Are many African countries “crashing” under debt? I would go for “crushing”!

LET us start this weekend’s article by congratulating our own Dr Faustine Ndugulile, MP for Kigamboni, for clinching the position of WHO Regional Director for Africa; and, as the Good Citizen (29 August, page 6) puts it: “Congrats, Ndugulile; Now the hard work begins.”

On the same page, is a piece, by a seasoned columnist, on the forthcoming voting for the top African Union (AU) position.

Tanzania and a number of other Eastern African countries are supporting a candidate from Kenya, former Prime Minister, Raila Omolo Odinga.

The article on this topic is titled: “‘Prince’ Raila eyes the AU kingdom.”

We are dedicating the rest of this submission dissecting that article.

The writer argues that no previous election bid for the AU Commission had ever been launched with the pomp witnessed at Raila’s.

He observes that the launch was attended by several heads of state and: “other important men and women.”

Here, we have to protest! All human beings, men, women, children, are important; though admittedly, some are more important than others.

But we describe these as VIPs (Very Important Persons), or dignitaries. Not just “important.”

We are all “important.”

According to the writer, given that Mtani Raila is almost an octogenarian, there were murmurs that a younger person should vie for the position.

Our own January Makamba is mentioned, but this was before he was dropped from the Cabinet.

We quote the writer: “Makamba, 50, didn’t make an overt ‘play’ for the job, though he occasionally dropped oblique comments in public and social media were read to suggest that he wanted it.”

The above quote is more likely than not, lacking a pronoun, as I will show in a minute.

But, I laboured a lot on whether the correct noun was “play,” or “ploy.”

After extensive consultations, I came to the conclusion the ap propriate noun to use was “ploy” and not “play.”

For, a “ploy” is “a plan or action designed to turn a situation to one’s own advantage.”

In view of that, my re-write of the quote is as follows: “Makamba, 50, didn’t make an overt ‘PLOY’ for the job, though he occasionally dropped oblique comments in public and social media, WHICH were read to suggest that he wanted it.”

Aspirant Raila had some patching up to do with the powers that be.

One of his action, which, according to the writer, surprised many, was his appearance with his bitter rival in the 2022 Kenyan presidential election (now, President Ruto), at President Museveni’s farm in Kisozi, Mbarara.

What was observed? “Clutching herdsmen’s sticks and looking over Museveni’s cattle, ‘it all hunky dory’ between the three men.”

You could be like me, wondering what the hell does the phrase “hunky dory” means.

Well, I have just learned that it means: “very satisfactory and pleasant”.

In other words, all was fine for the three dignitaries.

Nevertheless, that sentence conspicuously lacks a verb. If we slot in one, it takes on a new read, as follows: “Clutching herdsmen’s sticks and looking over Museveni’s cattle, ‘it WAS all hunky dory’ between the three men.”

Will Mtani Raila clinch the position?

The writer suggests some pros for him: “Most African countries are ‘crashing’ under debt and the Continent’s restless youth are getting dangerously militant.

There is a sense that the times call for a veteran hand like Raila, whose calls will be picked by African presidents and foreign ministers in world capitals….”.

Do you “crash under debt”?

Well, there are three words that can be confusing: How do you select between “crash”, “crush” and “clash”?

Research on the meaning and use of these words leads one to conclude that, if you are heavily indebted, you are “crushing” (not “crashing”) under debt.

If, therefore, I was the writer, I would change “crash” into “crush”, and have the sentence re-written as follows: “Most African countries are ‘CRUSHING’ under debt; and the Continent’s restless youth are getting dangerously militant.

There is a sense that THESE times REQUIRE a veteran hand like Raila, whose calls will be picked by African presidents and foreign ministers in world capitals….”.

Will Raila be elected? We have to wait, tuwe na subra, till February next year, for the verdict. Meanwhile, please accept my greeting from Manchester, the industrial turned football city!