Year-in, year-out; our so called 'world economic and political experts' are always at the forefront with predictions of an unforeseen prosperous or doomed Afrika that is to yet to explode on each angle. Sadly, fewer Afrikans or none at all never question such analysis, critically. Let alone a uniformed position about such analysis or anything futuristic about Afrika had ever been developed by its current, or even its past leaders.

In our own analysis as we have discovered that the tools of analysis and rules of engagement in Afrika, are not developed by Afrikans for Afrika, but are manufactured outside, specifically by our former colonizers and imported to Afrika. We further discovered few things which are problematic about us as Afrikans and if we abandon such, or take a new path as a continent, we will prosper as a people. One such aspect is colonialism, and re-colonialism.

OUR PROBLEM, IS OUR WILLINGNESS TO BE RE-COLONISED.

There are three phases of colonialism which Afrika has encountered so far.

*First phase of colonialism was direct; which was through wars of conquest, driven by the Arabs and later by Europeans with the help of Americans(USA), Canada and other American or Scandinavian countries, by virtue of their benefits through slave trading.

*The second phase (which is indirect in operation), was through the strategic position taken by Europe, that is to relinquish political power to a puppetry regime or assassinate or topple individuals who are not in agreement with them, or cook plans to do so in future. This phase was possible through a process of negotiations which gave birth to most of the so called independent states of Afrika. In such a process, Afrika was codified along the colonialist line whereby those who were under french colonialism were called francophone states or anglophone states in the case of erstwhile british colonies.

The most cynic thing is when these codes are played in the open by 'African' governments. Not long ago, Jean Ping (from Gabon) and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (from South Africa) squared up against each other on the AU Commission Chairperson position. Their campaigner's language was not of canvassing about what, or how their candidates will unite or develop Afrika, or what leadership capabilities their preferred candidates can bring forth in leading AU to prosperity but they deadlocked at the end, just because of using these colonial codes as their campaign modus operandi.

So the possibilities of leadership qualities of each individual in the race, held during the AU meeting in Addis Ababa was not a factor to be used as a mode of requirement from both candidates, but only how were you better colonized then and now. Even Nigeria in the eyes of South Africa's general opinion was suspected of siding with the francophone than siding with the anglophone, as it was expected, due to the language case factor.

The indirect second phase of colonialism has worked wonders in Afrika but colonialists are still not happy with this format as it produces mixed results, which at some stages it's detrimental to their benefits.

*The third phase which in many cases combines both aspects or symptoms of the first and second phases is whereby colonialists use mild and ruthless strategies simultaneously. An engagement of such note, has been noticeable in almost nine countries, namely; Zimbabwe, Kenya, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Cote d'Ivoire and recently in Nigeria, Mali and Uganda. These colonizers uses forms of military invasions where it deems it fit to do so, like in Libya and Cote d'Ivoire; or military threats, like in Mali, Egypt and Tunisia. And if military processes are not a feasible method of engagement, threats of sanctions or application thereof are their resolute means, as we have seen it with Zimbabwe, Mali and Kenya. In cases like Nigeria and Uganda; they sponsor or foment rebellions like that of Boko Haram, or produce propaganda material like that of Kony:2012 so that the world will stand by them and justify the placing of Africom troops in Uganda under the guise of bringing Joseph Kony and his LRA troops to justice; or claiming to be willing to help Nigeria combat Boko Haram, if Nigeria itself show signs of failure to do so.

In all these problems we have listed, it boils down to our leadership and their willingness to effect the third phase of colonialism as a bastion to salvage Europe from its economic decay and greed for Afrika's resources. Greece and Portugal have shown the signs of decay earlier because they are not economic and political powers in the global arena but France, USA and Britain are also in huge debts, more than the two, but their military mights, act as facade of their hunger whilst 'African' leaders have continuously failed to stand by each other, either in political matters in general, or economics of their respective countries and regions. Instead they have allied with China and Russia; which in itself is another form of colonialism at its best, because their place in the alliance is not on equal footing with these countries, instead they are beggars. Acting as parasitic insects, that wants to make noise on the ears of China and Russia whilst sucking little amount of blood from them, and giving more of their own resources in exchange.

The countries that are at the forefront in ensuring that we're re-colonized again, with or without our approval as the general populace of this continent are; South Africa (Headed by Jacob Zuma), Nigeria (Goodluck Jonathan), Cote d'Ivoire (Allassane Outtarra), Botswana (Ian Khama), Libya (NTC), Egypt (through the Military Council and Muslim Brotherhood), Tunisia (through its Military Council and ?Moncef Marzouki), Burkina Faso (Blaise Campaore), and a host of miniature players on the continent.

THE SOLUTION TO THIS MALAISE.

1. Afrika needs to unite at all costs. And if Afrikan unity must come through the spillage of blood, of both the Pan Afrikanists revolutionaries or that of the sellouts, so be it. No amount of unity is cheap, let alone of this continent.

2. Afrika can't use foreign currencies to confirm its prestige on the global arena, but it must dictate the terms of economic engagement after a uniformed solution has been outlined by a uniformed body of continental politics in relation to their resources.

3. Afrika's leadership must be developed at an early stage; through institutions that will foster our cultures and it must be operated through a uniformed language of operation, and do away with english and french as medium of business and political operation.

4. Do away with tribes as tribes are a foreign concept to Afrika.

5. Do away with foreign religions and political philosophies, that are in no way going to uplift Afrika to its prime glory.

6. Develop our own curricula, be it on education in general, politics or economy.

If we follow through on the above, we won't analyze our political lives based on the colonizers religious concepts and economic terms, but on our own conditions, experience and aspirations.

By Sipho Nkala
Deputy President, Pan Africanist Youth Congress (PAYCO) of Azania