Intelligible Combat For African Businesses

It appears we fight for almost everything. From Independence to societal wellness, political reforms, legislative amendments; the fight, it’s all round. In Africa, rays of hope have indeed shone on individual endavours making collective economic boost a requisite for better change.

            How have the different parts of Africa muddle through in the strife to better business plans for its citizens? North Africa has been grouped alongside the Middle East because of religious and cultural similarities but its economic and political inclinations lately have left them economically pale with regressive foreign investment and high employment rate index. Countries like Egypt, Tunisia Morocco are battling refugee crisis and insecurity. Though they seem the most collectively developed part of Africa which is an advantage in international business stride.

            In Eastern and Southern Africa non-market players and tourism are key characters in direct foreign investment. Though, apolitical models in business are causing more harm than good. Western Africa has experienced swings in business reforms. More people are now engaged in their personal business activities thereby reducing the work load of government in employment spending and of course causing high rise unemployment. The smallest wood cubicle can now pass for a business office.

            For one to address a challenge it must have been known and the various negative experiences learnt in order to fully patch the loopholes. What are the challenges facing African businesses from a leader’s perspective. There are too much disunity among African countries, the problem of electricity, bad roads, limited market, lack of creativity and originality, infrastructural decay, corruption, greediness, laziness among the youths, and government regulation for business without the reciprocated market.

How best can these challenges be faced from my leadership perspective? First is funds and direct government investment in production e.g. agriculture. Small and Medium Scale Enterprises is the only hope for catapulting Africa businesses. If possible I will get hold of all SMEs in the country and encourage them with capital. There is need for African leaders in partnership with the African Union to have an all round table talk on uniting Africa through trade barrier restriction, migration, cultural respect and political morality rather than holding conferences on tackling terrorism which to some extent will be solved through economic boost and employment.

 FOR UONGOZI INSTITUTE LEADERSHIP ESSAY CONTEST (Submitted 31/05/2016)