Africa has the home advantage – it now needs to up the game

Lazarus Sauti

In team sports, home advantage describes the psychological advantage that the hosting team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans.

With the backing of singing supporters, the home team, in most cases, is considered to have a significant advantage over the visitors.

Playing at home can be a big bonus in sustainable soci0economic development too especially for Africa, the continent remarked by American business magnate, politician and philanthropist, Michael Rubens Bloomberg, as the ‘continent of the immediate future’.

With its vast resources, the continent can establish a strong base that can catapult countries to greater economic transformation.

Devakumar Edwin of Dangote, the hugely successful Nigerian conglomerate, believes that with vast natural and natural resources, the continent of Africa is at an advantage – playing with a home advantage in terms of the path to development and socioeconomic transformation.

With its vociferous supporters – natural and human resources – the continent, without doubt, is attracting greater than ever interest from the international financial community.

To utilise its home advantage, Africa simply needs to up her game so as to lay a firm foundation for her kick-start towards development.

“What will prove decisive is Africa’s capacity to have a game changer that will radically transform the structure of its economies and jump-start it towards industrialisation,” equips Dr. Said Adejumobi, associate professor of political science.

Industrial progress that will trigger better living standards for Africans is, therefore, the key for Africa to unlock the future.

“Industrialisation cannot be considered a luxury, but a necessity for the continent’s development,” said South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma shortly after she became chair of the African Union in 2013.

Dlamini-Zuma added that this economic transformation can only happen by addressing certain priority areas across the continent.

Accordingly, the continent must come up with home-grown solutions, and these way-outs must support local industries by offering tax holidays on top of credit guarantees.

Sustaining local industries provides Africa with an opportunity to grant the much needed jobs for young citizens since many countries across the continent are still struggling to tackle mass unemployment – a burden that is hindering development.

Africans must also be summoned to invest within the continent.

This should take in trade between African countries as it is imperative in order to overcome the limitations of the continent’s many small and fragmented economies.

Governments, individually and collectively, must develop conducive as well as supportive policy and investment guidelines. Clearly-defined rules and regulations in the legal and tax domains, contract transparency, sound communication, predictable policy environments, and currency and macroeconomic stability are essential to attract long-term investors.

To be familiar with her facilities, Africa must heavily invest in vital infrastructure such as rail, road, power and telecommunications. Undeniably, the development of Africa’s energy sector is also a prerequisite for growth in other industries.

More so, Africa needs to practice good governance – a way of organising, amplifying, and constraining power, according to Rebecca MacKinnon – a blogger and co-founder of Global Voice Online.

The continent also needs to deal with corruption – a cancer more deadly that Ebola. Pratibha Patil, Indian lawyer and politician, once reminded humanity that corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must therefore be got rid off.

To attract fans, supporters and sponsors, a football team should play an interesting brand of football. In terms of development, Africa should add value to her natural resources. By adding value to resources, the continent can effectively change the lives of citizens. 

Researcher Collence Chisita believes for Africa to settle her future, she must document and be in command of her cultures – including her critical information.

“It is shamefully embarrassing that important information about the continent of Africa is often concocted and dished from outside the continent. We rely on foreign institution – research and media organisations – to give information about us,” he said.

The information scientist goes on to say that with correct information, Africa can kick-start her development.

Dr. Adejumobi agrees: “With accurate and reliable data, Africa can plan and project, define its vision, and chart the course of its future. Planning without reliable data is indeed planning to fail.”

Accordingly, Chisita and Adejumobi urge Africa to document her critical information and data.

To run away from the away goals rules, the continent needs good coaches or schemers (leaders) of President Robert Mugabe’s caliber – leaders who rise to the challenge of creating continental peace and co-operation.

With leaders of President Mugabe’s heart, the continent can realise its strength and use its resources to kick-start development.