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There is visibly no basic research in Urban Studies in majority Africa
nations. I am trying to build a school www.siup.ac.ug/?cat=9 that I
feel will fill in the gap.
For over fifth years now, Africans have dismally developed the
vestiges of their economic development, the cities left behind by
Europe. These cities are rapidly expanding into slum cities,
perforated with all sorts of inadequate and substandard modern
technologies and infrastructures; Housing, Sewer, Water, HealthCare
facilities, recreation or cultural centres, vessels (vehicles) of all
types, modern skyscrapers, high streets, and tribes of elite
societies, mixed with very poor wretched of the earth, normally street
begging, vending or utilizing garbage dumps as restaurants. etc.,.
The cities though are “relatively liveable” and therefore the
seemingly easy life alternative they offer, is an attraction to many
village dwellers.
Year’s ago, I tried to immense myself in economics theory and later
discovered it was indeed not economics theory that could solve
Africa’s backwardness. In fact, Africa has some of the most brilliant
European trained economists.
Why did they fail so miserably in their vocation?
I discovered the lacuna, after analysing economics data. Majority
Africa economies harvest between 75%-90% of respective GDP from cities
besides those Nations with huge fossil fuel reserves and production.
Had I stumbled over the theory of economic development?
The cities mentioned above, were largely founded by Europeans as
administrative outposts, metamorphosing into commercial and trading
centres. Note too that Middle Eastern Traders (Arab Merchants) and
Asians (Chinese) had already penetrated Africa before Europeans landed
on the continent.
Unlike Europeans, they traded and never created cities as secondary
human settlements!
Europeans did with some level of sophistication, call it physical planning.
Visibly and from a sociological perspective Africa European developed
cities have better material wellbeing and have relatively better
living standards.
Fifty years on, despite enormous challenges like huge traffic jams,
pollution, petty crime, lack of housing, informal trade and commerce,
Africa nation’s cities are grappling with a huge financial
infrastructure development needs and deficits.
In the technology age, African cities are phenomenal since they
espouse modem infrastructure. They are therefore generating the new
rich, developing into autonomous virtualpreneurs (virtual
entrepreneurs) with super earnings.
Their only need is the internet to develop their ware which they vend
online. They have no address, office and businesses and are not
registered anywhere but they have an internet domain name and address.
Who will develop Africa Cities – join me and the world on the
30th-31st October in Kampala www.uidc-ea.org
Collection:
In the same spirit, banks have leapfrogged into the new system by
offering ones mobile number as one's account at least here in Uganda.
The revolution will not be televised – it is now true decisions are
longer made in the boardroom but direct from society on streets,
ramshackle villages where society is taking up technology and how the
same society reacts to technology in more than fascinating instances.
NOT
In the same spirit, banks have leapfrogged into the new system by
offering ones mobile number as one's account at least here in Uganda.
The revolution will not be televised – it is now true decisions are
longer made in the boardroom by direct from society on streets,
ramshackle villages where society is taking up technology and how the
same society is reacts to it in more than fascinating instances.
Daniel Bwanika .
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