I totally disagree with Mr Edrissa Mass Jobe’s argument that “Vision 2016 is attainable” (The Standard, Wednesday, 5th November 2014).
He stated in the interview: “I am an engineer and I think it is achievable. I think there are two things one should separate and to decolonise our minds because the first thing is the constraint of desire. Is the desire for food self-sufficiency good? This is the desire that our parents should start producing rice and we eat it instead of buying the rice. This is a good idea that as Africans we should produce on our own. But it is the state of our colonised mentality. By producing the food that we eat, we are also ensuring that the poor people in the country would also have income to feed their families”
This was indeed a baffling act of wishful thinking on the part of a man whose education and experience should have nudged him to say something contrary based on a dispassionate assessment of the situation on the ground. I disagree with him because Vision 2016 is not supported by plans as well as soft and hard infrastructure to make it achievable. On that brief note, I rest my case.
Dr Musa Jarra,
Fajara
Burkina Faso: The anger of the people is justified
Dear editor,
It has been 27 years since the assassination of President Thomas Sankara and those who fell with him on that 15th day of October 1987. This odious action was followed by other ignominious crimes that touched many minds both inside the country and outside our shores.
Twenty-seven years after the assassination of President Thomas Sankara, the fundamental liberties of the Burkinabés are scoffed at. The majority of the population is unemployed. Their essential needs are not taken care of: food, water, electricity, shelter, education, clothing and health.
The people are no longer under any illusion concerning the policies that jeopardise the development and reputation of Burkina Faso.
Moreover, the ethical values, the foundation of the 4th of August 1983 Revolution are no longer of topical interest to the rulers. In contrast to the period of the revolution, the extant regime no longer plays any significant role in the understanding of the real issues of national and African integration; more generally, of the globalisation of the world economy. These issues are shaped at different levels such as sustainable development (environmental degradation and depleting resources), development research, training, promotion of culture, women emancipation, the struggle against inequalities, the promotion of partnership and solidarity at national, continental and international levels.
Despite the disastrous situation that the Burkinabé people endured, the Blaise Campaoré regime wanted to hang on to power at all costs by modifying article 37 of the Constitution.
Faced with this new challenge, the Burkinabé people have decided, in their overwhelming majority, to resist by marches which are the expression of the rejection of the policy put in place, disapproval of both the installing of a Senate and the modification of article 37 of the Constitution.
These unprecedented marches demonstrate the weariness of the people in relation to the politics of the CDP whose failure needs no demonstration.
In fact, the regime has created in Burkina a situation where a minority is getting richer while the majority languishes in misery. The growing anger of the people of Burkina is largely justified. Instead of responding to the request of the people, the regime seems to opt for political impasse, knowing fully well that such an option could be such as to provoke a conflagration that could have nasty consequences for the country and a sub region that is already plunged into interminable conflicts.
The people must remain vigilant even as change has come. Our priority today is peace, real democracy and development for a prosperous Burkina. For our country the main issue is organising free and transparent elections with parties that propose real alternatives for our people. An alternative based on ethical values and the reconciliation of the sons and daughters of Burkina.
To conclude, I call for a gathering of Sankarists and of all progressive forces that aspire to change for the well-being of all Burkinabés. The fatherland or death, we will win!
Madame Mariam Sankara
Montpellier, France
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