Hannes Wessels,
I’m certainly not looking for any sympathy, (cowboys don’t cry we were taught), but being of European descent, coming from a family that left Europe over 300 years ago, and having lived all my life in Africa, I think it is fair to say that our ever dwindling ‘white tribe’ has long felt forsaken. Most of us have simply had to shrug our shoulders and accept that events simply overtook us, while some of us tried to resist but were overwhelmed, and we probably, through some fault of our own, found ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.
My generation has weathered war, mindless political hostility and anti-white racial invective and related persecution at home culminating in Robert Mugabe’s ethnic cleansing that commenced 45 years ago and wrecked our lives.
But here we have long known that in the eyes of the world ‘white cannot be right’ and therefore we have been constantly cast as the perpetual culprits that everyone loves to hate, no matter how overwhelming the evidence to the contrary. This, thanks in large part to a global media complex that has persisted in peddling a singly prejudicial narrative that mentions little other than slavery, the ‘scourge’ of colonialism and the alleged ‘avarice’ of ‘white settlers’.
These falsehoods have, for decades, been well and widely received, and amplified, by the left-leaning ruling class that has dominated the Western body politic since WWII. From Britain’s Harold Wilson to Sweden’s Olaf Palme, and America’s Jimmy Carter, the anti-white narrative was persistent and effective.
In their view we should never have been here in the first place and we have proved an ongoing embarrassment that has induced a wholly undeserved sense of guilt among the people of the Western world, which comes with consequences; and this has been addressed by the most massive financial assistance campaign in world history. Western ‘aid’ started to flow in the early 60’s and, no matter how incompetent and corrupt the recipient governments have performed, a total of US$2.6 trillion has flooded the continent since 1960, most of which has been squandered or stolen.
I have had to watch this catastrophic waste of money with an unusually jaundiced eye. I grew up in the most comprehensively sanctioned country in recent history, which was also at war with the world; and yet somehow, we not only survived but to an extent prospered. This was simply because Rhodesia was well governed, corruption was almost unknown, laws were firmly and fairly enforced, and the citizenry, both black and white, were motivated, innovative and industrious, and nothing was wasted.
In 1980, when power was transferred to Robert Mugabe, the country, despite the turmoil, was fundamentally in excellent shape and ripe for success. The Zimbabwe dollar equalled one British pound! Added to this, the international community lined up for the privilege of showering the new regime with excessive financial and political support. With a golden age for the taking, the new rulers ‘knew better’.
Local white expertise in the private and public sector was ruthlessly dispensed with, and an autocratic form of centralist socialism was introduced, but no matter how badly the new government behaved, aid money and international support kept coming. This ushered in what became notionally a failed state, riddled with serial hyperinflation, while millions, almost all blacks, were condemned to penury or abject poverty.
That is the Zimbabwe story but in some shape or form, a similar sequence of events has unfolded throughout post-colonial Africa from Ghana’s independence in 1957 where trillions of dollars were poured in to support governments and bureaucracies that have done little other than enrich themselves at the expense of the people they are empowered to uplift.
It has also been very clear to those of us who live here that the NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organisations) entrusted to distribute and manage these funds, being virtually unaccountable for a long time, have been a law unto themselves. Aa result, very little of this largesse has actually gone to where it might do some good. In fact, without going into detail, there is little doubt in my mind that Western aid has done far more harm than good because much of it has been used to buttress bad governance, bureaucratic elites and create corrupt billionaires rather than alleviate poverty and stimulate growth. The result is that sub-Saharan Africa, more than 60 years after the advent of decolonisation, suffers widespread poverty and appalling governance.
Proof of this enormous failure can be seen in the boats that daily traverse the waters of the Mediterranean loaded with Africans desperately seeking the safety and stability that their former European colonial nations offer in contrast to the hellholes they’ve abandoned.
It is against this bleak backdrop that Donald Trump has burst back into political power to shatter the status quo, not only in his home country, but across the globe.
Trump is busy reshaping America and the world. But in my humble opinion, his most important message to the community of nations is that, if a country, community, corporation or organisation, is to sustain itself and prosper, merit, and merit alone, must always be the measure of a man or a woman, while discrimination in any form based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion is simply unacceptable no matter who is discriminating against who.
In this vein Trump has taken time out of his busy schedule to finger South Africa’s ANC for discriminating against the white minority with particular emphasis on the recently promulgated Land Expropriation Act which, protestations of President Ramaphosa and other politicians notwithstanding, is clearly aimed at dispossessing white farmers and pursuing the same path to self-destruction as followed by Robert Mugabe.
Adding to the shock and awe, rippling through this continent, Trump, with the help of Elon Musk, has plans to smash the scamsters who have long abused the generosity of Americans and corrupted the administration of USAID to the detriment of Africa and the world.
For someone who loves Africa and yearns for a brighter future for this benighted sub-continent, for the first time in 60 years, I see a glimmer of light ahead in what has been a dark tunnel for far too long.
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It’s refreshing to hear a faint hint of optimism from you, given the tone and narrative of previous publications here. At the time of writing, Trump was to announce even more ‘shock and awe’ plans for the new Riviera (ambitions appear boundless). Let’s hope his thinly veiled warning to SA and the alleged phone call mentioned by Hersov yield some positive results, even if they are longer term, for SA and Africa at large.
Thanks Hannes for your excellent article, always worth reading your posts.
Thanks Irving. I must say I feel re-energised by this man; maybe the most transformative leader to appear since Martin Luther and the Reformation?
Lets hope he has a minute to spare for Zimbabweans
Yes my thoughts exactly Danny; he’s got a lot on his plate but let us hope?
Well written Hannes as always. I think it is an excellent idea to have your writing have mor international exposure, especially now that it won’t all fall on deaf ears in the US. Kind regards
Thanks Paul, the times certainly ‘are a changing’ as Bod Dylan said!
A brilliant article by Hannes and I sincerely hope that DJT will follow through and upset the apple carts of many corrupt African Governments. I fear however that his threats will simply drive the incompetent governing kleptocrats to seek support from Russia and China. The former will simply shore up bad regimes with assistance to brutally suppress opposition in exchange for mainly mineral assets, The latter is much more subtle using financial entrapment, funding grand projects with debt at high interest rates which cannot be serviced and collecting the collateral in the form of strategic assets like air and seaports and potential naval bases.
As Hannes says, there is almost zero understanding of economics among the general public on sub-Saharan Africa and very little among their leaders. Educating good people in Africa is a hugely desirable aim but in most cases, the western educated Africans become permanent emigrants rather than domestic politicians. This is the reality that DJT will have to grapple with if he is to change things in the immediate target of his wrath, South Africa.
What is really going on in South Africa.
https://youtu.be/9X9Uyk5Vx4A?si=kN1cYqj-19yf3RVg
Amen, brother
Excellent and succinctly summarised Hannes, thank you. Western aid while used naively (and often irresponsibly) by the West (incl. US) to obtain political concessions/loyalties in the Cold War era is patently clear did not work but only encouraged the widespread avarice, incompetence and grotesque corruption. Driving from Buffalo Range to Ghonarezhou recently and seeing what were once thriving game and cattle ranches and now simply desert, I reckon the indigenous population looks a heck of a lot worse off than they did under so-called colonialism.
Well done Hannes – superbly written as always!
Let’s hope that all this happening around the time of the next World Economic Forum meeting for IHR Pandemic Treaty, doesn’t divert our eyes to contesting the WHO pushing through their legislation amendments at their next meeting, beginning I think, on the 17th Feb. If they succeed, we will lose the last of our freedom and sovereignty.
All the best.
Al
Let’s hope that possibility is fading Al but I’d put nothing past the Poms falling for something like this.
Well done Hannes. Keep banner flying.
You can contact Trump directly. He has a Facebook page, “Donald J Trump.” Send him a private message on that. He is an avid reader of anything addressed to him. It may be sent by a staff member first, but Trump will eventually see it.
I’m always amazed by how these types of
articles never mention the real culprits in the corruption and exploitation and manipulation of the governments in these countries – the corporations. In all transactions there is willing seller, willing buyer and the corporations are the ones who willingly sell the greed and corruption formula to all these nations and states, not only in Africa. Zero accountability or blame for them though is there, it’s business as usual…
They would argue that their job is to run companies, increase shareholder value, other groups to manage governments.
In SA it gets worse – the masses don’t know what economics is, have no clue of the implications of government activities, are still largely tribal by culture. Chuck in the destructive wokery that plagues the West…….and it’s little wonder we’re stuffed.
Spot on.
Generally the truth comes out so we pray and hope the worm, one in SA the size of a well fed python, has turned. The dangers are a West in decline, a decline we hope Trump can at least stall for a while, but that the continent has a populace regarded as too ignorant and foolish to try and communicate with?
Well said Hannes, your articles are always interesting .
A great post Hannes….precisely my thoughts as well on this troubling issue ! Now with the seismic shift in US politics having happened, I sincerely hope many of those brain-washed Yanks will see above the media propaganda thrown at them daily . There is some light at the end of that grubby tunnel. The newspaper groups are losing readership….CNN and MSNBC are losing viewership, and past liberal media heroes are losing their jobs . All this evokes a small spring of hope in me .There is evidence before us that an attempt at a return to Democratic normalcy….more or less as we knew it in Rhodesia in the not too distant past . There is a desperate attempt by the liberal establishment to demonise and bring down “Trump”….but it ain’t gonna work…because he will “fight,fight,fight” them and will win , with increasing support from the populace worldwide ! I would not make a friend of Trump…but, I sure as hell support his leadership style and achievements !
I look forward to your future posts Hannes…they stimulate me to a higher level of positivity ! As a side issue, I have created a lecture/meeting/training room to sit 18 people at my place in Durbanville . I have installed all the items required for these activities…white boards,75-inch TV, dual CD/DVD TV etc.I have also built a Lapa alongside for the coffee/tea breaks etc. Liaise with me should you wish to utilise this facility in the future . It is not a money spinner for me…I wish to use it as a facility to offer for worthwhile causes .
Thanks for your kind offer Ian.
Brilliant summing up of the madness involving aid to Africa and the absolute incompetence and destruction caused by African governments
A great article Hannes and yes hopefully what DJT is doing will go a long way to righting what has been so wrong for decades.
There is just one mistake. The Rhodesian Dollar was worth ten shillings, so there were $2.00 to the GB£. They were not equal.
Not so Mark. Wikipedia shows the below.
The dollar was introduced on 17 February 1970, roughly two weeks before the declaration of a republic on 2 March 1970. It replaced the Rhodesian pound at a rate of 2 dollars to 1 pound. The dollar proved to be a strong currency, at parity with the pound sterling right up to the very end of Rhodesia in 1980, when it was replaced by the Zimbabwean dollar at par. However, the Rhodesian dollar was never a fully convertible currency and its exchange rate was therefore not an indication of the underlying economics.
Mark – Zimbabwe-Rhodesia come 1980 had long converted to the dollar metric … it’s a quibble but I reported on this at the time – we had exact 1:1 parity with the US Dollar – I remember how embarrassed that genius David Young, Secretary in the Treasury, who had masterminded the UDI economy through real sanctions, a Third World country without petroleum reserves and fighting a civil war on 3 fronts, how embarrassed he was that we had fallen to such low levels as parity with the American dollar – in 1963 the ratio was 3 Pounds Sterling equivalent to One Rhodesian Pound, such was the strength and management of our economy. As events unfolded nothing symbolised the failure and carnage of the new autocracy than the Z$100trillion bank notes ushered in by Gideon Gono, owner of the largest mansion in the country while bragging that the World Bank was trying to recruit him.
Good article Hannes and right on the money. My personal opinion is that the sub Saharan Bantu are not capable of running a civilized society. Too corrupt and blood thirsty much like the Palestinians in Gaza. They just don’t “get it” and are enabled by stupid left wing woke idiots in the Wimpy West…..
Yebo, yes. DJT is probably destined to becoming the most hated man on earth by so many liberal bunny-huggers, but many, many presidents should take valuable lessons from this man on how to run a country properly and apply the rule of law!
Excellent, well said Hannes 👍😀