CHANGES IN AFRICA AFTER INDEPENDENCE
Most of the African states acquired political independence in 1960s. They had to perform thorough change in ideological, political, social and economic systems to meet the expectations of the citizens of Free states of Africa. These changes had to be effected by the new governments of Africa.
During the struggle for independence, the natives were promised by their leader, a good life after independence, redistribution of land, availability of jobs, good and reliable social services, equality and many others. For instance, in Gold Coast (Ghana), Mr. Kwame Nkrumah influenced the Ghanaians to seek first the political kingdom and other things shall be added on it. These expectations had to be implemented after the independence of Gold Coast. In Kenya, politicians promised the mass of Kenyans to fight for their freedom in order to regain their land from the colonial masters and so forth. The same situation was in the rest of the colonies.
The changes after independence had to be effected immediately in order to eliminate the grievances the natives had as a result of colonial exploitation and socio political oppression. After independence the African governments had to perform transformation of various sectors in favor of the native’s social economic and political developments. In this topic we shall learn the following changes in Africa after independence.
1. Changes in Political activities,
2. Changes in Economic activities,
3. Changes in provision of formal education,
4. Changes in provision of health services,
5. Changes in provision of water,
6. Changes in provision of housing services,
7. Establishment of National military services,
8. Problems hindering development after independence in Africa.
THE FACTORS FOR THE CHANGES AFTER INDEPENDENCE
The following factors necessitated the changes the natives had to do after independence;
1. Colonial economic exploitation. During colonial time, most of the fertile lands were owned by few people, the white settlers and few native rulers (feudal lords). The colonial authorities used land alienation as a means of ensuring enough land for the white settlers and turn the Africans landless cheap labors. Colonial taxes were also used a means of accessing the cheap labor and a means increasing colonial government revenue.
The natives were required to grow cash crops to supply raw materials to the European industries and not for the benefits of the native planters. The native labors were less paid by colonial employers; they were also working under difficult conditions. There were so many grievances to the natives which had to be transformed after independence.
2. Colonial social oppression. In the colonial era, the natives became the victims of poor social services such as poor education health, water housing services. They were also racially segregated and discriminated by the colonialists, they were subjected to casual (blue collar) jobs, while the whites for the white-collar activities. This situation had by any means ought to be changed after independence.
3. Colonial political oppression. There was no proportional representative in the colonial legislature (LEGCO). A number of native members was very small while the white members were in a big number, as time went on a number of native members increased. In the political posts, the natives were very few and were used as the puppets of colonial authorities. Generally speaking the natives lost their sovereignty. They were required to transform the situation after independence.
4. Biased colonial constitutions. The colonial time constitutions were meant at preserving colonial interests. The articles of the constitutions undermined the native’s rights in favor of the Europeans. The constitutions had to be reformed so as to paramount the basic rights of the natives after independence. New articles were added in new in the constitutions so as to bring more justice to the natives.
5. European ideologies. The capitalistic system of the Europeans brought more harm than good to the natives. The few capitalists (white settlers) owned the economy and were favored by the authorities. The gap between the haves and the have not’s was very wide. This situation had to be transformed. After independence in some countries, the natives had to adapt new ideologies such as Negretude in Senegal, Humanism in Zambia, Common man charter in Uganda, Ujamaa in Tanzania and so on.
6. Multi-party system. In colonial time, multiparty system was not used as a means of implementing democracy but a means of dividing and ruling the natives. It brought national division which delayed the national independence struggles. The system had to be transformed after independence. Many countries adapted single party system after independence.
7. Governments. The colonial governments were the extension of European governments. Even few years after independence, the African governments were linked with the monastic governments of Europe. Example; the Westminster model of British administration. They had to be turned to Republics, Paris model or Washington model so as to have a complete independence. Example, the Republic of Tanganyika.
8. European culture. The new governments had to find a way of promoting patriotism among the natives, for example they had to promote new national languages, new flags, new national anthems, and new national currencies and so on. For example, Tanzania started using Kiswahili as a national language; Botswana started using Pula as their national currency. Zambia and Malawi started using Kwacha as their national currencies.
9. Colonial administrative systems. In colonial time, colonial administration was too bureaucratic, when the natives wanted their problems to be attended; they were not responded on time. Colonial administration was also accompanied with direct rule, indirect rule, assimilation and association system which could not comply with the natives demands. It had to be transformed after independence.
10. Military services. The colonial forces (armies) were meant at protecting colonial boundaries, handling African disputes and so on, example the King's African Rifles in the British colonies. The armies had to be transformed in favor of the new demands after independence. In Tanzania for instance, in 1964 the TPDF (Tanzania Peoples Defense Force) was formed.
