BY and large I have not really cared about the United States of America President Barack Obama.
There is more to being African than one’s skin colour.
Mr Obama excited many an African who felt that for the first time in history Africans would get a better deal with him at the helm of the United States.
Many felt trade and business deals would become favourable, that Africa would be treated better and with dignity.
But America has remained America.
Its treatment of Africa has not changed.
The condescending behaviour remains.
I for one never went gaga over Obama; he is an American president and remains true to America and its ideals.
But watching him address the United Nations General Assembly left me riled, sometimes the hypocrisy is just too much.
The world particularly Zimbabwe must not for once be fooled by the man’s silver tongue.
Obama is an eloquent speaker, but therein ends his talk, in eloquence.
Besides eloquence, his word has no substance, it is not sincere.
We must not be hoodwinked by his pledges and pleas.
We must not be tempted to regarding America as the land that will assist in transforming fortunes of nations.
America, like always, will continue serving the needs of America alone seeking world dominance.
Mr Obama said he was committed to ending extreme poverty in the world, but the actions of his nation do not denote that.
Through its organisations the US will continue offering ‘support’ that creates a dependence syndrome that will keep nations in perpetual poverty.
His form of support through the Bretton Wood Institutions is sinking nations deeper into poverty instead of getting them out.
Africa’s debt overhang is not shrinking but continues to grow.
One wonders how this commitment to ending extreme poverty is working out when nations continue to suffer as a result of America’s actions.
Nations such as Iraq continue to burn because of the United States and despite the promises made by Mr Obama.
He spoke of thinking globally and acting cooperatively but we know better.
Interestingly it is only the Americans that can think globally and not small nations.
Zimbabwe has been thinking globally engaging countries such as China and Russia and Uncle Sam is not happy, we have been blasted for ‘thinking globally and acting cooperatively’.
The relations between the United States and Africa has not changed, they remain that of master and servant, big brother and small brother.
If we are to think the United States will treat us as equals, without us demanding it, we will be doomed.
Obama went on to claim: “No matter who you are, or where you come from, or what you look like, or what God you pray to, or who you love, there is something fundamental that we all share.”
But who we are matters to the West and they would want us to change.
‘Support’ and ‘aid’ has been promised us if we compromise our culture and values.
Millions have been promised us if we are to embrace things such as homosexuality that are anathema to Africa.
Obama speaks not in the interest of the world, but of the United States.
That must always be known and never forgotten.
Mr Obama declared that the world has no place for ‘fanaticism and hate’ yet it is the US and its allies’ hate of the way we conduct our business that has made life hard for us.