THE WORRYING TREND: 70% depending on the 30% of the population

It’s on a Wednesday morning,27th February, around 10:30 a.m, 30 minutes to my favorite lecture, so I’m in a hurry to get the front seats,as I get through the main gate the presence of the cafe which is just adjacent to the main gate reminds me that I hadn’t taken breakfast in the morning as usual, not only a reminder but a warning too that sooner or later I’ll not comfortably sit in the lecture hall because hunger pangs will be working on my stomach walls like no one’s business. Well, I am obliged to branch and spend some penny in breakfast before proceeding, and yes,by this I’m trying to prevent the ulcers menace that has been a song in my village,purported to be caused by hunger.I do not know how true this is,I will call my doctor friend who’s an intern at a local clinic,probably tomorrow to confirm it’s authenticity though I’m not sure if this time she will demand for “Kitu Kidogo” (Bribe) to authenticate my statement,that’s how we live over here anyway. It seems there’s a long queue today of customers so I have to wait till I get served. At this moment I decide to get busy coz the queue ain’t bearable,then staring around my eyes get glued on the 14 inch TV set mounted on the Cafe’s wall, at the local channel, Wiz Kid’s “Socosoco” song is played,literally I don’t know what it means,meanwhile the beats are good and so I gotta feel the beat and the socosoco reapeatation(It’s a real concern over here because the DJs stopped playing East Africans songs). After a short while a live event coverage takes over and the highlight goes “Pan-Africanism Anniversary.” Well,the last time I met the word “Pan-Africanism” was three years ago in a History and Government class. I can’t vividly remember what the topic entailed,after all we were to cram to scoop marks at the final exams. And here the guest speaker is on stage,he talks of 100% creation of jobs for the youths,Better healthcare and good education which is sustainable even for the coming generations. I’m a bit disturbed when he makes a remark that the Youth’s ratio across the continent compared to the elderly is 70%. Wait! Did he just say 70%?, I am not good in mathematics but 100%-70%= 30%. So 30% represents the elderly across African countries. At this point something strikes my mind.
In a normal population setup, it’s very possible to have that type of variation. Mostly in Africa where the life expectancy reduces each and every time,due to so many factors. So we all agree that it’s very normal for the Youth’s population to hit at 70%(35yrs and below).What worries me more than anything else is the dependence ratio. In a normal population with the demographic of the context, it’s always the 70% that should be actively taking part in nation building, and I stand not to be corrected in this. However, in Africa, particularly in my country in the East the Sahara Desert;North East of River Limpopo;East of the African Continent,it’s the vice versa,it’s the 70% depending on the 30%. Irony. This is very dangerous to the economy in the sense that when the output of resources is greater than the labor input an equilibrium imbalance is experienced. A factor like this is the main reason why they had to get the huge loans from the Chinese Government, to cater for the needs of the ever growing population, a population that doesn’t have a job to do to get the money back to the government, a population that stretches for the available resources and social amenities. This is the 70% that has been talked about some minutes ago by the guest speaker. And trust me,the root of the overwhelming poverty that faces the beautiful African land. Still,I can assure you that with such a trend it’ll take almost a century for one wise African daughter/son to embrace the idea of giving more youths the opportunities in different fields.
My neighbor here argues that experience is most considered in job markets,which might be right but still a wrong idea at the same time. We are loosing the African culture. Take a look at the lives of our forefathers; for instance,the young who were considered to be very energetic used to provide for and protect the community from invaders,while the old were to give guidance and train the young ones,that life must have been the sweetest because one would learn to become responsible at a tender age. This type of setup was therefore followed and respected. The same should apply during our times too;we need more advisors in different government dockets,those who can come up with the best framework for a project that they themselves will just oversee it’s progress, as this happens,the youths,the said 70% should be at their best working on the projects in different disciplines. The knowledge imparted on the youth can make Africa great and the imaginary “Wakanda nation” can come to an existence,because it’s very ironical to believe the fact that Africa is very resourceful and rich but still the poorest countries are still within it’s spheres.
I advocate for an earlier retirement if the guest speaker today really meant it when he talked of 100% employment for the youth. And by this it doesn’t mean that I am against the pension plan.No! I don’t want the elderly to face Mount Kenya at Sunset,spiting while calling out my name(Cursing). Just pay them as long as they still live and breath the African air freely. Let the game change,let the 70% feed the 30%.
Oh! I have just been tapped by the waiter that my order is ready. Back to something else now.