Zimbabwe: When Will African Leaders Finally Wake Up?

Zimbabwe: When Will African Leaders Finally Wake Up?

Zimbabwe. A country that was once the breadbasket of Africa is now the face of struggle. You know things are bad when people have to export bread—yes, bread—from South Africa just so their families back home can eat. Imagine that. You’re in a country so economically wrecked that even the basics, like a simple loaf of bread, are a luxury.

And let’s be honest, this didn’t just happen overnight. Zimbabwe has been on a downward spiral for years. Who do we thank for this? Robert Mugabe, of course. Now, before you come at me, let’s talk facts. The man made one of the biggest mistakes in leadership history—chasing away white farmers without training his own people first. Like, you don’t just wake up one day and fire your entire cooking staff before teaching someone how to make a pot of rice. That’s exactly what Mugabe did with Zimbabwe’s land reform. He took the land but didn’t prepare his people to sustain it. And now? The country is starving.

         [ate and Former president of Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe]

Mugabe’s family is filthy rich. They can hop on a plane, live in mansions, and do whatever they want while ordinary Zimbabweans are drowning in poverty. Retirement money is useless, salaries are a joke, and prices are so high that people are out here calculating their worth in eggs instead of dollars.

         [  Late and former president of Zimbabwe and his family ]

And here’s what frustrates me the most—African leaders are still not learning. They see what’s happening, but they continue making the same mistakes. Meanwhile, leaders like Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso are showing what real change looks like, yet the rest of the continent is out here acting like it’s none of their business. Wake up! South Africa literally got its aid funds cut off by the USA, but it’s like our leaders are in deep sleep.

        [ President Ibrahim Traore ]

And let’s address the elephant in the room—Africa’s wealth is not benefiting Africans. Our resources? Oh, best believe they are feeding the world. Europe, America, even China—none of these places would be where they are today without Africa’s natural wealth. It’s not even a conspiracy; it’s just history. But what do our leaders do? They sell us out for a quick paycheck and luxury lifestyles, while we, the people, are left to suffer.

It’s greed, it’s ignorance, it’s pure negligence. And at this point, I wouldn’t even be surprised if some big foreign power just swoops in and takes over again—because let’s be real, some of these leaders are running their countries so badly that an outsider could probably do a better job. And that’s a painful thing to admit.

So, when will Africa’s leaders actually put their people first? When will they stop chasing personal wealth and start building sustainable nations? Because if they don’t wake up soon, we’ll be having this same conversation ten years from now, only this time, the situation might be even worse.

This is Lili Phedra—my perspective, my reflection, and my frustration.

Africa shall rise again!

Sources:

1. Zimbabwe’s Economic Crisis and Mugabe's Land Reforms:

"Zimbabwe’s Economic Crisis: What Went Wrong?" – BBC News

Link: BBC News

2. The Impact of Land Reform on Zimbabwe’s Economy:

"The Impact of Land Reform on the Zimbabwean Economy" – Journal of Southern African Studies

Link: Taylor & Francis Online

3. Poverty in Zimbabwe and Food Shortages:

"Zimbabwe: The Struggle for Survival in the Face of Food Insecurity" – Al Jazeera

Link: Al Jazeera

4. Zimbabwe's Current Economic Struggles and Inflation:

"Zimbabwe: A Nation Battling Hyperinflation and Hunger" – The Guardian

Link: The Guardian

5. Mugabe's Legacy and Corruption:

"Robert Mugabe’s Legacy: A Timeline of a Troubled Rule" – Reuters

Link: Reuters

6. The Importance of African Leadership Learning from Mistakes:

"Why Africa Must Learn from Its Mistakes" – The Conversation

Link: The Conversation

7. Burkina Faso's Political Movements and African Leadership:

"Burkina Faso’s President Pushes for African Self-Sufficiency" – Africa News

Link: Africa News

Disclaimer:

Images used are solely used for educational purposes and nothing else.

Congo is Falling Apart, and No One in Power Cares

Congo is Falling Apart, and No One in Power Cares

I swear, this is insane. Every day, new reports come in about the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and it just feels like those in power either don’t care or are completely useless. The country is crumbling—people are dying, soldiers are being executed, and cities are falling to rebels—and yet, all I see from President Félix Tshisekedi and the so-called leadership is either silence or actions that make things worse.

The Soldiers: Does Tshisekedi Have a Backup Plan?

Let's talk about the Congolese army. We all know it’s been weak for years—poorly trained, poorly paid, and full of corruption. But now, after M23 took Goma and Bukavu, things have gone from bad to worse.

Over 300 Congolese soldiers were put on trial, and more than 260 received the death penalty for crimes like desertion, rape, and murder. (Reuters)

During a chaotic retreat from the rebels, some soldiers reportedly fired on civilians instead of protecting them. (The Guardian)

And look, I’m not excusing the crimes these soldiers committed—rape and murder are inexcusable. But does Tshisekedi realize that he’s executing or imprisoning his own army while the enemy keeps advancing?

Who is going to fight M23? Who is going to take back Goma and Bukavu? If soldiers are deserting, running away, and even rebelling, shouldn’t the government be asking why? Instead, it’s like they think punishing them will magically fix everything. It won’t. If you remove soldiers without a backup plan, you’re basically handing the rebels the country on a silver platter.

The Mayor: They Have Money, But They Do Nothing

    [As of January 2023, Zénon Karumba    serves as the mayor of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Prior to him, Bilubi Ulengabo Méschac held the position. Recent reports indicate that the M23 rebels have seized control of Bukavu and plan to appoint their own mayor for the city.]

And then we have the mayor of Bukavu. This mayor is sitting in power while the citiy is burning. But instead of protecting the most vulnerable—street kids who have nowhere to go, orphans left behind by war—he send out a document telling them to leave or face death.

Authorities in Goma reportedly issued a warning to street children to "disappear" from the streets, despite the rising threats from M23.

Instead of setting up shelters or calling on non-profits for help, they are abandoning these children to war. (The Guardian)

But here’s the thing that really gets to me: these mayors have money. They have the resources to do something. Even if they didn’t, they could at least call on NGOs, international organizations, or even Congolese people abroad to help. But no. The ones who have the power to fix things refuse to lift a finger, while ordinary Congolese citizens overseas are the ones trying to help.

M23 is Targeting Street Kids, and No One Cares

While the leadership sits on their hands, M23 is actively targeting street kids. Reports indicate that the rebels are hunting down children who were left behind while others fled.

M23 has been accused of using child soldiers in the past, and now there are fears they are forcibly recruiting abandoned children.

Street children in Goma and Bukavu are particularly vulnerable as authorities have ordered them to "disappear." (The Guardian)

Think about it: these kids have already lost their families, their homes, everything. And instead of being protected, they’re now being kidnapped or killed by armed rebels.

This is Not Leadership

A good president doesn’t let his country be overrun by rebels while executing his own soldiers without a plan. A good mayor doesn’t send official documents telling street kids to “go away or die.” A good government doesn’t sit back and let the Congolese people abroad do all the work while they hoard money and resources.

So no, Tshisekedi is not a good president. The mayor of Bukavu is not a good leader. And unless something changes, unless people in power actually start doing their jobs, Congo will keep falling apart.

And the worst part? The ones who suffer the most aren’t the politicians, the wealthy, or those with connections. It’s the ordinary people—the children, the displaced families, the ones who have no way to escape.

Congo is burning, and the leadership is standing there, watching.🇨🇩🩸

Sources:

1. Congo army desertion trials spotlight a force in tatters

2. Bukavu hospital patients tell of being shot in chaos of Congolese withdrawal

3. Deadly blasts hit M23 rebel rally in captured DRC city of Bukavu

70 Christians Killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Catholic Weekly

https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/70-christians-killed-in-congo/

4. 70 Christians Decapitated in DR Congo by ISIS-Aligned Militants

Crux

https://cruxnow.com/africa/2023/02/70-christians-decapitated-in-dr-congo-by-isis-aligned-militants/

5. Children, Women, Elderly Among 70 Christians Massacred in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Catholic Herald

https://catholicherald.co.uk/children-women-elderly-among-70-christians-massacred-in-democratic-republic-of-congo/

6. Violence Against Street Children in DR Congo

World Organisation Against Torture

https://www.omct.org/en/resources/news/violence-against-street-children-in-dr-congo

As of January 2023, Zénon Karumba serves as the mayor of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Prior to him, Bilubi Ulengabo Méschac held the position. Recent reports indicate that the M23 rebels have seized control of Bukavu and plan to appoint their own mayor for the city. 

7. https://www.omct.org/en/resources/news/violence-against-street-children-in-dr-congo

The Unspoken Rules of Forgiveness—Why Women Stay and Men Walk Away

 

The Unspoken Rules of Forgiveness—Why Women Stay and Men Walk Away

I’ve been hearing this debate since I was a little girl. Or maybe it’s not even a debate—it’s just how things have always been, and nobody questions it enough. Why is it that when a man cheats, the woman is always expected to forgive him? To hold her home together, to be a "good wife," to push aside her pain and carry on as if nothing happened? But when the roles are reversed, when a woman is caught cheating, she’s thrown out like yesterday’s news—immediately, without question, without a second chance.

I remember listening to conversations from adults, specifically women. At the salon, at gatherings, at family events—whenever the topic of marriage came up, the same old story repeated itself. A man cheats, and the women around the wife whisper the same advice: “Stay. Pray for him. Be strong. You don’t want to disgrace your family.” But let a woman cheat? The response is swift and brutal: “She must go. No self-respecting man can stay with a woman like that.” 

As I grew older, I started to understand the real reasons behind this. And they all lead back to one thing: society’s double standards—especially in Africa.

Why Women Stay

Women don’t just stay because they’re weak. They stay because they are conditioned to believe they have no choice.

1. Reputation is everything

Being a divorcee carries a stigma, especially for a woman. Society will whisper, “She failed in marriage.” But if a man divorces his wife, it’s seen as him taking control of his life. No shame, no judgment.

2. Financial dependence

Many women, especially in traditional households, rely on their husbands to provide. He pays the bills, the school fees, the groceries. Walking away isn’t just about losing a husband—it’s about losing stability, security, and a lifestyle.

3. Family honor and shame

A woman leaving her husband, even if he’s a serial cheater, is seen as a disgrace to her family. “You embarrassed your parents.” “You didn’t try hard enough.” “Look at your cousins—they stayed, why can’t you?”

4. Breaking generational cycles

Some women stay because they don’t want to repeat history. Maybe their mother and grandmother were divorced, and they don’t want to follow the same path. They believe “If I just endure, I’ll break the curse.” But is staying in a broken marriage really breaking a curse—or is it just suffering in silence?

5. Hope that he will change

Society sells women the dream that a man can change if you love him enough. That if you pray hard enough, endure enough, stay quiet enough, he will wake up one day and become faithful. But the truth? A cheater is a cheater. A man who disrespects his wife once will likely do it again.

Why Men Leave Immediately

Now, let’s flip the scenario. A woman cheats, and her husband finds out. What happens next? Divorce. Disownment. Disgrace. There is no conversation, no second chance, no “stay and make it work.” But why?

1. Male ego and pride

In many African cultures, a man's honor is tied to his wife’s loyalty. If she cheats, his pride is wounded beyond repair. Society mocks him, calling him weak, calling him “a fool.” To regain his respect, he must get rid of her.

2. Society doesn’t shame him for leaving

While a woman is called selfish for leaving a cheating husband, a man is praised for leaving a cheating wife. “He has standards,” they say. “He deserves better.”

3. The myth of the ‘pure wife’

Many cultures expect women to be pure, faithful, and loyal—but they don’t hold men to the same standards. A woman who cheats is seen as ruined, dirty, unworthy of a second chance. But a man? He was just being a man.

4. Double standards are deeply ingrained

The harsh truth is, society never taught men to forgive the way it teaches women. From childhood, girls are raised to be nurturers, fixers, forgivers. Boys? They are raised to be leaders, decision-makers, men who don’t tolerate disrespect. And so, the cycle continues.

So, What About Me?

As I think about my own future, my own marriage one day, I ask myself: What would I do? If my husband cheats, will I stay? Will I swallow the pain like the women before me? Will I smile and serve him dinner, pretending like nothing happened? Or will I walk away and choose myself?

The scary part is, even though I know how unfair this is—even though I see the injustice—I still don’t know what I would do. Because the world makes it so hard for a woman to leave. And that’s exactly how they want it.

But I do know this: I refuse to accept that this is normal. I refuse to believe that women should suffer just because that’s how it has always been. If we don’t challenge these double standards, nothing will ever change.

And to all the women out there, who have forgiven, who have endured, who have stayed because they felt they had no choice—I see you. I hear you. And I hope one day, you know that you deserve better.

Because no sin is greater than the other. And no gender deserves to suffer more than the other.

— The Dreamer’s Pause ⏸️ 

Disclaimer:

I do not own or have any rights to the pictures portrayed in this blog.

It is used for educational purposes only!

The Selective Outrage of the World!

The Selective Outrage of the World: A Reflection

I remember the first time I asked my Muslim friends a simple question: Do you think you're privileged compared to women in strict Muslim countries?

It wasn’t meant to offend. It was an honest question, based on what I had seen, read, and understood about the struggles women face in places like Iran, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. But instead of an open conversation, I got dodging, deflecting—almost as if the topic itself was forbidden. And maybe, in a way, it was.

Because the truth is, there are places in the world where women don’t have the freedoms my friends take for granted. They can walk freely, laugh openly, pursue education, and even talk to men—things that, in strict Islamic nations, could come with severe consequences. And yet, when I brought this up, it was as if I was speaking a foreign language.

But that’s the thing, isn’t it? Some struggles are recognized, amplified, and fought for, while others are ignored. Some conflicts get flags raised in solidarity, while others are met with silence.

The Hypocrisy of the Palestinian Crisis

Since October 7th, the world has been consumed by the Israel-Palestine war. And yet, what frustrates me most is the way people have chosen sides without understanding the full picture. The attack by Hamas—the terrorist group that controls Gaza—was brutal. It wasn’t just an attack on Israel; it was an attack on the very people it claims to represent. Hamas has been oppressing Palestinians for years, controlling them with fear and violence. And yet, instead of condemning the group responsible, the world chose to chant Free Palestine without questioning from whom and for what purpose.

This isn’t about denying Palestinian suffering. Innocent people—on both sides—have lost their lives. But why is this the only war the world seems to care about? Muslim countries have been at war for years—Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan. Where were the protests for them? Where were the flags? Where was the outrage?

The Double Standards in Activism

It’s almost laughable how many people—especially Western liberals, celebrities, and even the LGBTQ+ community—have thrown their support behind Palestine without realizing that, under Hamas and other Islamist regimes, they themselves would be persecuted. And yet, they stand with a system that would never stand with them.

Even independent voices I once respected, like Candace Owens, jumped onto the “genocide” narrative without fully acknowledging how this all started. Yes, civilian deaths are tragic, but ignoring who fired the first shot and why makes the conversation one-sided.

Islam, Women, and a Hard Truth

Another thing that gets buried under political correctness is the reality of life for women in Islamic countries. My Somali friends, for example, get to enjoy freedoms that women in strict Muslim nations could never dream of. They can wear colorful clothes, show their necks, talk to boys, pursue careers. But when I ask them about the struggles of their fellow Muslim women abroad, they either stay silent or act as if it doesn’t exist.

And yet, we know the truth. In places like Iran, women are arrested—or worse—for removing their hijabs. In Afghanistan, girls are banned from schools. In Saudi Arabia, a woman’s testimony in court is worth half that of a man’s. These are not just “different cultural practices.” This is oppression.

And what frustrates me most? When non-Muslims visit these countries, we have to follow their laws—cover up, obey the rules, pay heavy fines. But when Muslim immigrants move to non-Muslim countries, they demand the right to practice their religion freely. Why is it that tolerance only goes one way? 

Wrapping It Up

I’ve had enough of the selective outrage. Enough of the hypocrisy. Enough of people blindly supporting causes without questioning the full picture.

Yes, war is tragic. Yes, innocent lives matter. But until people start looking beyond headlines and actually thinking for themselves, history will continue to repeat itself.

The question is—who is really free, and who is still trapped?

Disclaimer:

All the images in this blog are used for educational purposes only.

Lagos 🇳🇬 Meets Kinshasa 🇨🇩

"When Lagos Met Kinshasa"

Opening Scene: A Chance Encounter

Jide never believed in fate, but when he missed his flight from Lagos to Johannesburg and had to take a last-minute connection through Kinshasa, he wondered if the universe had other plans.

He was in the airport lounge, sipping strong coffee, when he noticed her.

She walked with quiet confidence—shoulders back, head high, wrapped in a deep blue Maputa dress that complimented her dark skin. A Congolese beauty, no doubt.

She caught him staring and raised an eyebrow. Bold man.

Rising Action: Two Worlds, One Conversation

"Excuse me," Jide said, approaching her. "I’m new here". What’s the best thing to eat in Kinshasa?"

She smirked. "That depends. Do you like spice, or do you like to pretend you can handle it?"

He laughed. "Try me."

"Then pondu and fufu," she said. "But if you struggle, don’t blame me."

They sat together at a small airport café, talking between bites. He told her about his business in Lagos; she told him about her dream of opening a Congolese-inspired fashion line.

Their conversation was effortless—flowing like the Congo River, deep and uncharted.

Climax: The Flight That Changed Everything

As the boarding announcement for Johannesburg echoed, Jide hesitated. He had never believed in love at first sight, but this felt… different.

"You ever been to Lagos?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Not yet."

He grinned. "Then maybe we should fix that."

She laughed, but something in his eyes made her pause. "You Nigerian men… always so confident."

"Only when we see something worth chasing."

Resolution: A Beginning, Not an End

She gave him her number. He gave her a reason to believe in the unexpected.

As they parted ways, neither knew what the future held.

But one thing was certain—this was only the beginning.😁