“Stop stigmatization. Viruses don’t have Nationality”- Erick Semindu
The last few months have been tough for countries, continents and the entire world. The impact of COVID 19 is being felt by individuals, families, religious congregations, companies, governments and every being on earth. The virus is challenging the fabric of our leadership, our faith and spirituality, and even our existence. A lot of questions, concerns, dilemmas, confusion, distress, fear have filled our hearts with every heartbeat. While all this is happening, there has been blame games and discrimination that have resulted in actions and words that, in respect to humanity, are a more dangerous threat than this specific virus or any other.
What is the space for everyone?
It’s during tough times such as these that we get to really know ourselves and at a time like this, it’s expected that we stay strong and demonstrate leadership within our spaces; sometimes it’s simply in following the guidelines of washing our hands with soap and water, using sanitizers, taking hot fluids, wearing masks to help flatten the curve and other times we are expected to do more like be a spring of hope during such a hopeless time and if you’re in positions of leadership in governments or corporations, the decisions you’re expected to make and enforce every day is something many might not even begin to comprehend. Maybe your space is just to be more respectful, kind, caring, reasonable, obedient and hopeful for you and others.
As Together for A New Africa (T4NA), we embraced staying apart but with technology, social connection is very possible. We, therefore, held our 1st meeting that brought together around 40 participants on Wednesday 15th April and this 1st online meeting resulted in very strong expressions of the space we can all fill. It was impressive to listen to young and old people across Africa and beyond embrace what has been the basis of the T4NA project; bringing up young people who understand and embrace leadership guided by values such as Common Good, Mutual Respect, Love and Communion, Unity and Commitment to be co-leaders in the spirit of Ubuntu during this tough time. This meeting affirmed the resolve to do good and be the springs of love, hope, and unity and embrace humanity as one. In his intervention during the online meeting on Covid_19 and African Leadership, Professor Justus Mbae underlined the weaknesses of African countries beyond the healthcare system: poverty, hunger, numerous diseases, and insecurity. In the same breath, he pointed out the strength in uniting and going beyond our differences to fight our common enemy – the virus. Furthermore, we are in this together; the virus is not a respecter of color, nationality or stature. What if this is happening so that we can finally and clearly see that?
By Wanjiru Kaburu
