Minimalist 5-year task for the state in contemporary Africa: 24 August 2014 – 24 August 2019

Many would probably adjudge as “too modest” the following 12 tasks* that states in contemporary Africa are called upon to accomplish for their peoples in the next five years starting tomorrow, Sunday 24 August 2014. Despite such reservation, the tasks are available here for the challenge. Can any of these states achieve the set goals? Which? Which cannot? Why not? If any of the states can’t, then a citizen should endeavour to ask its head of regime the following pressing question: “What attainable level have you prescribed for yourself whilst you exercise control over this polity?”      

(John Coltrane Quartet, “The Last Blues” [personnel: Coltrane, tenor saxophone; McCoy Tyner, piano; Jimmy Garrison, bass; Elvin Jones, drums; recorded: Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, US, 10 June 1965])

Goals
1. Cut by 50 per cent prevalence of communicable ailment in the population

2. One hundred quality primary health care centres with excellent facilities, equipment and medicine

3. One hundred quality primary and secondary schools with excellent world-standard 
curriculum content, equipment, staff and study environment

4. One university of worldwide standard, attracting staff and students from across the region and world

5. One thousand apprenticeship opportunities to study at excellent technical schools, producing skilled workforce of electricians, builders, welders, plumbers, mechanics

6. Fifty per cent of young people, 18-25, have access to small-scale loans to start business ventures

7. Fifty per cent of women have access to small-scale loans to start business ventures

8. Pave 1000 kilometres of well-constructed road linking towns and cities and country

9. Engage 1000 new farmers in agricultural work, providing technical and financial support 

10. Fifty per cent of population have access to clean pipe-borne water supply

11. Fifty per cent of population have access to power 24 hours a day, seven days a week

12. Fifty per cent of homes connected to the internet

*I wish to thank Dr Okwuonicha Nzegwu for her contribution to this commentary

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