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There is plenty of discussion on macro and micro economics and the big theories of economic development, but it seems the African worldview is a primary problem.
Other countries and continents have managed to make serious advances in dramatically improving cleanliness as well as timeliness, which has resulted in accelerated economic development. If we could get rid of that 'African Time' mentality.
When you look at African cities you see dirt, unkempt gardens, unkempt fences, chaotic traffic. And these cities run on “African time”, itself a discredited concept..
There is still a long way to go to improve on cleanliness and punctuality. Cleanliness speaks directly to mortality and morbidity. Timeliness speaks to the pace and exactness at which things get done, addressing effectiveness and efficiency.
Cleanliness has at least two clear advantages. The first is that it protects people from diseases. It ensures good health which links to productivity, vitality and longevity.
The second advantage is that it makes localities more pleasant to visitors, including tourists.
In the Western world the idea and practice of a daily bath and properly plumbed and controlled sewage for the majority of people only gained traction around 1850. This improved health was accompanied by widespread economic growth in the Western world.
Japan achieved the same life expectancy as the West at the end of the 19th century, although the country was very poor economically. It did so mainly through cleanliness. This change in culture was then accompanied by improvements in longevity.
In the West it was largely in the wake of the industrial revolution that the majority of people were given meaningful access to sanitation.
Thus, both Eastern and Western culture have evolved. This shows it is not inherently European or Asian to be clean.
Cleanliness tends to go with tidiness and orderliness, which increases safety, health and efficiency. Well-organised cities have planned suburbs, buildings and infrastructure. This organisation reduces anxiety and time being wasted.
Punctuality
The other issue is punctuality. Science and technology cannot progress outside measurement and precision. I believe that attitudes need to change to reflect the xiTsonga saying Mintirho ya vula vula (one’s work speaks, not just words), with the addition that your work must be punctual.
Embracing time and punctuality across all of activities leads to innovation, human development, growth in GDP per capita, and more effective government. This in turn fuels socioeconomic development.
Imagine visiting a government official by appointment and spend two days at an office without ever seeing the official who made the appointment. Nor a substitute. This has been seen in the movie 'The Meeting' by Rita Dominic, and it depicts what we experience in real life.
This takes up unnecessary time and required spending extra money – a night(s) at a hotel and food.
Time for a change in attitude
Ideas about hygiene and punctuality can only become part of how people in Africa behave if the leaders and intellectuals start insisting on them both at work and socially.
Both punctuality and cleanliness are learnt behaviours. School children need to be exposed to punctuality, accuracy and tidiness in everything they do.
Remember that Japan and many Asians had to learn punctuality. Take the progress made in timeliness in Japan. By 1900 the country’s train timetable was just a hint of more or less the time a train might arrive. Today Japan is very punctual and precise.
It is time to jettison the vague notion of African time. And for Africa to clean up its act.
With additional information from Sowetan Live
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