25/11/2024
By Dr. Anne Pita Lomole
Spears Down!
When I was younger I once read a book called spears down, it was part of a series by African writers called the Pace Setters. It told the story of a prince who was forced into exile. He left his kingdom with nothing, his enemies in close pursuit. Fortunately he managed to escape with his life.
He found himself in a strange land whose people welcomed him. They treated him as their own, he became a part of their community, fell in love and settled there. Many years later, he heard the news that calm had returned to the kingdom, there was a vacuum of power and they were searching for the prince that was lost.
The people who gave him refuge had no idea he was a prince until it was revealed to them. They vowed they would gather an army to go and reclaim his throne, but the prince had long see the effects that war, strife and the desire for power had caused in his kingdom. He had witnessed the havoc it brought about, he was tired if war. Even though the people who had forced him into exile were still alive, he had no desire for revenge.
He agreed to go back home with his new found tribe insisting on a war party, in case he was attacked. When he reached his kingdom, the people were shaken when they saw him. The years had not been kind to them, especially those who had betrayed the royal family. Their defenses where gone, they were no longer the proud people that they used to be.
As they gathered their army to meet his war party and saw the might and ferocity of the approaching army, they were filled with fear and dread. The prince, taking pity on his people told everyone to put their spears down, there was no need for killing, his people had suffered enough. He chose peace over revenge, prosperity, over a senseless war.
My country has experienced war and conflict for most of my life. Nothing seems to change. Those in power hang on to it as if they were immortal and those who desire it do whatever it takes to acquire it. Our people are destroyed because of squables among the rich and powerful and poverty and hunger is all they know.
When we first went back home, we believed we would be the last generation to live in exile. Now our children grow up in exile or in poverty at home with no hope for a better tomorrow. Why will our leaders not put their spears down, how have we become our own enemies?
When did we forget why we wanted to be free, why we fought and voted for independence? When did greed for power and wealth become the only things that motivate us? When did it all fall apart?
Like the prince, many of us have been forced to leave home. To look for better opportunities elsewhere, to hide from those who may seek to harm us and our families. Our hearts are broken, sadness overwhelms us, we have no hope anymore.
Today as we pray for our country, our strength is gone. We cry, we beg our leaders, our people to put the spears down. To put the spears down for the sake of the future, for our children and for our nation.
War only brings pain, suffering and destruction. Our children, our people need a future. We must do better than those who came before us.
Put the spears down!
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