Date Posted: 9/5/2012 8:01:47 AM
Posted By: warira Membership Level: Gold Total Points: 1095
It is no longer a secret that Africa is the dustbin for the western countries. For a long time people were in denial about the issue and it was talked about in whispers. Broken televisions, radios, computers, laptops, mobile phone, refrigerators to name but a few are being dumped in the country in the name re-selling the gadgets and appliances. Just like many people I did not think this was the case. So I decided to find out whether this was true. I visited most of the open air markets and was shocked to find that there is a ‘mitumba’ for everything be it spoons, sufurias, food containers, toys, undergarments you name it. Some of the stuff were in such a poor state that I had to ask who would dare buy such but to my surprise I was told there are consumers of such. I left that disgusted as well as feeling pity for myself and other Kenyans. It is no different in other countries and even worse since we get the best of the stuff compared to other countries. The experience begs to answer whether we are second or third class human beings. I mean why should we be the ones to use that which another human being has thrown away. It is not entirely wrong to use second hand stuff but we should limit ourselves. For instance I don’t think it is right to allow the sale of undergarments as they are not disinfected and can cause skin diseases among our people. why should we use second hand kitchen utensils yet we have the jua cali industry which creates good stuff for affordable prices? This is one of the questions that I ask myself In trying to find answers.Since we don’t mind being a dump site the western countries have gone further in dumping hazardous products in the continent. For instance there is the infamous ‘Trafigura case’ in which a Dutch company through an African contractor dumped toxic waste in Ivory coast. This was the cheapest and easiest option for them because their country it is a very expensive affair and environmental agencies are very strict in dumping of wastes. The dumping in Ivory coast led to a few deaths and very many cases of health complications. It goes without saying that Africans don’t value themselves as well as their continent. We need to change our mindsets and refuse to be a dump site. This is where our governments come in, they should come up with security laws, waste management and other regulatory mechanisms in curbing this menace. They should only allow such stuff which is in good condition and harmless to the human being as well as the environment. As individuals we should start being consumers of our own products and we will not have a reason to go for second hand imported stuff. Second hand commodities are cheap neither should we forget that cheap is expensive in the long run.
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