Harare,Zimbabwe (Julu 16 2006)
LAST week's topic on the 2010 World Cup to be hosted by South Africa generated a lot of interest with a lot of readers from across the world reacting in many different ways on the need for South Africa to utilise the huge pool of talent of Africa's scientist both at home and abroad in major construction work going on in that country.

For many years, Africa has been denied the chance to host this prestigious event which has many economic and social benefits.  In 2010 this sporting event will be hosted on the African soil for the first time in the history of the World Cup.

Already, preparations for the 2010 event are in full swing with the South African government unveiling a R8,5 billion budget for capital projects for the tournament. Cellphone company MTN also unveiled a R476 million sponsorship for the 2010 world cup while First National Bank will sponsor the event to the tune of R210 million. Four other large South African companies will be official sponsors of the tournament.

A transport master plan is already in place to reduce traffic congestion during the world soccer showpiece. Contracts are being given to giant construction companies such as Murray and Roberts which are white-owned.

Where does this leave black engineers, architects, IT specialists, telecommunications expert and other technical experts in this big money game? How will local black South African technical experts benefit from the construction of the infrastructure? How will other African scientists based in South Africa have a bite to this cherry?

Here are some of the reactions to the story on the world cup 2010…
'You could not be any closer to the real issues surrounding the political economy of this major, and perhaps once-in-a-life-time sporting showpiece for us Sons of the soil. As I write to you from the much-hyped Diaspora - hyped because a lot of our people here are forced to scale down their threshold of expectations by the very people who have since held the belief that we cannot be entrusted with delivering on excellence, and yet the very victims of such treatment - Black Africans in general, and Zimbabweans in particular go out of their way to try and convince themselves and those back home that they are better off in the Diaspora. What a load of cowdung! Any way I will explore the Diapsora myths on another day.

 
The soon-coming 2010 football fiesta should be a testimony of how far the South African government has gone down the path of affirmative action. My worry is the government may be too scared to show that boldness and make a mark on the world about what it means to empower those of the historically downtrodden Black masses. This will require placing those with the skills at the forefront in order to showcase our skills and technical expertise - this is not only for 2010 but for years to come.

 
The modalities will need to reflect on the overall policy objective of Affirmitive Action - driving our case through our own people. Remember - Europe itself does that on many fronts. For example the recent opening up of Eastern Europe has resulted in the UK government as a matter of principle, concluding that Immigration policy has to reflect that the supply of low-skilled labourforce is now adequate - thereby making it virtually impossible for a Black African to come over and have an opportunity to nail down even the most lowly paid jobs you can imagine. What am I saying then?

 
South Africa 2010 is an opportunity to strategically reposition the long deprived skills of African artisans - by the way, the only way Africa in general can hope to come out of the current state is by genuinely engaging and mobilising the abundant skills of its people. If recent statistics are anything to go by, Africa spends an average of £4billion in expatriate wages and other emoluments - an outlay that brings more questions than answers to the table. How much more could we do with that money internally if we could employ locals who, by all accounts, are not as bad as perceived by those who want to continue to enslave our people.

 
At the same time, we cannot afford to lose sight of the fact there are White Africans who are as much patriotic about Africa, if not more than some of our self-proclaimed middle-class that finds joy in inviting sanctions on their fatherlands - all in the name of democracy. Those working for the good our continent, regardless of their racial orientation, need to be given a fair crack of the whip in the awarding of the contracts that go with SA2010, and any other opportunities in Africa.

 
There are several cases that have come to my attention where even highly-skilled personnel like actuaries poached from Zimbabwe, for example, are meant to settle for salaries that are below their peers of a different extraction in the so-called Diaspora. What it means is that the only solace for one in such a condition is the fact their earnings are are £-denominated, without being fairly compensated for what they do.

 
I might have bored you already by this longish insight - my apologies. The bottom line is we have to work hard to promote our people, and this is by no means an advocation for lowering of standards by the way - as some of our neo-Conservative Friedmanites may quickly want to proclaim.' -Noble,(a Zimbabwean) UK

 'The experience of hosting the cup is important for Africans in many ways, but I still cannot see how the majority of African artisans will benefit from the hosting of the world cup in 2010 in South Africa. There are a lot of multinationals jostling for the huge stakes at this event. Tsiko you are right, Africans will be mere spectators with big lucrative contracts going to these multinationals with a strong presence in South Africa. Black artisans must be given their share of the contracts that go with this event to give this tournament a world feel.' –B Onwu, New York, US

'You Zimbabwean reporter, please don't spoil this richly deserved honour for South Africa by trying to divide us along racial lines. It's a crowning moment for South Africa's young democracy. Every race will benefit from the contracts.' –L Mbongeni, Johannesburg, South Africa

'This is a great triumph for Africa. South Africa must not make the mistake of forgetting its own black gifted engineers, architects, IT specialists and many other artisans as it prepares to host the 2010 World Cup.' Mzamane, Oakland, US

'I feel strongly about the need for the equitable distribution of proceeds of the world cup to all people including Africans. We have talented engineers, architects, IT experts and its mind boggling why most African governments give every major business contracts to expatriates. When are we going to shake-off this mentality of dependency on our former colonial masters? We should try and give our talented scientists and artisans a chance to showcase their skills by supporting their participation in these major sporting events. Otherwise, if we don't do this, it will be another European World Cup on African soil.' O Bekele, Philadelphia, US

'Africans should just not be proud that South Africa has been selected to host the 2010 football world cup but attempt within a short period of time, to work to include black artisans to benefit from this showcase. It will be sad to see Africans being reduced to mere 'tea boys,' 'ice-cream man,' chaffeurs, cooks and cleaners while the Europeans through their stakes in multinational corporations take all the high paying jobs in the IT sector, architecture, engineering, communications, advertising and other lucrative sectors in business, finance and tourism. We should put our act together to tap on the opportunities.' –Tigere, Washington DC, US

'Your article was good but I think its not practical that every African artisans should benefit from this event. African governments shoot themselves in the foot, they don't recognise their own talent nor support their own scientists. They frustrate them, pay them less, give all the high paying contracts to expatriates. South Africa will fall into the same trap. Already SA president Thabo Mbeki is pleading with the Germans to make the 2010 world cup in his country a success. This means ignoring the huge base of African engineers who live in South Africa in favour of those from Germany. We don't have the capacity. Maybe a few that work for multinational engineering firms have. Its wishful thinking that African scientists will benefit from this event. African governments don't recognise and support African engineers, so how will they benefit from the 2010 world cup?' – Tegane, Manchester, UK

'Let's be honest with ourselves. This is a game of politics and big money. African scientists don't have the capacity to take on big jobs at this event. Don't mislead people please. Lets give those who have capital and the means to do the work otherwise the 2010 world cup will be a mess. It will give Africa a bad name in addition to the many bad things that we know are taking place on this continent. Let's not waste time by giving African artisans the jobs but big companies that have the resources, skills and means to deliver. African technical experts will mess things up.' –Muvirimi, Harare, Zimbabwe

'Congratulations Tsiko for bringing a fresh insight into this major sporting event. I believe its only fair that African artisans be given a fair chance to the huge stakes that go with the world cup through partnerships with multinationals. On our own we cannot do it, but through working in partnership with other giant companies we can work together to make the 2010 world cup a glamourous soccer event ever. Everyone must have a bite at this tournament.' –Mziwake, Johannesburg, South Africa.

'The hosting of the 2010 world cup in South Africa is a big achievement for Africa. It will bring numerous benefits for Africa and this requires the participation of African artisans in a number of sectors. Sidelining engineers from Africa in favour of expatriate contractors and other experts will be a sad thing for Africa. African engineers, architects, IT experts and other technical experts must be given a chance to make this sporting event truly international and not a European event only.' –Okafowo, Abuja, Nigeria.

'We need informative articles like this one to help Africans make informed decisions when it comes to the hosting of the world cup. The victory belongs to Africa and it's a chance for us to showcase our expertise in the engineering, architectural and IT sectors. The world must taste the other side of Africa which is positive and not the usual dosage of violence, famine, conflict and disease. The 2010 world cup should define Africa and its people beyond doubt.'- Mwathiika, Canada.

All these voices want the 2010 world cup to be a huge success that will release that African touch to this global sporting event. In many respects, the 2010 World Cup should release the true creative power of African people through their own share of control of the business that go with the world cup to enhance the quality of their lives.