The sun rises over Mozambique, casting long shadows over a land teetering on the edge of despair. In the cities and rural areas alike, life has become a daily struggle for survival. High prices for food, energy, water, and land have turned the basic necessities into luxury items. Families are forced to make heartbreaking choices between feeding their children and keeping the lights on. The situation is dire, and the future seems bleak.
In the midst of this crisis, the ideology of Ubuntu stands as a beacon of hope and a voice of condemnation. Ubuntu, which emphasizes community, shared humanity, and mutual care, strongly opposes the commodification of life’s essentials. The selling of water, land, and even air goes against the very essence of this philosophy. Water is life, land is sustenance, and air is breath. To sell these is to deny the fundamental rights of humanity, turning basic needs into privileges for the few who can afford them.
The situation has reached a boiling point, with strikes spreading across various sectors. Transporters halt their buses and trucks, teachers lay down their chalk, physicians and health workers leave hospitals, magistrates close courtrooms, and city workers abandon their posts. The civil servants, who are the backbone of the nation, are demanding fair wages and working conditions that respect their dignity and hard work. Their strikes are not just about money; they are about survival and the right to live with dignity.
One cannot help but ask why it is like this. Why has the world come to a point where basic human rights are traded like commodities? Is this the result of unchecked greed and corruption? Or are these the times foretold by Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and Muhammad?
In the Bible, Jesus speaks of times of great tribulation in Matthew 24:7: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” The Apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, warns of terrible times in the last days, where people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, and devoid of natural affection. Similarly, the Quran in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:1-2, says, “Closer and closer to mankind comes their Reckoning: yet they heed not and they turn away.”
Are these prophecies being fulfilled before our eyes? Is this the reckoning that has been foretold?
Yet, even in the face of such bleakness, there is hope. To the people of Mozambique, and to all those who are suffering, I say: trust no man, for the solutions offered by human hands are often tainted by self-interest and corruption. Instead, place your trust in God. Psalm 37:5 encourages us, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.” Similarly, the Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286 reassures, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.”
We must also remember the value of hard work and perseverance. As Galatians 6:9 states, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” The Quran echoes this sentiment in Surah Al-Imran 3:200, “O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.”
In these trying times, let us hold on to our faith and our principles. Let us stand together in solidarity, guided by the spirit of Ubuntu, and work towards a future where no one is denied their basic human rights. The path ahead is difficult, but with faith, hard work, and unity, we can overcome the challenges and build a better tomorrow.
What’s next? The answer lies in our hands and hearts. Trust in God, remain steadfast, and let the spirit of Ubuntu guide us towards a brighter future.
