• Making sense of xenophobia 17 Dec 2008 • We always have a choice Kedaren Moodely 23 Jul 2008 • Solving our bike problem 09 Jul 2008 • I See God in InterAction George Spilsbury-Williams 23 Jun 2008 • InterActing better Nuraddeen Ayagi 22 Apr 2008 • IA's Impact On Me Rita Akyere Bonnah-Boadi 22 Apr 2008 • One small, good deed a day Simon Tecleab 20 Apr 2008 • Working with chaos Ama Odoi-Agyarko 19 Apr 2008 • My Day with Giants Gideon Timothewos 19 Apr 2008 • It's not about qualifications - it's about humanity Emishaw Tegegne 16 Apr 2008 Next

This was written in response of the xenophobic attacks that happened in South Africa.

It is an unfortunate matter, and a disheartening situation, one that I am grappling with as a South African and a proud African. I am unable to have a coherent thought on this matter. There is no compelling argument that I have heard, and there has not been any explanation or even attempts to hold anyone accountable.

Truly, I have not been able to make sense of what is currently happening in my beloved country. This is just a matter that I am grappling with - a matter that I am grappling with given my multifaceted identity. I grapple with it because as a development scholar I had the opportunity to understand the practicalities of governance.

Government delayed

So, for instance, I now have an idea of what it is that delays critical government action as someone who is taught about the interaction between the three tiers of governance, as a person who is taught about administrative action and principles of co-operative governance.

But I remain human and therefore disheartened and upset by what is happening. I am also African, so my heart bleeds for those who are as dark and as human as I. I am also African, so I am worried about what this means for my identity, for unity on the continent and my conceptualisation of the African moral fibre.

Mean for development

I am also an African and a scholar of development, so I wonder what this will mean for development on the continent when my friend is now reluctant to go to Mozambique for a rural development programme.

But I am also South African. Therefore, apart from being very embarrassed to be one at this moment, I understand the socio-economic conditions that are said to inform these revolts. As a South African who is passionate about being African and Africa, I am sceptical of the simplistic views that have found expression during this period.

I doubt that Africans do not like each other. I doubt that the president does not think that this is a crucial matter. And I doubt that the state does not think that this is a matter that needs to be addressed as urgently as possible.