Ejovi Nuwere

I’d love pushback on my post, Ejovi - my reaction to FlexGo is at least partially emotional - I don’t like parallels it draws for me. But I’m very possibly wrong about it, and you’re the sort of guy who could persuade me that I am…

I think micro payment model works well for software, it’s funny that M$ has begun to borrow strategies from its adversaries (ie Oracle, Sun, etc.)

The more interesting question is how can Redmond use this strategy to resurrect its hemorraging company.

The FlexGo initiative from MS to apply the “pay as you go” system with probably an adapted software package is
targeting people with an certain income
and they hope that at a certain day a % will be able to buy there full services.
In South Africa a new law for lending money was recently introduced and to my
surprise the interest rate on consumer products is 36 %. It is apparantly quite normal here when someone needs a fridge or wants a DVD
they pay back in 12 - 24 months.

For me, from Amsterdam the Netherlands that is not a clever way to go because you always have to pay back and every week it is pay back time regardless if you had work.

To digitalize the developing countries is extremely important.
Especially the countryside which has
hardly fixed line phones and the ignorance enormous.For a country where for whatever reason education was absent it is extremely difficult
to get things going.Countries like Germany and Japan who were seriously damaged in World War 2 had there economies in a relative short period
heading in the right direction in a structural way,Marshall aid enabled them and get life back to normal.You can drop as much bombs as you want but those who survive you can’t bomb their brains out, so after the war the skills , being the result of the educational policy was of great value
to get things going again.The ignorance here of the poor is enormous, children at 3 /4 / 5 are
more often than not already sofar behind in their development that a high % does not even succeed tio catch up or hang in and probably slowly drift away as the quality of education is a real serious problem.
No emphasis on individual particularities, skills, interest, a discipline combined with a dresscode
it creates faceless individuals, not capable to make assesments,what is leaving school has practically nothing what is needed today.
Line 100 children up and instruct them to jump 95 % will either jump or does not understand what is wanted and the remaning 5 % will ask “why”
That % should be the other way around.

“do as your told” taking initiative is not done, don’t make misstakes and the boss is the boss.Making a mistake at work when it costs money is often deducted.So to walk the extra mile to do better and seek the limits of your capacities is not encouraged,youngsters must be allowed to make misstakes but have to learn and explained why, and what could have avoided it.unemployment is 27 % and 11 % no longer looks for jobs.

No job means a further stagnation, low selfesteem,no income, abuse of drugs , alcohol, women and children.

The last 30 / 40 years serious sums of money have been donated, lend,donations of NGO’s it all has resulted in practically nothing.

Corruption and favoritism on a continent like Africa has a serious
impact and stops virtually any attempt to imnprove the life of the most vulnerable,people in all sorts of positions where they have absolute
no business is causing stagnation, corruption, the scandals, the ANC is running out of steam,brought together
with a common purpose was logical and made sense,It also makes sense to split up again.That is no defeat but a logical consequence.To hold together a 60 / 65 % in 1 party and
make decisions internally is not the way to go.Politics is about accountability and credibility, forming of coalitions after elections
allow a better insight for the population about performance and how people want to vote the next time.

Education and telecommunication are the only effective means to allow for a structural upliftment.

All sorts of initiatives like Flexgo and others like Intel, AMD, One Laptop per child (Mr.Negroponte)
and lots of others are started and serious money us involved.

The lack of initiative to allow for a fast set up of infrastructure, no plan, no strategy and no commitment.
Plenty of empty phrases and promises quickly forgotten after the elections.

It took the USA a 300 year or so to produce to say it friendly a President and Administration which only contributed to the confirmation of the law limiting Presidents to 2 times 4 year. South Africa overall can be proud what it has achieved sofar.A constitution based on true and modern values,realistic and one of the better ones in the world.Within this framework there are no limitations which hinder developing itself and it is no shame
to have a serious discussion to make
an assesment over the last 12 years
and do that will all the parties and setting party interests aside for this evaluation.At this stage the corrections are easy to implement and
put all the noses in the same direction again.Philantropy, Charity, Aid has to stop.Help,assistance,coaching and investments and create jobs is the only way to go>Africa has become an AID junky and holding up your hand has become a habit.Aid in form of medicins or food as distaster relief
is one thing, assistance in job creation is another thing.The opportunities which broadband internet can create as a solid backbone for individual empowerment
is not wishfull thinking, amongst others the wireless technology is improving with major steps, a simple
computer gives acces to the world,VOIP phones allow for very cheap phones and will the years to come become a very practical tool if wanted for all sorts of other practical applications, instant alarm
and connectivity with the police for women and children just one but very important feature.Internet opens the door like this website for P2P assitance,coaching in all sorts of forms and there are millions of people all over the world who are more than willing to help to get things going, set up new businesses and provide invaluable help to get it going.That take years and costs no money and is very thankfull for those who provide it.Products and services made in Africa and bought not just to help, but because it is good , sold value for money is the only way to go and takes a long time.There are no shortcuts.Getting some pc’s and small
laptops for children without making the parents part of the awareness and
give them the opportunity to be part of the possibilities it creates will wipe out every initiative for a better life.To bring a tractor and enabling people to farm their land without securing petrol for a longer period of time is destruction of capital when it stops after a week and never used again.We are almost 4 years here and in the proces to set up a business which provides products and services “mean and lean” and is amongst others going to produce,distribute,export communication and leisure related.
Young people will get an opportunity
and a clear picture which is performance driven and get a % of the ownership, the sooner they run the show the better and i can use all sorts of help and assistance, advise,ideas to make a rocksolid start.The last 18 months i have spent
practically all my time to get a thorough understanding, went from 3 rounds of golf to 0 . I have molested 2 pc’s and have a fairly good idea which way to go.I don’t ask for money i ask time.Here i stop, the story is already much longer and much more than a comment on FlexGo.

Questions ? something not clear ? different opinion ? more than welcome.

Peter

Western Cape

South Africa