As per my usual daily routine, I pray to Jehovah God first, then converse with my wife and get my daily dose of the morning news (both local and international). Ruben Mbofana I could not help being thunderstruck watching Media, Information and Broadcasting minister Monica Mutsvangwa signing some mutual information agreement with the Rwandan. I listened to her regurgitating something to the effect that it was time Africa told its own story without relying on Western agencies for our own story. Immediately, my mind spoke French — loudly and clearly I heard, déja vu! I felt myself quietly asking: With most countries in Africa having gained their independence over 40 years ago (with some even now in their 60s), why are we still saying the same thing? Why are we not telling our own stories, and still complaining about the West’s influence and dominance over our affairs today? Surely, are we not grown up yet? How long do we need as the continent of Africa to finally stand on our own? Are we not ashamed to still be living with mommy in our 40s, 50s and 60s? After watching this rather disturbing news clip on the signing of the information agreement with Rwanda, my mind wandered back into its memory lane, and retrieved some of the statements by our own government, and our so-called Pan-Africanists. They sound more like crybabies, blaming the West for everything and making endless excuses for everything that has gone bad instead of strengthening Africa to accept responsibility for its failures. One of the most outstanding things that I have never stopped hearing is the endless mourning over our education system. The government and its Pan-Africanist friends always blame others for our own failures. They always blame our education for being Eurocentric since its focus is on instilling foreign learning and values at the expense of our own, thereby propagating a generation which has no understanding and appreciation of who we are as a people, but would rather parrot the West. Indeed, I also believe that we need to instil our own principles and values. My problem with the government narrative is why we still whine over this issue, especially having attained independence 40 years ago. As a nation, are we not fully in charge of developing our school, college and university curricular? Do we not have a curriculum development unit, Zimbabwe School Examinations Council, Higher Education Examination Council, and universities? As such, why have we not transformed our school, college and university curricular instead of perennially and irritatingly complain about Western influence? Who is stopping the government? In the midst of digesting these troubling thoughts, another even more unsettling one came to my mind, there is a colonial stereotype that we, as Africans, are just good at talking, but zero in implementation. I instantly felt shivers chillingly speed down my spine. What we have been observing with our own government through its unbridled incompetence, mismanagement, and downright ineptitude plays into the hands of this stereotype