Cape Verde is a country I have never been to – not even remotely – yet that is where my troubled soul escapes to every time there is need.
I am sure those who believe in reincarnation would have a theory for me to explain this, but that small island country off the coast of West Africa pulls me in with its turquoise waters, beautiful people and vast beaches.
That is how I regain my equilibrium; away from prayer and worship, that is. And lately I am spending a lot of time in Cape Verde, because this side of the continent is just too upsetting.
Why do our elections seasons have to be so close to each other, forcing us to witness our dear leaders become unhinged over power, all at once? I follow the news of people doing everything and even breaking some laws with impunity, just to retain their positions, and life goes on.
After realizing my anger cannot change anything, I mentally escape to those fine beaches in the Atlantic ocean, once more. On nomination morning/night, 46 people perished in a bus accident on Gulu highway, and life went on as normal.
Not one person died; 46! No flags flying at half-mast, no period of mourning, just Shs 5m to be given to each bereaved family and we move on. I went back to Cape Verde to rationalize the pain when I failed to understand why that money was not simply given to the ill-equipped government hospital in Kiryandongo to be more prepared for accident victims in the future.
Shs 5m cannot bring a loved one back, but it sure can save many more lives if invested wisely. One wise woman once said, we get the leaders we deserve. I agree. And feel stuck.
I watch on TV and social media the brutality, abductions, killings in our three East African nations and wonder if there could be a chance I am Cape Verdean and only landed here by mistake?
As we wind down to a general election in January, I hope the intercessors are praying. The things human beings are willing to do to fellow human beings just to secure a seat in parliament!
If God opened your spiritual eyes to see what is going on in this country, trust me, you too would join me on the beaches of Cape Verde.
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