Noble though, Still not a right path.

The Economist magazine of December 3, 2011, shows that Africa now has a fast-growing middle class, according to standard Bank, around 60 million Africans have an income of 3,000 dollars a years, and 100 million dollars will in 2015. The rate of foreign investment has soared around tenfold in the past decade. This is unstoppable development. The trend will continue this way with the assurance of democracy brewed in an African pot and good governance.

This is evidence that the rise of middle class and the increase of wealth in private hands in Africa signal great opportunities for growth for the continent and investors.

China’s arrival has improved Africa’s infrastructures and boosted its manufacturing sector. Other non-western countries, from Brazil and Turkey to Malaysia and India, are following its lead. Africa could break into the global market for light manufacturing and services such as call centres.

It is with no doubt that Africa has started getting the wheel turning in the right direction. Africans and their well wishers need to go further still. Think out of the box. Go beyond the nose. In this way, you African youth/ young generation should hold on and don’t accept anymore somebody to play around your future destination. Enough is enough. Stay focused to the clear goals. Keep wanting for transparency. Ask for accountability and hold accountable your local leaders from the aid given from donors. Some Aids-help are not truly intended to help the future of Africa. 

Back to my today’s subject, “Noble though, Still not a right path”.  It is about a week ago, the G-8 countries; the United States, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, and Canada held their Summit at Camp David in the US, as pertaining to African interests. This year’s meeting was more exciting and created lots of mixed feelings to many, especially those in Africa and among African themselves. Perhaps because of the theme selected, the Action on Food Security and Nutrition, further still, the invitation of the four African leaders, President Yayi Boni of Benin in his capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who leads the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), Ghanaian President John Atta Mills and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.

It is the first time to have four leaders from the south of Sahara, developing countries present at this kind of meetings. Exiting enough, from Sub-Saharan Africa, the question here still remain pending, why these four fellows were invited? Is there any authentic reason for them being invited? The list goes on and on!

Of course, to some who take Africa Sub-Saharan as a continent always neglected, marginalised, “farm for raw materials” and associated by all sorts of poverty; the summit appeared to them as good news. This invitation ended up blocking many from holding up their creative thinking, and limits many, in the short term “false image” from the speeches that were given, the seeming good intention to help on agricultural area and the invitation to the Africans. It is good news may be because it presented the image of Africa sub-Saharan in “the big men’s” or “rich men scene” arena, or the “international community”. Good for tourism world.

It is a wish still that many people of good will for Africa and especially those in the Eastern and some from Scandinavian will help Africans think and see beyond this year’s G8 summit invitation of Africans. We should not be overshadowed by the African invitation to the G-8 2012 summit.

Why using the title “Noble though, yet still not a right path” and why I don’t see it a right choice. First of all there might be some good intentions in it, but it is not authentic at all to those fellows invited from Africa. Why should someone think, and say so. The economic development of Africa is growing in a high pace and now making the “western” world worried, the reasons as were clearly expressed by Baraka Obama himself that, Africa has shown for example a very high pace of development in telecommunication areas-phones. Further still this article started by a brief presentation about how Africa is developing in an amazing, unstoppable pace. Among many, this is a true challenge especially those who hold Africa as their “farm or an experiment field” for centuries and centuries.

Mobile phone penetration rates in Africa are incredibly aggressive. It’s very deep and perhaps about 45 percent. Now people are using mobile phones for trading, for information about when a doctor’s coming to your village and so on.  

The second reason to which it is not seem an authentic invitation to the fellows, African; is the nature and the decisions of leaving out countries like India, Brazil, and China that seems have working at least hand in hand with African countries in the past few year with some good amount of authenticity and objectivity which pose many challenges to some G-8 members acceptance in this richest minerals continent yet poor. It is clear that the G-8 nations have a cold hand welcome to the Continent than their counterpart, the eastern countries.

Third reason is the long economic history and relationship that we know between the most G-8 countries and the African continent which has not always been good, positive and authentic. The member countries of G-8, those called themselves as the leaders of the rich nations, that is, the United States, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, and Canada, which comprise half of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), being asked to partner with Africa by committing their governments to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition aiming at ending global food insecurity.

Countries like Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Italy, their presence in the continent is well known since the era of Berlin conference and even before. In this structure Japan, United State, Canada and Russia might appear as new comers in those who went to Africa as colonialists. Even when thinking of their presence in Africa, their image can be different from those of Germany, France and United Kingdom and Italy.  

Many questions are still pending. Because Baraka Obama knows very clearly that unreliable rainfall situation in Africa and beyond and the unreliable climatic conditions for cultivation is already a challenge in itself. Why then should he and his fellows consider agriculture as a solution in helping Africans resolve their poverty problem?

It will be accepted as a genuine decision if they think it is the right choice. But the challenges posed are still remain that climatic condition is a natural disaster and still how can they help solving agricultural problem in the conditions which are beyond their capacity. The G-8 theme is more ambiguous and full of ambitions to many Africans. In one way, it looks like a getting in door in Africa and is more than agricultural reasons. In Tanzania, for example minerals are being discovered day after day. Despite of some few weaknesses, the Chinese seems to hold a good amount of respect and welcome in many parts of Africa than the G-8 do. There is no doubt about the America’s ability to direct or to control global or even regional events is declining. The world itself has changed, from a closed to an open system. In this case, in an open system, thinking of primacy or even dominance is nonsensical. The U.S is trying his best to create an influence. With the new challenges posed by the presence of Chinese in a “rich” yet poor continent, Africa, forces the U.S and his fellows, the G-8 to find new friends.

 However, it should be remembered that the U.S is still the most influential power in the world. U.S participation in some conferences, meetings, summits and forums has made things happened, for example the rebuff of Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, the creation of the G-20, A nuclear arms treaty with Russia, U.N. intervention in Libya, the chain is long.

In that sense, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition seem to wants to take advantage of agriculture problem pretending to pull 50 million Africans out of poverty over the next decade by aligning the commitments of Africa’s leadership to drive effective plans and policies for food security. The dream also plans to involve private sector partners to increase investment in agriculture. It sounds sweet and seducing but in the real sense it is already a failure.  

Africans should know that, by the fact that Obama’s ancestors are said to come from Africa; this does not justify his authenticity by his invitation of those four African fellows to such a “rich” but “separating” meeting of the said “rich” nations. Attention to the invited four African leaders possibly also their countries can be used a backdoor entrance to Africa. Listening to his speeches, one doesn’t need to be told that the fellow is a Harvard graduate fellow, brewed up in an American culture.

 However, when Obama recently named, Jim Yong Kim, a Korean-American Doctor as new World Bank head he proved how he can play well his card. This was no doubt that he played an intelligent technique in cooling down the Eastern world to buy his option. Thus, left in dilemma the only southern world with the option to the only expected, Ms Okonjo-Iweala an African woman run for the post. She had the qualifications but perhaps her impediment for the post was, she comes from the south world. In this situation, how will China, India, Japan and Korea take position after the Obama’s selection? Obama is a sharp mind fellow. Africans should not be taking him quickly as theirs. He has the power in his hands but still there is a big influence from his advisors.

On the other hand, when a professor of economics and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and a Special Adviser to the United Nation Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals, Mr. Jeffrey D. Sachs announced his good intention of seeking to become president of the World Bank because he wanted to make a difference in the fight against poverty, Some Americans said to him that, as an American he should not be involved in some other countries, and mostly those in Africa, where Jeffrey has had a very good hand experience problems, as an honesty man, he responded that with his belief that as human beings we are part of humanity first, and part of our nations after that. 

Mr. Jeffrey goes on insisting that as humanity, we suffer when others suffer, and we improve our lot when others improve their lot as well. He wanted perhaps to make a difference that he was convinced and witnessed from his voyage in Africa. To my disappointment he withdrew his candidacy. But who knows what happened behind the scene. So here we go with the question of authenticity on Obama’s invitation to the Africans and his theme New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. Will he not be told the same?

Listen to the G-8 meeting sessions, what came in my mind was a famous known question that we used to expect in the last National Secondary Examinations in Tanzania which states that “Africa, we consume what we don’t produce and we produce what we don’t consume”. This is a vast question touching not only minerals, manufacturing industries but also agriculture products, the cash crops liked by the colonialists such as cotton, sisal, coffee, cocoa and so forth. So Africa became like a place where one could harvest from, and in this way they see Africa like a farm for production of raw materials then go back home to sit under the shade and enjoy. For many centuries, Africa has been considered as a place for getting raw materials for the manufacturing industries in the west. Up to today this is what we are still witnessing in many parts of contemporary Africa sub-Saharan countries. Is there any connection to the today’s poverty in the sub-Saharan Africa, or is this taking us back to the failure of colonial cash crops plus the increasing global warming challenges? This question and many alike I leave to you my readers.

The economist, Jeffrey D. Sachs, in his book, “The end of Poverty” says very clearly that, “the one thing that the West would not do, however, is to invest in long-term African economic development; he goes on saying; the die was cast in the 1960s, when senior U.S. policy makers decided that the United States would not support a Marshall Plan type of policy for Africa, even though such an effort was precisely what was needed to build the infrastructure for long-term growth”. This was the political leadership’s rejection, that they were not willing to do it. It exactly smells the same to the G-8 promises to Africans.

Furthermore, a Zambian famous economist, Dambisa Moyo, in her famous book, “Dead Aid”, says that “the whole idea of incentives, which has been the backbone of the success in Western economies, is not something the West transplanted into places like Africa”. She goes on saying that, economically; many countries- not just in Africa, but Brazil, Chile- now turn to China. China gives them a real opportunity to sell agricultural products that have been locked out of West through subsidy programs. This is an opportunity for Africa to trade, which is a key piece of the puzzle for economic development. It is absurd that, the continent of one billion has been less than 2 percent of global trade.  Of course, China is not a perfect solution, but it is better of something than never. In Africa now days, many people don’t believe that America is interested in Africa’s welfare beyond perhaps a few charity concerts and sending a few bits of aid money. Many people still don’t really believe that America is interested in job creating in Africa and creating long-term sustainable economic growth.

Above all, what perhaps President Baraka Obama wants to forget and make others fall in his trap is that there many other strong, positives ways toward reducing poverty than the one he thinks will be a solution.

First of all, I want to be optimistic enough by saying to him that information technology will be the tool to transform the thinking around politics, as well as economics. Protecting American farmers has been one of the cornerstones of the US trade policy for many years. Now what will say about this? Surely he can’t do otherwise.

The arrival of minerals wealth such as gas, oil, mining, uranium, and so forth in many Africa countries, with the huge discovering of gas, oil and uranium in southern Tanzania, It was expected to hear from him assuring a sincerely and honest security to the Africans for their riches, maintaining the already peaceful gaining state in most African nations. It was expected to hear him assuring African of manufacturing industries, building the extracting mining industries for the Africans in Africa. If the US and the other G-8 members are authentic enough, then could direct the good amount of the sum to the helpful things like health and education rather than to continue spraying around subsidies if there at all to inefficient industries and project, in this case agriculture.

Africans were expecting to hear the G-8 promises on helping Africa to have a rapid transition from commodity exporter to manufacturing power-house. A friend of mine, a Tanzanian was disappointed at the end of the summit because his country has recently discovered good amount of natural resources including gas, uranium, oil and because he has witnessed the close relationship of his home president Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the relation which has grown more than ever before in the history of the two countries and since in his country there is no reliable power electricity; he had expected that this was going to be a special occasion for Mr. Obama to assure Mr. Kikwete a big, sincerely and authentic project using the local discovered resources in generating a reliable attractive electricity power in the country-Tanzania and beyond; so as to increase production, create more employment, reduce cost of life and assure the country with other good social services. To his dismay, it was not the case.

As most African would expect the construction of more schools, clinics, hospitals, roads, electricity, ports, help having more clean drinking water and the likes, would have been more richer a promise than a long time failure agriculture. These are not only the basic necessities for a life of dignity and health, but more also for economic productivity. To remind the members of the G-8 nations that in African like many parts of the planet, the remaining challenge is to take on geographic isolation, disease, vulnerability of climate shocks, and so forth, by installing in new systems of political responsibility that can get the job done. Jeffrey D. Sachs, suggests that in order to give impoverished communities around the world, both in rural and in urban, the tools for sustainable development we need a strategic plan focusing on the following key investments- in people, in this case, Education sounds more of a help and a sure way of investment; the second would be to invest in infrastructures.  

Never the less, in his speech at the first ever graduation done to the pioneer class of the Catholic University of South Sudan, an American Fr. Michael J. Schultheis S.J., Vice Chancellor/President of the Catholic University of South Sudan, addressing those completed their four year degree program in Economics and Business he said: "As you may be aware, many voiced the opinion at one time or another that it could not be done - at times I all but agreed with them... but the first fruits are here.  Other potential donor condition support on "special projects" such as "planting trees" or "piece-meal projects", but in fact the University itself is the Project.  He goes on presenting some numbers saying, “this year Catholic University of South Sudan has some 400 students in the Faculty in Juba and 120 students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Wau.  In fact, the baby is born ... and with proper nurturing, it promises to be a significant contribution to the society and the new country of South Sudan, in forming people who are competent and committed and have a sense of the social justice." 

Then it is clear example of how and what Africans need. Businesses, Economics, technological education are more worthy and are truly what Africa need. These are true path to development. What we see happening in Africa, is the access to education by the middle classes families. We need a type of education that forms people’s conscience by helping them to be men and women for others. Further still, in Africa, a need for an education system that nurturing more justice and uniting than dividing Africans would be a welcome thing and not otherwise.

To this end, no matter how sweet it might sound, Africa’s development impasse demands a new level of consciousness, a greater degree of innovation, and a generous dose of honesty and authenticity about what type of work, activities and what does not as far as development is concerned. And one thing that Africa needs is the manufacturing, processing industries and the likes. Depending on Agriculture has not worked in Africa.

In concluding, I want to remind the four invited African leaders to the G-8 Summit at Camp David, that to govern is to choose: yet without being predetermined, those choices are conditioned on the decisions that others have made in the past. As part of African leaders, they should always remember what we call the politics of development and protectionism.

I want to finish with a saying from one of the greatest Statesmen in the continent, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the first Tanzania president who says, “You don’t have to be a Communist to see that China has a lot to teach us in development. The fact that they have a different political system than ours has nothing to do with it” Quoted in Donald Robinson’s The 100 most important people in the World Today, New York 1970.

Let this be a reminder to African leaders not to take a risk of carrying all their eggs in one basket. They should open up their eyes to see the other world, and be creative thinkers of their own. Agriculture is a good thing for it gives us food. But if we think of true economic development and plan to fight against poverty in Africa, then Agriculture will not be the right path.

By Frederick Meela