|By Nkwazi Mhango| What must Africans expect from the just concluded US-Africa summit? If anything, the “milestone” summit epitomized the big man syndrome that’s been going on since independence. The summit duration was not enough to exhaust all important issues such as parity in business, terrorism and America’s conduct in Africa.
It is ironic that while dictators such as Equatorial Guinea’s Theodoro Nguema Obiang were invited, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe wasn’t invited. Why is democracy important for Zimbabwe but not for Equatorial Guinea? By inviting Obiang and boycotting Mugabe, the US demonstrated double standards.
Will Africa benefit from this summit? It is unlikely given that Africa didn’t benefit from Agoa a few years ago. Will America’s investment consider vital areas such as infrastructure, human development and parity in business? Bob Collymore, chief executive officer of Safaricom Ltd., East Africa’s largest mobile-phone operator has the right answer. Quoted in one interview in Washington, bob observed: “Does America want to invest in infrastructure in roads? Probably not.”
In addition, African leaders went to the summit unprepared. One would have hoped that the whole issue of equality and America’s business protectionism would be addressed. This did not happen.
Looking at how Africa’s been losing big, one may ask: Were African leaders prepared and were they offered the opportunity to negotiate deals or just to show off in Washington, New York and elsewhere? Africa needs good results but not photo ops and many bold but empty words regarding presiding over a poor country but rich in resources.
By Nkwazi Mhango
http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=8005&magazine=511
https://theblacklist.net/
Comments