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De Klerk: Give Africa a break
28/02/2007 19:30 - (SA)
Pretoria - Africa needs a "fair break" from the rest of the world, and the determination to address its own problems, said former South African president FW de Klerk on Wednesday.
In a lecture at the University of Pretoria's Centre for International Political Studies, De Klerk said there was an unfair perception that Africa was lagging further and further behind in the global race.
He said while there were still "too many" African states that conform to the stereotype of poverty, conflict and tyranny, this was not only a problem on the continent.
De Klerk said: "Such states conform to the stereotype not because they are African, but because poverty, tyranny and conflict go hand in hand throughout the world and throughout history and not just in Africa. The problem, accordingly, is poverty - and not Africa."
The challenge for the world and for Africa was to address the causes of the cycle of poverty, conflict and tyranny on the continent.
'Expand inter-regional trade'
De Klerk said it was a challenge Africa accepted, but that there were some facets of economic policy that African countries must address urgently.
Africa should stop the flight of capital from the continent.
African countries should liberalise their own tariffs and expand inter-regional trade.
Steps should be taken to increase Africa's diminishing share in global trade - which had declined from two percent in 1980 to one percent in 1999.
"Although First World nations are quick to give lip service to the need to help develop African economies, they are often ruthless when their own interests are adversely affected," said De Klerk.
On the political front he said the continent has still some way to go to promote democracy.
"We need to apply the Peer Review mechanisms more fearlessly. This will not happen if African leaders continue to avoid criticism of countries like Zimbabwe.
"The future of our continent depends on our ability as Africans to establish peace and stability; to promote genuine democracy and to ensure basic standards of good governance," said De Klerk.
- SAPA
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