9-11 May 2012
Re: Win-Win Public Private Partnership for Agricultural Transformation Agency
I read with interest this commentary that was drafted following the recent World Economic Forum Meetings in Addis 9-11 May 2012.
Good governance is about transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to all stake holders.
Exorbitant profit margins demanded by foreign private investors based on exorbitant risk speculations by wall street speculators who are planning to create food balloons like they did to technology bubbles, followed by real estate and now energy (petrol) balloons are going to hold the global population hostage.
African leaders are learning fast across the new Capitalist Crisis generated speculative corruption machines, but they do not seem to have the tools to manage it. If Europe and USA cannot curb the Speculative Vulture Capitalists how can African governments survive this challenge where their people are starving to death.
Any error they make is going to be a serious disaster. Win-win Partnerships between the private and public sector in manufacturing, industrialization or the new buzz word is Agricultural Transformation, with an agency funded by the richest two people Bill, Melinda and the famous Buffet.
I trust this Transformation Agency might have a good chance for sustainable food security than all the other speculative transformations.
Time will tell how Bill Gates and Meles Zenawi will treat this Agricultural Transformation Agency
All the same, please read the VoA take of the World Economic Summit in Addis
with regards and seeking your alternative perspective,
I remain
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
www.GlobalBelaiJesus.com
Meles Zenawi blames African corruption on foreign investors
By Peter Heinlein, VOA | May 11, 2012
What is the poison that corrupts many African leaders, no matter how honorable their intentions when they take office? That was the question put to a panel of that included heads of state and government at the World Economic Forum on Africa on Thursday. The question received a surprisingly candid answer.
It was promoted as a conversation on Africa's leadership. Among those on stage were the leaders of Africa's two most populous nations - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The conversation was routine until the floor was opened to questions from youth leaders. A young South African woman stood up to ask the question that many had pondered, but few dared to pose.
"Good day. My name is Gobano Madnamaraso," she said. "When our leaders are young - most of our African leaders - they are visionaries. They have wonderful visions for our continent. They are admirable. The speak good, they do good. But something happens to them once they are seated in those chairs of power. My question is: We want to see our continent change, but we are afraid of this power that corrupts even some of the best, most admirable leaders on our continent, and what is this poison that happens in these chairs of power and how can we prevent it? "
But perhaps just as frank as the question was the reply.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi pointed to greedy foreign corporations as a main driver of corruption.
"What is the poison that leaders face when you go to national palaces, and transforms people with vision sometimes into ordinary thieves? Let's start with the total amount of loot in Africa, and what our role as leaders in that loot[ing] is," said Meles. "The vast majority of the loot[ing] is done by properly organized companies through all sorts of accounting gimmicks."
Meles said African leaders are forced to be facilitators for foreign companies who demand favors in return for their investment that might means jobs for their people.
"It's a difficult thing to manage because our bargaining cards are very limited," he said. "We need these companies to create jobs, in order for them to come to Africa. The image is very negative, so the risk is artificially spiked. And if the risk is artificially spiked, the return has to be commensurate with the risk. And so it's difficult to attract them without extraordinary returns."
The Ethiopian leader said that sometimes leaders give in to temptation.
"Sometimes we facilitate without being paid," he said. "At other times we say, 'Okay, if your family's farm is being looted, why not join in?' I think that is the most insidious form of corruption. It affects everybody, including those whose hands are not in the till."
Another question that was less confrontational, but no less pointed, came from young Sudanese woman who wanted an explanation for the lack of female representation among African leaders.
"Hello, I am Jihada Bonefice from the Khartoum hub in Sudan," she said. "It's quite wonderful to see all you gentlemen up there. But my question is: How do you envision the role of African women in shaping the future? And is there any way you are trying very hard to maybe to get African women where they belong - right up there [on stage]?"
Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba answered, saying “Women are Africa's chance for success tomorrow.” But panelists agreed that solutions to the continent's leadership gender imbalance will be difficult.
Increasing the ranks of female leaders will be among topics discussed at Friday's closing forum meetings, along with China's rising prominence in Africa.
What is the poison that corrupts many African leaders, no matter how honorable their intentions when they take office? That was the question put to a panel of that included heads of state and government at the World Economic Forum on Africa on Thursday. The question received a surprisingly candid answer.
The conversation was routine until the floor was opened to questions from youth leaders. A young South African woman stood up to ask the question that many had pondered, but few dared to pose.
"Good day. My name is Gobano Madnamaraso," she said. "When our leaders are young - most of our African leaders - they are visionaries. They have wonderful visions for our continent. They are admirable. The speak good, they do good. But something happens to them once they are seated in those chairs of power. My question is: We want to see our continent change, but we are afraid of this power that corrupts even some of the best, most admirable leaders on our continent, and what is this poison that happens in these chairs of power and how can we prevent it? "
But perhaps just as frank as the question was the reply.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi pointed to greedy foreign corporations as a main driver of corruption.
"What is the poison that leaders face when you go to national palaces, and transforms people with vision sometimes into ordinary thieves? Let's start with the total amount of loot in Africa, and what our role as leaders in that loot[ing] is," said Meles. "The vast majority of the loot[ing] is done by properly organized companies through all sorts of accounting gimmicks."
Meles said African leaders are forced to be facilitators for foreign companies who demand favors in return for their investment that might means jobs for their people.
"It's a difficult thing to manage because our bargaining cards are very limited," he said. "We need these companies to create jobs, in order for them to come to Africa. The image is very negative, so the risk is artificially spiked. And if the risk is artificially spiked, the return has to be commensurate with the risk. And so it's difficult to attract them without extraordinary returns."
The Ethiopian leader said that sometimes leaders give in to temptation.
"Sometimes we facilitate without being paid," he said. "At other times we say, 'Okay, if your family's farm is being looted, why not join in?' I think that is the most insidious form of corruption. It affects everybody, including those whose hands are not in the till."
Another question that was less confrontational, but no less pointed, came from young Sudanese woman who wanted an explanation for the lack of female representation among African leaders.
"Hello, I am Jihada Bonefice from the Khartoum hub in Sudan," she said. "It's quite wonderful to see all you gentlemen up there. But my question is: How do you envision the role of African women in shaping the future? And is there any way you are trying very hard to maybe to get African women where they belong - right up there [on stage]?"
Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba answered, saying “Women are Africa's chance for success tomorrow.” But panelists agreed that solutions to the continent's leadership gender imbalance will be difficult.
Increasing the ranks of female leaders will be among topics discussed at Friday's closing forum meetings, along with China's rising prominence in Africa.
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