Monday 9 July 2012

The continued saga of the scramble for Africa

A while ago I wrote about what can only be termed a “skewed marriage of convenience” between China and Africa. Until now, I have refrained from writing about land grab and the politics of greed and opportunism – a favourite pastime of Africa’s political elite and Western investors. It is easier and of course more headline-worthy to talk about the big bad Eastern wolf that is taking over businesses and controlling purse strings the world over.
There is no doubt that the Chinese are grabbing all they can in Africa with full cooperation of African leaders (I must add) but that isn’t the full story.

Check out an article published in The Guardian on 26th June 2012. Here’s the link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jun/26/uk-investors-africa-land-summit?newsfeed=true&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRoiua7PZKXonjHpfsX77O8pXa6g38431UFwdcjKPmjr1YEFSsZ0dvycMRAVFZl5nQhdDOWN

If ever there was a time that the livelihoods of ordinary people in SSA is threatened and being destroyed – it is now. The kind of greed and speculation that brought the global economy to its knees over the last 4 years is now been put to use in SSA this time to grab one of its most treasured resources – land. Apart from the destruction of livelihoods, what about the long-lasting environmental impact of the flagrant abuse of this most precious of resources? The cost of the tickets at the Agriculture Investment Seminar (£3000 each) proves beyond reasonable doubt that this is the business of profiteering at the expense of struggling communities which will lock generations in absolute poverty and deprivation.

We know what the investment bankers did to global economy. Ordinary people in SSA who are just doing their best to eke out an existence are not given credible or sustainable alternatives when they’re forced off their land. A lot of what passes for land reform in the communities affected is tantamount to bullying at best and grand theft at worst. If the glowing promises of developing communities and improving livelihoods were true, then people living in areas covered by the 5% land that has been taken already should be living in prosperity and shouldn’t need any external assistance to survive.
We all know that is not the case – the example given in the article drives home this point. African leaders need a wake-up call like never before. The scars of slavery haven’t totally faded from our consciousness. These speculators and so-called ‘investors’, are a different breed of sharks – out for the blood of the communities at all costs. The decisions made by African leaders today will either condemn or acquit them. One thing is clear: the speculation and greed does not bode well for SSA communities.
Until next time…………….

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