Events surrounding Zimbabwe have certainly not gone unnoticed in the news lately. A few examples can be found here, here, and here. Not forgetting Petina Gappah’s rant here, and Michael Trapido’s sentiments here.
I am keen to gauge the mood pertaining to Zimbabwe based on the traffic passing through this blog. Kindly spare a moment to add your 2 pence to the poll below.
Yesterday my drive through central Manchester took me past the defunct Jowata African Restaurant (pictured). Black wooden boards covered the windows and entrance to the premises – certainly not a heartwarming sight. The Jowata was closed to the public well over eight months ago for reasons beyond my knowledge. While the restaurant never really had many raving fans (if online reviews are anything to go by), its closure was somewhat significant. It effectively meant there was no longer a mainstream licensed African restaurant in the city of Manchester.
Big deal? I would have to suggest it is. The food and catering industry in this country is an eye watering multi-billion pound affair. The absence of restaurants serving African food would suggest a classic case of missed business opportunities. More so in a city the size of Manchester. That said, I struggle to get my head round why African food has never really taken off here. Wisdom may be derived from the success of equally exotic Indian, Chinese, and Thai cuisines in a competitive British market.
África, Pecado de Europa is a book written in Spanish, translated to mean Africa, Sin of Europe in English. It is the work of Luís de Sebastián Carazo, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Economics at the ESADE Business School. In the video clip below he takes a few minutes to talk about what the book entails. I get the feeling this may not be the last time I hear about his assertions. I also doubt the good professor has won any popularity contests in Europe lately…
Filed under Africa, Economics, Literature
The November edition of Men’s Health magazine came through my postbox this past Wednesday. Images of impossibly fit bodybuilders have become a fixture on the magazine’s cover each month. Bearing this in mind, it was surprising to find a glum Barack Obama staring out of the latest edition (pictured).
November’s Men’s Health magazine is dubbed “The Heroes Issue”. In the words of Dan Jones, it is a “roll-call of role models”. A chronicle of “the most inspirational men [and women] in the world as picked by their heroic peers”. Of significance to me is the inclusion of Barack Obama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in this eclectic list of iconic figures. Tributes to Obama and Tutu are written by Chuck D and Richard Branson respectively. I have pulled through some excerpts of their thoughts below…
Chuck D on Obama:
I’ve always used terms like ‘citizen of the world’, and Obama is someone who seems to understand that concept. It’s more important that we find ways to carry out foreign policy other than dropping bombs, and the noises he’s made are definitely a step in the right direction. Crucially, the people who have supported him must stay the course with him. If Barack Obama becomes President of the United States, the job is going to be two or three times harder for him than it’s ever been. Partly that’s because of the mess that Bush has made, but it’s also because of who he is. But Obama is a very smart guy and he definitely has the potential to spend two or three years cleaning up the mess and then working out where things go next…
Richard Branson on Archbishop Desmond Tutu:
There are very few people who become heroes in their lifetime and are still heroes when they die. Generally speaking, heroes let people down at some stage in their lives. But there are exceptions. My all-time hero is Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who – with Nelson Mandela – has not only transformed South Africa, but has set an incredible example for the rest of the world… Tutu is rather overlooked in the shadow of Mandela, and yet, 77 on 7 October, with prostate cancer, he is trumping the world and trying to address the problems of Zimbabwe, Darfur, and Kenya. He is just an unbelievable and unique individual.
On that note, allow me to congratulate the Archbishop on his 77th birthday, albeit two days in advance.
Margaret Sengwaketse is a Research Fellow at the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA). She is currently undertaking research towards a Ph.D. degree at the University of Manchester. Margaret’s thesis explores three possible explanations to manufacturing growth in Botswana; mineral abundance, the trade policy environment, and the general macroeconomic environment. Margaret was kind enough to share her thoughts on some of my questions.
Q>> Can you please give an overview of the work BIDPA does and what your role there entails.
MARGARET>> BIDPA conducts policy research. As one of the researchers I conduct research particularly in the area of international trade.
Q>> Botswana’s economic success has invariably been linked to the mining of diamonds in the country. Is there any basis for fears of a decline in mineral reserves?
MARGARET>> There is definitely reason to worry over declining mineral reserves. Data suggests that Botswana is over-dependent on mining as mining constitutes a significant share in government revenue, national output and exports. A decline in reserves would affect government revenue, output and exports.
Q>> Would you say the Tswana economy is diversified enough for the current economic success to be sustained?
MARGARET>> I have not calculated any diversification indices to give a definite answer. However, national output and export data suggests mining sector share in gross domestic product and exports is significant and has been so since the 1980s. The government has long acknowledged the need to diversify the economy away from over-dependence on mining and has introduced initiatives to stimulate growth in other sectors. However, up to this point I would say that although there has been growth in non-mining sectors, the dominance of the mining sector is still evident.
Q>> In your opinion, is the relatively small population of Botswana (approximately 1.6 million the last time I checked) a limiting factor to economic growth?
MARGARET>> This is one of the most difficult questions I will have to answer I think. A small population means a small domestic market, therefore future economic growth cannot depend on domestic demand. According to literature, export growth is one of the channels through which economic growth can be achieved in small economies. The impressive economic growth that Botswana has achieved was through mineral exports. We have already discussed the dangers of relying on non-renewable resources and that mining cannot sustain growth in the future because minerals are finite. That means other sectors with export growth potential should contribute to economic growth. The key here is diversification because if the economy moves from over-dependence on mining to over-dependence on something else, it is still vulnerable.
Some diversification has been achieved as some sectors such as tourism do contribute to exports. But more needs to be done to increase the contributions of other sectors to export growth. Manufacturing for example, could contribute more to exports than it does currently. But learning to export and increasing export shares takes time, effort and resources and exposure to the international trading environment can be a challenge especially for small and medium firms.
Q>> Botswana has been one of the few African countries funding a significant number of its citizens to study in universities and colleges beyond its borders. Do trends suggest that these Batswana graduates return home upon completion? Either way, is the economy ready to assimilate their skills back home?
MARGARET>> I do not have figures on graduates who have trained and have not returned home to take employment or vice-versa so it is hard to give a definite answer. However, one of the challenges the government has been facing in recent years is graduate unemployment as well as a shortage of key skills. I do not have figures to give you an idea on the scale of the problem.
My thinking is that in as much as the government is committed to skills development and has used its mineral wealth to develop human resources, it cannot be the only employer and some skills have to be absorbed by the private sector. Like most of Africa, the government sector is already large and cannot grow bigger than it currently is. Though mining contributes a significant share to national output and exports, it employs a few people as it is capital intensive. Sectors such as manufacturing and services should absorb the excess sector. However, as we discussed earlier, these sectors need to grow more than they do currently to be able to absorb all these skills.
Q>> Botswana has often been cited, along with Ghana, as one of the few African countries where women are found in influential positions in relatively large numbers. Would you say this is true? If so, why is this so?
MARGARET>> I think the number of women in influential positions in Botswana is impressive. I am not able to relate it to the rest of Africa as I do not have the necessary data. Where women have demonstrated ability and have the necessary skills, I think they have been given the chance to be in influential positions in Botswana. However, it is never easy as women have to work extra-hard juggling all their responsibilities and [still] prove that they are capable.
Q>> Your other roles in life include being a mother and a wife. Any “work-life balance” tips for career-minded African women facing the challenges of raising a family?
MARGARET>> Like you said the key word is balance. It is never easy as parenting is a full-time job. But I try to do as much work as possible at work, leave work-related stuff at work and go home to be a mother and wife. By God’s grace, this strategy has worked for me.
Q>>Thanks so much for your insight and time Margaret!
Earlier on this month, the U.S. Department of State released the 2008 International Religious Freedom Report. Published on the 19th of September, this is a significant document giving a country-by-country assessment of our religious liberties. Of interest to me is the report’s ability to provide updated reviews pertaining to specific African countries. The erosion of religious freedom tends to happen with great subtlety. An awareness of any potential threats to this basic human right is essential.
The 2008 report can be accessed by clicking here.
Nigerians living in Manchester would really have to make an effort to forget their Independence Day this year. Posters (pictured below) advertising Independence Day celebrations have popped up across the city this past week. On the 1st of October, Nigeria will be two years shy of celebrating fifty years of independence from British rule. Given the turbulent post-independence legacies of many African countries, I wonder what note this year’s celebrations will strike in the Nigerian national psyche. As the countdown continues, allow me to wish Africa’s most populous nation a bright and prosperous future.
Filed under Africa, Miscellaneous
Africa has had a long history of being patronised in various forms of the media and literature. Most of us have come to expect it all. Cringeworthy distortions of the continent in movies, newspaper articles, novels, and even documentaries. Ironically, non-Africans are often at the forefront when it comes to dictating how Africa and her people are portrayed. Make no mistake – one reason why the African agenda has been hijacked is down to our failure as Africans to accurately tell our own story.
It is with this backdrop that I consider Binyavanga Wainaina‘s essay, How to Write About Africa, as being right on target. It is a wry piece of satire challenging the hypocrisy, subjectivity, and catalogue of inaccuracies about Africa prevalent in today’s literature. I personally believe this essay has wider applications. Published in Granta, Wainaina’s article appears to go as far as taking a swipe at liberals portraying themselves as having Africa’s best interests at heart. Absolutely essential reading!
Wainaina’s essay can be read in full here.
The good gentlemen at the African CEO blog have pointed out a new addition to the blogosphere: Africa Can. This is Shanta Devarajan’s new blog in his capacity as the Chief Economist of the Africa region at the World Bank. After giving it a quick read, I would say it certainly seems to be a platform for all the right conversations about Africa. Definitely one to bookmark: http://africacan.worldbank.org.
Filed under Africa
UPDATE: A comprehensive discussion on this topic has been subsequently facilitated by the World Bank’s Chief Economist for the Africa Region. Strongly recommended – click here to access it.
The week so far has definitely been diary material. In view of the current global financial crisis, these are certainly unprecedented times. Images of former Lehman Brothers employees weeping in public brought it all home for me. Soaring UK unemployment figures have also put things into perspective. Meanwhile AIG, HBOS, and other financial institutions have been teetering dangerously close to implosion. Increasingly, I have been left wondering what this means for Africa even though the implications appear elusive.
There have been voices suggesting that some parts of Africa may be less exposed to the perils of the global credit crunch. For example, yesterday’s edition of Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper made references to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which caught my attention:
…The CBN Director of Banking Supervision, Mr. Ignatius Imala… said the collapse of the American banks would not have effect on Nigerian banks but that the CBN was taking full measures as it did not want to leave anything to chance.
His words: “I naturally feel that you would be interested in not only learning that the collapse of Lehman Brothers and a few others will not affect Nigerian banks because of their trading relationships.”
Earlier on in the year, Nigerian tycoon Aliko Dangote spoke to the Mail & Guardian newspaper voicing his own opinions on the credit crunch. He went as far as saying the global phenomenon could actually be a good thing for Africa. I quote:
“The credit crunch works better rather than worse for Africa in terms of investment,” Dangote said while on a visit to Sierra Leone late on Sunday.
“It means there is a lot of money that needs to be invested somewhere and the best place is … developing countries like Africa,” he said, pointing to growth rates in some African nations more than double those of their Western counterparts.
Call me a pessimist, but that seems like a somewhat simplistic view of the current situation. Given the decreasing liquidity of potential investors in the EU and the United States, I question where this foreign investment will come from. China perhaps? If anything I am more inclined to go along with Seeraj Mohamed’s view in an article written for the Polity.org.za website. He outlines the dangers of the global credit crunch in a South African context, highlighting the possible effects on domestic share prices.
Ultimately, I doubt anyone REALLY knows how the full impact of this fallout will accrue to African economies. One universally acknowledged fact is that we are in uncharted territory. Given the interlocking connections holding the global community together, I would be surprised if Africa is left unscathed.
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African Aspects 