The Fixer
JF-Expert Member
- Mar 3, 2008
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10.04am: Our economics editor Larry Elliott has been watching Gordon Brown's Africa session. He sends us these thoughts: Gordon Brown is chairing a Davos session on Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa has recovered quickly from the Great Recession of 2008-09, Brown says, but big challenges remain. Africa is 15% of the world's population but accounts for only 1% of global manufacturing and 1% of global inward investment. Meles Zenawi, prime minister of Ethiopia, expresses confidence that Africa will be the next "growth pole" of the global economy and is in the position that India was in at the start of the 1990s, before its rapid economic take-off period. Africa needs three things, he adds: higher investment in infrastructure; better skills; and to attract low-cost manufacturing plants which are looking to re-locate from Asia. Jakaya Kikwete, president of Tanzania says Africa is 'starting from very low levels of development'. He outlines six areas necessary for more rapid progress: sticking to economic reform programmes; investment in education at all levels; transforming agriculture from a position where people 'live from hand to mouth'; develop infrastructure; boost manufacturing; and integrate both regionally and internationally. 'Africa needs access to markets", he says. 'The early conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda (trade liberalisation talks) is critical' Comments; RichardBrunwick 26 January 2012 2:33PM Tanzania's Kikwete is one of the most pathetic African leaders of our times. He is a peacetime leader for a country known to be one of the richest in the world in terms of natural resources, yet he leades the world with begging. Foreign companies have known Tanzania to be a free land in which you can go in and take all you can without being asked a question. I really don't get the mind set of its leaders especially their prsident Mr. Kikwete, a Muzungu worshiper. Having worked with the UNDP in that country for 8 years, I realized how inneficient and corrupt the country's leadership is. His ministers that requested bribes from BAE have never been tried despite the damning evidence against them. British TAX payers must stop funding this man's corruptin and foreign trips. His human rights record is horrible. Mr. Kikwete had no business of going to Davos to ask for foreign aid. Already his country is the world third leading foreign Aid dependant nation. He should be embarassed to say to the world that people are poor. His people living "hand to mouth " is his own is own ignorance and stupidity.That is hiw own problem, Brits are having their own problems he must realize that. We cant bankroll his foreign trips. He should make good use of his country's wealth. Instead of letting his corrupt officials and foreigners loot his country, he needs to think before letting himself be a global loughing stock. I read in one of the regional (kenyan) publication the mockery nature related to his frequent foreign trips. Palestinian, Haiti, Lebanon, Somalia and even Rwanda economies are more robust that of Tanzania. We must question the nations that welcomes this "Joker's" request for AID. He needs to be on a "no-fly" list so he can be serious. Hopefully the billionaires questions what he has done with the Money he has received for decades. The Arab spring should turn into the African summer and get rid of the Kikwete likes LindaCroucher 26 January 2012 3:50PM Response to RichardBrunwick, 26 January 2012 2:33PM This man did not deserve to be a head of state. He has no credibility. How can a head of state be bribed suits? We must write Downing Street and our parliament, and let them know that Aid to some of these african countries ought to STOP. nyerere the founding president of tanzania was a visionary even though his socialist policies failed, but he was a nationalist and a true patriot. Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana have seen far and are on the roll to economic dependence. Kikwete, and his chrony of rulling elites getting richer and richer. These people have no electricity yet the country has so many dams and rivers. There should be a policy to bar all corrupt leaders and their children from stepping into the EU.I dont blame Kikwete, i blame Tanzaians for letting this happen. They should be 100% responsible for their poverty and suffering. We just dont need them to come for Aid. We have many Brits out of work, and that money should pay for their Unemployment Benefit LindaCroucher 26 January 2012 4:01PM African problem is more than foreign aid. They are not ready for economic transformation. In Tanznaia today, they have started the leadership inheritance in which the old guards passess on the torch to their children. we should not expect anything serious from African nations. If it means our money, lets cut it off. We have so many social problems to deal with people's own created miserybecause they will never have free elections without someone stffing ballot boxes and ready to let the whole country in flames as long as they remain in power and their children in top american and british schools AltaVista1 26 January 2012 7:32PM @Richard, The issue with Tanzania president is not a British issue or a global issue. It is a Tanzania voter's issue. They have let this man continue with corruption and impunity. Those in diplomatic circles especially in the US state department are privy of the matter and very disgust with Kikwete. He is not a serious leader and the chatter in Washington about his endless lavish foreign trips is not flattering. He is an embarrasment to his country and african leaders He has literally sold his country and done nothing to combat corruption. Nepotism has risen; those in power ensures they slot in their children in sensitive positions before they retire. Currently, 15% of Tanzania government leadership is made of sons and daughters of those that once ruled or still in power. I see Tanzania in the line of Tunisia and Egypt very soon, and won't lose sleep if this man is ousted, we just don't want him in America. UK, you can have him. Our cabinet secretaries take subway, their ministers in expensive land cruisers. Not with our tax dollars. I learnt through secret channels that one of his associates transported a Range rover in a cargo plane to TanzaniaThen go around and say "Hand to Mouth"???????? Comment from a whole president to his fellow world leaders? can he ask himself why??? Davos main goal is to discuss Euro crisis not African problems and this president should have known that, because at the end of the day he will be leaving bare handed AlcoholicSnr 26 January 2012 11:58PM Kikwete and Suma are retards. they are morons, shame on them Atleast Zuma was reading from the script! Why do they look for aid, I thought their african countries are richer than ours. why come to us for aid? the corrupt Tansania president could not answer an educational question? what a pity! and he has just started a second term? let me yawwwwwn WALIJADILIANA MENGI SANA LAKINI KWA UFUPI NI HAYO TU !
