Article by Princess Kelelo PM Dhlamini
As the say has always been “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” Africa has suffered long enough from being fed a fish a day without wanting to fish on their own, however, the new revolution of America seems to have brought in a wake up call on our motherland.
The withdrawal of aid by Donald Trump presents a unique opportunity for Africa to assert its independence and self-sufficiency. The move can be seen as a catalyst for the continent to develop its own funding systems, medications, and herbal remedies
For far too long, Africa has relied heavily on foreign aid, which has often come with strings attached. This has led to a cycle of dependency, undermining the continent’s ability to develop its own capabilities. By creating its own funding systems, Africa can break free from this cycle and take control of its own destiny.Africa’s natural resources
provide a solid foundation for economic growth and development. Rather than relying on external aid, African countries should focus on their resources to drive development and reduce poverty.
Cde Julias Nyerere, the first President of Tanzania, was a strong advocate for African self-reliance and warned against the dangers of aid dependency. He gave us a strict warning “Aid is a form of colonialism. It creates a relationship of dependence, where the recipient is forced to accept the terms and conditions of the donor. We must reject this form of colonialism and build our own economies.”
Africa has an abundance of renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, and hydro power. These resources which can provide energy for homes, businesses, and industries, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the impact of climate change. African countries can prioritize human capital development by investing in education and training programs that equip citizens with the skills and knowledge needed to extract, process, and export natural resources.
Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana, emphasized the importance of self-reliance and warned against
the dangers of neocolonialism. In his own words he said “We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by the false promises of Western aid. We must be self-reliant and build our own economies, our own industries, and our own institutions.”
The withdrawal of USAID should be seen as a catalyst for Africa to take control of its own destiny and forget a new path towards sustainable development. For example, Africa’s own medications and herbal remedies can have a profound impact on the continent’s healthcare sector. As I mentioned in my previous articles, Africa is home to a rich diversity of medicinal plants and herbs, which have been used for centuries to treat various ailments yet stoll.
Africa had been unable to manufacture its own medications like for example Antiretrovirals ,or cancer treatments,. Africans continue to despise their own natural herbs and even calling them witchcraft. By embracing this knowledge and developing our own medications, we can reduce our reliance on foreign pharmaceuticals and provide
affordable healthcare to our people.
The withdrawal of aid can also have a positive impact on Africa’s conflicts. Often, foreign aid has been used as a tool to exert influence and control, especially wars over African countries. By removing this factor, Africa can begin to address its conflicts in a more meaningful way, without the burden of external interference. As I discussed in my articles on African unity, the continent has the potential to resolve its conflicts through dialogue, cooperation, and a commitment to peace.
Our freedom fighters recognized that Western aid often comes with strings attached, and that relying on it can undermine African self-reliance and sovereignty. They advocated for African countries to build their own economies, industries, and institutions, and to rely on themselves rather than on Western aid. Of course, there are concerns about the immediate impact of the aid withdrawal. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the move could lead to a significant increase in deaths from preventable diseases . However, this should not deter us from seeing the
long-term benefits of developing our own systems and capabilities.
In fact, some African countries are already demonstrating resilience in the face of aid withdrawal. Kenya’s central bank governor, for example, has stated that the country’s foreign exchange reserves remain healthy, despite the aid freeze
As Africa embracs this new revolution , it is essential that we prioritize unity, cooperation, and self-reliance. Africa has a vast and fertile land, with over 60% of the world’s arable land. This presents a significant opportunity for agricultural development, which can provide employment, income, and food security for millions of Africans.
By working together and leveraging our collective strengths, we can overcome the challenges posed by the aid withdrawal and emerge stronger, more resilient, and more independent.
In the words of Africa’s top health official, Jean Kaseya, “The U.S. and others don’t have to forget the
lessons of COVID. When you don’t open your eyes to something ongoing in Africa, we can have a mutation of the virus that will become a pandemic and affect all of us”. Let us take this as a call to action, to develop our own capabilities, to work together, and to build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.
It is essential that we remember the importance of African unity and solidarity, above all we should remember what our feedom fighters battled for. We should remember how our forefathers suffered at the cost of our freedom , which we continue selling through aid. Unity is all that which we are only left with, let us unite, build a continent of one identity, one voice, one vision, one goal. By standing together and supporting one another, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness. Let us seize this moment, let us rise to the challenge, and let us build a brighter future for Africa.
