Commission for Africa: Samantha Smit

We asked eight Africans for their views on the UK-sponsored Commission for Africa following the group's second meeting since it was launched.

Godwin Emejuobi: Port Harcourt, Nigeria "God is the help of Africa" Kasozi Lubega: Kampala, Uganda "Gain power without conflict" Ousman Njie: Cairo, Egypt "Reaffirming British interests" Samantha Smit: Lusaka, Zambia "Teachers and textbooks"

Iqbal Jhazbhay: Pretoria, South Africa "Development and stability" Yared Mussie: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia "Uncompetitive in business" Trevor Simumba: Freetown, Sierra Leone "We have to help ourselves first" Amboka Wameyo: Arusha, Tanzania "Africa should be trusted"

Samantha Smit

Blair's Commission for Africa can work but it should not be in the form of US dollars or pounds sterling and really needs effective administration.

MEET THE PANEL Name: Samantha Smit Age: 35 Lives: Lusaka, Zambia Occupation: Deputy General Manager, Lilayi Lodge Born: Kitwe, Zambia Religion: Roman Catholic In 10 words or less: Family orientated, working Mum, love doing things with my children

Africa needs help but not by throwing lots of US dollars at it.

I don't think that endless financial handouts are the way forward.

If I were on the Commission I would focus on education, because it can uplift Africa.

People who are uneducated and unemployed only become dependant on handouts.

I sometimes wonder if this is what the Western world wants.

Africa really could be a force to be reckoned with but I think that this might pose too much of a threat to other world powers.

If people are kept uneducated and dependant on financial aid they will never move forward.

Education gives us a sense of self-worth.

Africa needs aid in the form of teachers and textbooks, not dollars and cents

If a man can read and write he can communicate effectively and move forwards and upwards.

He can become an independent entity, earn his own living and be self-sustaining.

Africa needs aid in the form of teachers and textbooks, not dollars and cents.

Handouts do not raise self-esteem and encourage people to work.

Corruption is rife here and the money donated more often than not, does not reach the man who needs it.

Instead use the money to train and pay teachers, and let them upgrade their skills.

African voices: See where our panel live

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Let each child have a dream - to be a doctor, a dentist, a lawyer or a farmer.

But help to make the dream realistic.

Education should not just be for the wealthy minority.

Why do wealthy citizens send their own children to Europe or America for education? Because the resources are not available here in their own backyard.

A crackdown on corrupt leaders is also needed, as it affects the way aid is managed.

Corruption affects us all here on a daily basis.

It is not just something going on in the so-called higher ranks.

People learn by example. If it goes wrong at the top, you can't expect it to be right at the bottom.

Aid is an industry in itself and I do feel that there are a lot of people who are keeping themselves in a job who really do not care where the money goes.

For some of them nothing else matters, as long as they receive a massive salary at the end of the day.

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Your comments:

They don't know the real value of that raw copper they export, or the value of the mighty Victoria Falls Mwale Peter, St Petersburg

Yes, Africa does not need money. We have enough resources to generate money. All that Africa needs is education. Our leaders are failing to manage the resources at there disposer all because there lack initiatives, no vision, no will power, all because they have no proper education, they don't know the real value of that raw copper they export, or the value of the mighty Victoria Falls.

In Zambia for example, we have leaders who can't even contemplate their own constitution. They have no ideas, no solutions to problems affecting our country, all because they don't understand the problems themselves. Even when talking to their donors, all they do is just say yes to conditions being even because they can't debate issues intellectually. The minimum qualifications for the president are just so shallow.
Mwale Peter, St Petersburg

African governments are not sincere, in as much as the education system could play a pivotal role to development. Until African governments change their attitudes, improve education and implement right policies. The leaders should make their own policies with right decisions, not to wait for the West to decide for them. They tell their citizens to sacrifice yet they continue to purchase luxury vehicles with high fuel consumption, wasting tax payers money.
Humphrey Liwakala, Lusaka, Zambia

There is an underlying assumption here that Africa does not have its own (indigenous) system of education. Note that Africa has managed its affairs for centuries by using its own value systems, including the art of running efficient states and even empires. As important is to consider whether Western education is good for Africa before wasting valuable resources of poor African parents and countries on the education of young Africans most of whom end up as semi-literate street vendors, prostitutes or aspirant economic refugees to western countries. To be of any use to Africa, African education must have an African character and use indigenous languages.
Liban, Oromia, Ethiopia

Africa has lots of competent leaders; unfortunately, they are invariably forced to work within neo-colonial structures Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe Jr, New York

I partially agree with Samantha Smit that Africa needs more aid by way of infrastructure than cash. Unfortunately, historically, the Western world has proven deeply averse to helping the continent move in the developmental direction of Europe; the selfish logic of capitalism simply does not permit of an altruistic spirit, on the part of our former colonial masters and mistresses. And so one is almost resigned to the reality of the fact that Mr Blair's Commission on Africa is ineluctably wont to become a proverbial white elephant.

Indeed, Africa has lots of competent leaders; unfortunately, they are invariably forced to work within neo-colonial structures of governance established and fiercely enforced by diehard, Western-European imperialists bent on retarding the confidence and developmental initiatives of independent-minded African leaders - the likes of President Kwame Nkrumah, Gamel Nasser and Julius Nyerere were no worse than the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill and Oliver Cromwell.
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe Jr, Bronx, New York

Books that have over the years become scarce and unaffordable due to poverty/lack of standards in libraries in Africa should be addressed and made available Godwin Emejuobi, Nigeria

A good foundation they say makes the difference. Education I re-emphasise is the greatest tool we need in Africa for the eradication of poverty. An educated mind is an empowered mind, willing and ready to do great things that are result orientated and profitable to the individual and his immediate environment. In this regard, books that have over the years become scarce and unaffordable due to poverty/lack of standards in libraries in Africa should be addressed and made available. If possible, let there be provision of scholarships for those that are intelligent and ready to empower themselves educationally. This is a sure way to build a stronger, developed and prosperous empowered new Africa!
Godwin Emejuobi, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Textbooks and teachers aren't enough Clover, West Virginia, US

As a teacher myself, I agree about the power and necessity of education to encourage human growth and potential. However, the First world needs to help poorer nations, such as many of the African countries, achieve healthy economy and social justice based on equal opportunity. This can not be achieved by education alone. In fact, just last night Bush got criticized in the US for his claim that education reforms could solve US unemployment. It isn't working here, and it won't work in Africa. Textbooks and teachers aren't enough.

Wealthier nations should provide financial and social support to help poorer nations without the attachment of cultural norms and standards and without feeling superior to the poorer nations. Money and capitalistic success is not the only way to be a rich society. If Blair is serious about helping Africa, he should utilize the many strengths, talents, and capabilities of African people, and let the people decide what will best help them, rather than impose his plan for Africa.
Clover, West Virginia, US

You may like it or not but if we are to eliminate all these catastrophic disasters in Africa, we need European leaders Richard, Surrey, England

I agree with Samantha's very first statement. What we need in Africa is sound administration. A government that is accountable, transparent and committed to uplifting the standards of ordinary citizens. This is what lacks in Africa. The presidents in Africa think that the countries owe them something, instead of accepting the fact that they work for the people. Most African presidents are hopeless, useless and unsuitable for public office. They don't serve a purpose at all besides gathering weapons and soldiers to protect their interests. They do very little for people and they demand too much respect.

African governments need strict monitoring by the West, if the world wants to improve the lives of ordinary people and the present status quo. No matter how educated these presidents are they lack lots of initiatives and control. Money is also required but it must be managed by Western representatives because if entrusted into the hands of governments then it will certainly be re-routed elsewhere as always the case.

Why were these countries rich in the past? You may like it or not but if we are to eliminate all these catastrophic disasters in Africa, we need European leaders. A period of five years with a European led government all these countries will be back and running. There will be a drastic improvement across these economies. Let us not hide the truth; African leaders are no good for running government and economies. History proves they are a complete failure.
Richard, Surrey, England

What we definitely don't need are Europeans coming in to tell us what to do, steal our resources, and bring with them bigotry and hate Juliet, Zimbabwe

To Richard, England: African governments do not need monitoring from the West. The simple fact is, Zimbabwe's economy used to be for under two million people, the white people while it was under Ian Douglas Smith. They taxed everyone, but those taxes benefited few. When independence came, the same people were taxed and those resources were now swallowed by millions as the government strived to equalise the inequalities. There just wasn't enough money because the economy wasn't as big to take over its burdens. A country like Zimbabwe for instance, has spent so much money on basic needs that the people were deprived of. In a few years, we will be able to build on that. I believe my government is doing a great job. What we definitely don't need are Europeans coming in to tell us what to do, steal our resources, and bring with them bigotry and hate.
Juliet, Harare, Zimbabwe

It needs roads, railways, satellites, classrooms, libraries, etc David, Finland

Samantha is right. Africa does not need dollars and pounds; it needs roads, railways, satellites, classrooms, libraries, etc. This will lead to natural resources being processed in Africa which means jobs and value added exports. Westerners are too selfish, and they won't do anything that does not benefit them. We in Africa find it difficult to trust the West when they indicate they genuinely want to do away with the status quo.
David, Helsinki, Finland