Expensive Poverty, Expansive Poverty?

1 February 2022

Africa has turned another corner and all indications are that young Africans are setting and driving the agenda. In his latest book ‘Expensive Poverty’ the prolific African writer Greg Mills exposes the business of Aid and its failure to arrest the poverty pandemic on the continent. In his remarks at the book launch which was appropriately held at the Holocaust Centre in Johannesburg, he thanked Bobi Wine for coining the title “Expensive Poverty’, his term for international aid assistance and grant funding.

Wine, a Ugandan who took a stand against the current Ugandan political establishment which has been in government under Yoweri Museveni since 1986, is often harassed by this administration as he has not yet conceded the elections that took place last year. Wine has led a campaign to stop countries and organisations from distributing aid as these are the same funds being used to enrich the political elites who use it to keep their citizens in perpetual subjugation.

President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia with President Cyril Ramaphosa on his recent State Visit to cement bi-lateral relations between the two countries (photo by GCIS)

Recently elected President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, who paid a state visit to South Africa was guest of honour at the book launch and delivered the keynote address. He spoke of his own experience of being a prisoner to becoming president of his country. He questioned why political leaders, particularly in Africa, cannot accept opposition and use offensive and illegal methods to cling on to power. HH, as he is popularly known, is seen as the representation of the changing African political and economic landscape. He referred to Greg Mills as a son of Africa and called on all Africans from all backgrounds and walks of life to claim their stake in Africa’s proactive and sustainable wellbeing.

Pictured (l-r photo1) Bobi Wine, Barbie Kyagulanyi and Greg Mills. (photo2) Olusegun Obasanjo, Barbie Kyagulanyi, Bobi Wine and President Hakainde Hichilema

The President accorded accolades to the Brenthurst Foundation for their unwavering commitment and support for Africa. It was founded by Jonathan Oppenheimer in 2004 and is currently chaired by former Nigerian President Olusegan Obasanjo. Dr Greg Mills’ directorship is supported by a board, advisors and associates including former Heads of State, Ambassadors and international relations experts.

The Holocaust centre was a thought provoking venue for the launch of the book which questions relevance of aid and unmasks its catastrophic failures and explores and presents viable solutions. Developed nations follow a policy of quantitative easing, the technical term for printing money, when they are faced with financial difficulties. How much of this money is used for grant funding or aid assistance to developing countries? If that is the case can donor country recipients also revert to quantative easing?

Tali Nates, Founder and Director of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre and Chair of the South African Holocaust & Genocide Foundation spoke of the importance of memory, a remembrance of the cruelty and intolerance of human nature, but above all the Centre represents triumph, hope and resilience of the human spirit.

by K Bhana

Expensive Poverty, Expansive Poverty?

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