http://www.fossfa.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=150
Fossfa warns Govts against Microsoft Free Software and Open Source Software Foundation for Africa (Fossfa) co-ordinator Bildad Kagai today issued a stongly-worded warning to African governments that are - or are planning to - enter into "deals" with the Microsoft Corporation saying they were jeopordising their local software industry as well as limiting the potential of ICT development in their countries. Kagai, a founder of Fossfa, and an outspoken critic of proprietary software, said "Fossfa estimates Africa's ICTs industry to be worth more than $25 billion and growing. It will be unfair to Africa if our leaders were to give away this industry to already rich corporations when local talent exists to service this industry in this continent." In a letter to open source advocates across the continent Kagai wrote: "The Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) is concerned with the recent agreements and partnerships African Governments and their organs have been signing with the Microsoft Corporation which in essence are killing local software industry and inhibiting the potential of developing local human capacity in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). FOSSFA compares the scenario being created similar to the tea and coffee crisis where the producers in the developing world do not get a decent return from the crops whilst the processors in the developed world reap all the profits. Most recently, Microsoft has signed agreements with the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the tune of thousands of millions of dollars which effectively confines these agencies and the governments they represent from pursuing and practicing the freedom of CHOICE especially from the local software producers who are currently coming up in all pockets of Africa. See http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2004/Jan04/01-23WorldEconomicForumPR.asp FOSSFA wishes to air this clarion call to African governments to be wary of these unfair trade practices from big multinational corporations such as Microsoft and emulate the Asian Tigers who realised the benefits of promoting local products and local talent. FOSSFA estimates Africa's ICTs industry to be worth more than 25 Billion Dollars and growing. It will be unfair to Africa if our leaders were to give away this industry to already rich corporations when local talent exists to service this industry in this continent. That is the only way we can achieve economic empowerment and sustainable development. Buy African. Build Africa. Visit our portal to see software products produced in Africa.www.fossfa.org � With Kind Regards, Bildad Kagai CEO - Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd. Coordinator - Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) --------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
