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KAMPALA - The Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, has said that for Africa to get out of the poverty cycle, it requires visionary and focused leadership backed by non-sycophantic followers who are critical of the actions of their leaders.
"One time a professor in Cabinet told me that if he finds out that the President has a strong view on something, he doesn't argue with him. Isn't that shameful?" Nsibambi asked.
He confessed that he does not feel shy to tell the President that he is in the wrong, if it is the truth.
"Some of us who meet one-on-one with the President say it all," he said.
Nsibambi was speaking at the opening of a one-day consultative workshop organised by the Commission for Africa yesterday, at Munyonyo.
The Commission for Africa is a brainchild of British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, launched last year, seeking to exploit Britain's Presidency of the
G-8 and
European Union this year, to put Africa's problems on the world agenda.
The commission also aims at helping Africa to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
These goals include among others, eradicating extreme poverty, hunger, gender equality, reducing child mortality rates and combating HIV/Aids.
Nsibambi said Africa needs effective, accountable and tolerant leaders to achieve development.
The political science professor explained that Africa needs effective and legitimate institutions of good governance.
He cautioned fellow leaders to always forego power in favour of established institutions.
He said although the eradication of poverty is a responsibility of the entire world, Africans must take the lead in solving their own problems.
"The salvation of Africa shall come by Africans themselves. We must cease blaming others. The task of development is primarily ours," he said.
Nsibambi said Africa's struggle against povert
y does
not only require financial aid but also an Afro-based development approach.
"We need an African vision for the social, political and economic transformation of Africa," Nsibambi said.
He said he was aware that some developed countries were not meeting their commitment of remitting at least 0.7 of their total national income but hastened to add that perhaps some countries were disgusted of giving aid.
"It is very bad to assist someone who does not assist himself," he said.
Nsibambi emphasized the need to assist the private sector to become stronger. He praised the Commission for Africa for making Africa's need for market access heard among the developed countries.
He said the establishment of African Union, New Partnership for Development (Nepad) and the East African Community are some of Africa's efforts in widening market access and an indication that Africa is getting a grip of her own destiny.
Dr William Kalema, a Commissioner with Commi
ssion
for Africa said Africa needs to promote good governance peace and security. He said the African Union should be the "clearing house" where Africa's problems are solved.
Kalema who is also the Chairman Board of Directors, Uganda Investment Authority, emphasised the need for promoting a conducive investment climate, private sector led employment, and supporting small-scale enterprises.
Kalema said there is need for donor countries to double their aid from the 2004 levels, starting in 2006, with strong growth in aid in subsequent years.
He called for higher investment in education especially for girls. Kalema said rich countries should express the commitment of providing funding to promote free education programmes in Africa.
He also asked the international community to provide necessary funding for the fight against HIV/Aids, with rapid and substantial support for the existing initiatives like the Global Fund.
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