We welcome today the arrival of Dr Dambisa Moyo, the author of ‘Dead Aid – Why aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa.’ Her visit and intended discussions mark the tone of the high level discussions, to take place at next week’s annual National Leadership Retreat to be held in Rubavu, Western Province. The national leadership, will tackle important questions centred on changing the mindset, on aid delivery and development with a view to making Rwanda a dynamic economic player in the region and globally. Rwanda is a country endowed with enough natural and agricultural resources to sustain herself, doing away with donor dependency. As we write, the East African Fine Coffees Conference (EAFCA) is being hosted here in Rwanda. Coffee alone contributes to 20 percent of Rwanda’s foreign exchange revenue. Dr Moyo arrives at a crucial time in Rwanda as we think outside the box, in tackling crucial questions to do with aid dependency, seeking solutions that will see us in the long run shake donors off our backs.
We welcome today the arrival of Dr Dambisa Moyo, the author of ‘Dead Aid – Why aid is not working and how there is another way for Africa.’
Her visit and intended discussions mark the tone of the high level discussions, to take place at next week’s annual National Leadership Retreat to be held in Rubavu, Western Province.
The national leadership, will tackle important questions centred on changing the mindset, on aid delivery and development with a view to making Rwanda a dynamic economic player in the region and globally.
Rwanda is a country endowed with enough natural and agricultural resources to sustain herself, doing away with donor dependency. As we write, the East African Fine Coffees Conference (EAFCA) is being hosted here in Rwanda.
Coffee alone contributes to 20 percent of Rwanda’s foreign exchange revenue.
Dr Moyo arrives at a crucial time in Rwanda as we think outside the box, in tackling crucial questions to do with aid dependency, seeking solutions that will see us in the long run shake donors off our backs.
The country seeks a paradigm shift from the TINA (There Is No Alternative) doctrine, to aid dependency and other related policies that blight Africa’s development. Moyo portrays a cynical view to aid, which she defines as an "orchestrated worldwide pity”, which has made poverty a permanent feature in Africa.
Dr Moyo makes poignant observations on why aid is not working in Africa, giving reasons on how it has prevented African economies from achieving sustainable growth.
Moyo is from the same school of thought of those who have sought to draw parallels between Africa’s aid dependency and the exploitation of her resources, to the continent’s underdevelopment.
The holder of degrees from Harvard and Oxford Universities, Moyo has indeed stirred up a hornet’s nest, in challenging the flaws of western donor aid, her book is the source of much intense debate.
However, Dr Moyo, must not give up in her efforts to search for alternatives to aid dependency, as there are many takers for such thinking.
Her visit to Rwanda should indeed urge her on in her noble cause, to unshackle us from aid dependency.
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