Are NGOs Africa’s genuine development partners?

Editor,I agree with Sunny Ntayombya that it is not the Bonos and Madonnas who lift a country out of poverty. But it is not companies like Monsanto or Unilever etc., either! On the contrary, they’re going to make a country dependent on them but not rich. It is only a handful of people who’ll get rich from the profit those companies make.I have been in Rwanda several times and met friendly, hard-working and proud people. I have a couple of friends there and love that country. I wish your prospering country all the best. Therefore, I entreat you to think twice about the way how to develop your country by avoiding the mistakes the western countries did.The aim of a society should not be necessarily to become rich but sustainable and peaceful. The “rich westerners” pay a high price – egoism, isolation, a high crime rate, social strife, massive abuse of children and women, heathenism, avarice, meanness... – for their wealth. It is hardly what a country like Rwanda may look for. Christoph, Germany*******************It is a very rare occasion that I disagree with Sunny Ntayombya. He is a wise man. While I do agree with him that celebrities and NGOs gain a lot for their images, they do not help the greater part of the population or the countries they profess to love so much. Like Sunny says, they do help a small number of individuals or communities. My advice would be not to get too excited about the companies Sunny would like to see invest in Rwanda without a comprehensive investigation of their practices and past records. I will give two examples: Monsanto is a very controversial company across the world due to their genetically modified seeds, it has destroyed/bankrupted so many family farms. Here in Canada, a farmer can be sued if they do not use Monsanto seeds; farmers are suffering greatly because of Monsanto.Nestle is continually being investigated for using child labour – even to the point of kidnapping children from neighbouring countries to work in the cocoa-growing countries. My point is: “be careful what you wish for!” I would not want to see Rwanda allow questionable corporations to invest and then destroy all that is good about Rwanda. And, please, beware of China’s interests because that country is known already to be a great plunderer of wildlife and ecosystems. Marie Collins, Winnipeg, CanadaReactions to Sunny Ntayombya’s opinion, “Bono won’t develop Africa, and neither will you Mr Campaigner”, (The New Times, June 19)

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Are NGOs Africa’s genuine development partners?