AFRICA DAY

Celebrating Africa Day

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

by Steuart Pennington of SA - the Good News http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/newsletter_archive/celebrating_africa_day.html

Today, South Africa joins the continent in celebrating Africa Day, a day to reflect on the proud achievements for the African continent and its infinite possibilities.

Africa Day is held on 25 May each year and is used to pay tribute to the continent's rich heritage, diverse languages, ethnicity and cultural backgrounds that make up its residents. The day is held in high regard as it marks an important sign of unity amongst the people of the continent and reaffirms the resolve to reconfigure the world along the values of human dignity, equality, and justice for all.
"The government and people of the Republic of South Africa acknowledge that the future of our continent is closely linked to our own future - as aligned in our foreign policy objective of establishing a better Africa in a better world," the International Relations department said in a statement to mark the day.

People often ask whether Africa is changing
Many people warn of the danger of the "single story" of Africa. The countless tales of death, disease, disaster and despair prevail. However, if one looks at the "numbers" coming out of Africa, a story of a rapidly changing continent emerges:

• 10 African economies will rank amongst the fastest growing in the world at above 7%
• 17 African countries will have a budget surplus that they are able to carry forward
• 12 will have a positive current account balance
• 80% of Africa’s GDP comes from South Africa, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Egypt and Nigeria
• The IMF predicts between 6 and 7% growth for Sub-Saharan Africa

So, although Africa accounts for only 2% of the world’s GDP, economic opportunity going forward is better than in most other parts of the world. Many will say this is as a result of Chinese interest, but China accounts for only 3% of capital inflows into Africa. China does, however, spend three times more than the World Bank does in Africa.

On the political front there have been a similar number of changes. According to Freedom House the following changes have emerged over the past four decades:

• In 1972 there were three democratic elections as opposed to 40 in 2007
• In 1972 there were 24 coups, there have been 5 since 2007
• 4 African democracies now rank in the Top 40 Democracies of the world
• In Sub-Saharan Africa there are 9 free democracies and 13 hybrid regimes
• 32 out of 53 Heads of State have been democratically elected, 24 are serving their first term and 16 their second term
• In the 1990’s 31 African countries had conflict zones, today that total is 7

On the social front some interesting new trends are emerging as follows:

• Primary school enrolments have grown by 20% over the last 12 years
• Political empowerment amongst women has improved 10% and the role of women in business has grown by 40%
• Africa is the most sparsely populated continent with just under 1 billion people but it has the fastest growing middle class and is the world’s youngest population
• Tourism to many parts of Africa is growing at 3x the global average

Conclusion
While Africa is changing and increasingly becoming the newest and the last frontier for global investment, it still has many challenges:

• Government, corruption and democracy
• Health, particularly Malaria, Cholera, HIV Aids and life expectancy
• Deforestation (3.6 million Hectares per annum)
• Water security (18 countries are "water stressed")
• Food security (200 million people under nourished)
• Education and skills drain
• Fair trade with the developed world
• Africa’s global image

So, as we celebrate Africa Day this week, let us not make the mistake of telling the single story of death, disaster, disease and despair. Let us not continue with outdated stereotypes like Rwanda = Genocide, Nigeria = Drug Lords, Ethiopia = Drought and Famine. It is much more important to understand the changes taking place in Africa and to celebrate the role that South Africa can play in becoming Africa’s gateway to the rest of the world.