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AST YEAR THE RESPECTED London-based global news L and business magazine, The Economist, suggested that an African common market would promote trade, ease bureaucracy, increase competitiveness and enhance long-term economic growth. “That would be a boon to trade, manufacturing and enterprise: it would also get rid of much of the petty corruption and save lives,” the publication said. “A Africa must be recent World Bank report pointed out united as one that Africa could produce enough food to feed itself; alas, too few subsistence federative union farmers get a chance to sell their produce … why not re-kindle pan-Africanism by opening borders drawn in London and minerals for information technologies Paris? Africa needs a re-born liberation are abundant. More types of wood can movement – except this time the aim is be found in Africa than on all the other to free Africans from civil servants rather continents combined. Half of the world’s than colonial masters.” diamonds are here.” Subsequently, the respected African- He believed almost all of the Top: At present, too few African American scholar and philosopher, Molefi continent’s problems could be traced subsistence farmers get a chance Kete Asante, has called for Africa to “take to economic exploitation and cultural to sell their produce widely. advantage of its strengths and become a degradation. The declines in agricultural Above: Former South African Finance powerhouse by uniting”. Asante, a professor production in Africa over the past 30 years Minister, Trevor Manuel, believes the continent needs to increase its efforts at Temple University in Pennsylvania, USA had, in most instances, been tied directly to become a common market and the author of more than 60 books, says to how Western nations prohibited or he is convinced that “Africa must be united reduced the natural competitive exporting as one federative union”. behaviour of African nations. Colonel failed to enhance his credibility Writing in Business Day, South Africa’s “Even today African exports have when he suggested that even Western national business daily newspaper, and been sanctioned, and where they are Hemisphere nations with populations of the Sunday Independent, a national not sanctioned they are heavily taxed. African descent – such as Jamaica and weekly newspaper also circulating in SA, Consequently, in areas such as cotton Haiti – could be brought into the fold. Professor Asante said the continent was production, the European and American Zimbabwean President, Robert not poor, although its people were often nations have supported their own farmers Mugabe, has embraced the concept of an in poverty. and stifled competition from African farmers African common market; so has Thomas “Africa has enough arable land to feed supported by their governments,” he said. Boni Yayi, President of Benin and past the entire world, yet in some countries “There is no lack of energy, capability Chairman of the African Union (AU). people regularly confront hunger. This is or technical know-how on the part of Abdoulaye Wade, former President of what others have called the paradox of Africa; it is strictly a lack of organisational Senegal, went as far as to suggest this Africa: the richest land and the poorest and political power to see the continent’s could be achieved as early as 2017. people. Even taking into consideration the economic interests protected.” Two years ago, Trevor Manuel, South Sahara and Kalahari deserts, the continent Africa’s former Finance Minister and can easily be supported by the massive Not a new idea former Minister in the Presidency in savannahs, deep forest resources and great The idea of a United States of Africa and change of national planning, said Africa arable regions. It is a matter of organisation a continent-wide common market is not needed to increase its efforts to become of resources, not a lack of possibilities.” new. Mohammed Gadhafi, the erstwhile a common market. In the global economy, Asante continued: “Africa’s mineral Libyan leader, made such a call as far African countries would not be able to resources are fabulous. In some ways back as 1999, but failed to gain traction survive as individual entities, he noted. it is the richest continent on Earth. as many believed it was no more than “It’s not about the EU, not about the US, Desert minerals, grazing animals, oils a way to promote his personal vision of not about the IMF (International Monetary for industries, petroleum and futuristic becoming Emperor of Africa. The late Fund) and World Bank, it’s about us and Third quarter 2014 strategicmarketingafrica 49 48-51 African Issues v3.indd 32 2014/06/26 3:46 PM