Southern Write - Contrarian commentary on issues African and global.

The Economist traditionally treads lightly when it might be courting controversy particularly on matters of race so their leader on Haiti recently was enlightening. In a bid to proffer a sustainable solution to this chronically failed state the newspaper suggests the introduction of a ‘temporary government’ staffed by personnel drawn from predominantly ‘white’ Western democracies.

Prospect, the left-of-centre British monthly has also ventured out of  comfortably politically-correct cover with an intriguing article by Paul Romer on ‘Charter Cities’. He makes a strong case for the construction of urban conurbations under a charter granted to a foreign entity. Using Hong Kong as an example he argues strongly in favour of creating the conditions needed for economic prosperity by introducing experts who know how to do this. He correctly argues that hundreds of billions in foreign aid has already been squandered. If future aid was channelled into schemes such as those envisaged by him he is confident aid money could be converted to a sound investment and if governments lead the way there is every reason to believe private capital will follow.

What makes both of these pieces interesting is the fact that when you strip away the verbiage they are both calling for a form of new-world colonialism. Until recently such thoughts would have had left-wing intellectuals apoplectic but they seem to have gone quiet on this particularly perplexing issue. The fact is a relentless flow of empirical evidence form Harare to Haiti and from Dakar to Detroit leaves erstwhile apologists no more room to manoeuvre. Sadly, the facts show that ‘black’-dominated administrations always commence with the destruction of established structures leading to degradation, ruin and eventually anarchy and chaos. There are really no exceptions.

Under Helen Zille of the opposition Democratic Alliance, Cape Town on the southern tip of Africa offers the last ‘living’ example of ‘white- led’ governance on the continent. It is also the last heavily populated place on the land-mass where there is a semblance of order, where services are provided and the rule of law is enforced allowing people to lead productive lives and thereby improve their quality of life. As a result it is probably doomed. This is because good news travels and thousands from all over Africa are stampeding southward fleeing ruin in their homelands to seek the shelter provided by functional governance and regrettably with that uncontrollable influx comes chaos. Already Somalis are fighting gun-battles in the townships and local blacks are burning foreign blacks out of the tented camps. But these are people driven by desperation and the influx will not be blocked. Sooner or later the structures will be overwhelmed, the system will collapse and Cape Town will become a proper ‘African’ city.

At present Africa is simply reverting to type. Prior to the colonial era most lived in rural fiefdoms commanded by Chiefs who ruled with absolute and savage power. There were no courts to speak of, no elections, few property rights and little protection of the person. Whoever ruled, ruled absolutely and unconditionally and in most cases with brutality. Freedom was a foreign concept. This state of affairs was in some cases halted and in others merely constrained by the Eurropeans but variable degrees of order were introduced. This has dissipated.

The answer to Africa’s gloom is therefore obvious: Reinstate the rule of law through intervention leading to effective governance. We now know Africans, no matter how much financial assistance is provided, are manifestly incapable of this endeavour so it has to come from outside and no prizes for recognising the ‘usual suspects’ to provide this service.

Europe in particular needs to take this problem by the scruff of the neck and not only through altruism. Western Europe is having to face the same sort of problem as Cape Town in containing the immigrant onslaught which is already causing civil unrest, straining structures and draining resources. The only possibility of reversing this trend is if they intervene in the African homelands and engage in making these countries orderly and prosperous. Successfully done this will stem the outward flow relieve the incoming pressure on their borders and may eventually even lead to a reversal of the present trend leading to emigration. Brazzaville may become more appealing than Brixton, Malabo better than Milan, Bangui more comfortable than the Banlieus of Paris.

In ‘The Selfish Gene’ Richard Dawkins wrote; “But unfortunately however much we may deplore something it does not stop it being true.” This undoubtedly applies to Africa; unpalatable as it may be, without ‘white’ intervention it is without hope.

• Posted on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
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