Dr Oby Ezekwesili’s article titled, “Yes, I insist that #ChinaMustPayAfrica damages for COVID-19” makes for an amusing read full of IMF and World Bank grammer but lacking in substance.
There is no doubt that COVID-19 has wreaked great havoc on Africa’s weak economy, but much more so has slavery and IMF and World Bank prescriptions for African nations at some point she was a vice President at the World Bank.
As a former World Bank Vice President, at no time did she use her vantage position to canvass for the interest of the continent. She never asked for reparation for African nations for years of slavery and colonization or the devastation of their economies from IMF and World Bank prescriptions that destroyed their economies and left them in debt.
She like to wear the garb of a social crusader and an activist, but it is all a visage. Behind the mien is a wheeler deeler, a western apologists and a perpetual attention seeker.
She vowed to contest the last Presidential elections in Nigeria, but to the disappointment of her followers pulled out at the last minute. Observers concluded she only wanted the lime light for a while.
For a woman who cannot afford to stay out of the limelight for too long her new enterprise is worth examining.
She wants compensation for African nations and she says she is leading a campaign on their behalf. Is it not ironical that one victim is seeking compensation from another victim?
Is it not an anomaly for separate self-willing entities to transfer responsibilities or blame their failings on others? China is as much a victim of COVID-19 as any ountry in Africa. To turn around and ask China for compensation is standing logic on its head.
Let us look at some brief timeline of the COVID-19: The disease in China became known in December, 2019. And the country announced there was a disease which it was yet to understand its nature and evolution. WHO was notified. Many countries looked away.
By end of December, 2019 the Chinese authorities announced it has confirmed a deadly virus and was locking down Wuhan with strict measures to contain the spread. Some countries said it was a Chinese problem, and mocked China’s “draconian measures.”
By January 14, Chinese scientists analysed and published the structural RNA sequence and evolution of the novel Coronavirus and shared them with the rest of the world,unfortunately, many countries paid little attention.
By January 24, President Xi Jinping warned that the Lunar New Year celebrations from Jan 25 to Feb 7 will be disrupted by the Coronavirus and warned against returnees from other countries. Many countries reacted by evacuating their nationals without medical clearance, which of course may have led to the spread.
On January 25, 2020, the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease in the UK praised the efforts of China to contain the spread of the disease, which by then had affected 1000 persons and killed 56 persons in China. It also warned that China may be overwhelmed by the disease eventually. Many countries adopted a watch and see approach, some states including Bill Gates, sent aid to China.Trump even commended the efforts of China in containing the outbreak.
On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organisation announced that the virus, which had by then affected 12 countries with 20,000 cases and 1000 deaths, has become a global pandemic.
WHO announced as part of measures to contain the virus based on its research to include:
washing hands frequently with water and soap or using hand-sanitizing gel;
maintaining social distancing (keeping a distance of 1 metre (3 feet) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing);
avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth;
following respiratory hygiene (covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze, then disposing of the used tissue immediately);
seeking medical care early if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing; and
staying informed and following advice given by your health-care provider, national and local public health authority, or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Did Africa and other continents expect China, which was battling it’s own COVID-19 challenges to come out and conduct these protocols for them? Why did Nigeria not shut its borders on the day WHO made the announcement or after its first index case from Italy on February 27, which was one month after China locked down its cities?
Is Oby making a moral appeal or legal claim? If a legal claim, how can liability be proved against China? Can a sovereign State be brought under the jurisdiction of another under international law? And if this were so, wont it be better to set the precedence of compensations for all the wrongs done against Africans by slave raiders and colonial masters, and other atrocities of Europe and America against Africans in recent years, like sponsoring coup against legitimate governments and the destruction of Libya, which has led to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons all over Africa.
Indeed, COVID-19 may have occasioned a force majeure which could warrant grace in debt servicing. And no doubt China may have under-reported its fatality figures in the beginning, which could be as a result of people being turned back from over congested medical facilities and many undiagnosed deaths at home. Or misunderstanding of initial medical alarms about the disease. For this, China has since April 17 raised its fatality rates in Wuhan by 50 percent. The new death toll is now put at 3,869 deaths, an increase of 1,290 from the previous figure of 2, 579.
But to ask for complete debts write-off because of these types of errors would not serve the interest of African peoples held down by a thieving political leadership. It is a sign of mental and intellectual laziness that Africa seeks every opportunity to avoid its contractual obligation. Pursuing this line of reasoning does more damage to Africa there is nothing to be gained.
After 65 years of Africa-China relations, Africa must grow up and quit her infantile cot. It must explore indigenous solutions to its developmental gaps.
To a large extent, Africa’s deal with China in the past 20 years have yielded tangible projects with less political destabilising effects and austerity conditionalities, relative to its relations with the West and its financial institutions. New airports, seaports, railways, highways, factories, energy, housing estates, schools, hospitals, farm plantations etc are too glaring for even babies to see.
It’s a shame that after Africa went into colonialism with a hoe and came out with a hoe, apologies to Walter Rodney (1972), it still does not know it’s true friend. Much of the blame for Africa’s woes is not even from the so-called external superpowers but internal contradictions, ethno-religious bickering and corruption.
Until the right soul searching is done, no amount of debt-forgiveness will change its socio-economic and political malaise.
Oby and her Co-travellers should be knowledgeable enough to know that what Africa needs is investments to lift its teaming population out of poverty, not handouts in the name of debt cancelations or reparations.
