Incisive Journalism in Cameroon: The Best of ��Cameroon Report�� (1978 � 1986)

53. Cameroon Report 02/02/85: The O.A.U. Drought Fund

203 53 Cameroon Report 02/02/85: The O.A.U. Drought Fund Introduction: O.A.U. interim Secretary-General, Peter Onu threw a bombshell this week when as he announced that only two African countries had so far contributed to the much applauded drought fund. Charles Landzeh examines reactions to drought in Africa so far, and charges that African leaders are failing in their responsibilities to the continent, thus perpetrating neo-colonialism: When African heads of state decided to establish a fund to help drought victims on the continent at last November’s OAU summit in Addis Ababa, observers quickly applauded the decision as a mature one taken by responsible leaders who wanted to save their fellow countrymen from starving to death. But OAU interim Secretary-General Peter Onu shocked those who care about the welfare of Africa and its peoples with a revelation last week that only two countries, Libya and Algeria have so far contributed to the OAU drought fund with no indications of any contributions at hand. Since the establishment of the OAU drought fund, the real action seems to be taking place outside the continent to help Africa’s drought and famine victims and the obvious question again is whether Africa, twenty-five years after independence will still continue to look elsewhere for it problems to be solved. Already, the World Bank, in the course of the week, assembled aid donors in Paris who pledged the sum of over 204 One billion dollars to help Africa’s dying population. As usual the donors present in Paris were those who dictate policies to the black continent with the few African representatives only cheering from the observer’s bench. Meantime, as African leaders keep on dragging their feet in utter confusion and suffering from the popularity or unpopularity of their paper decision, hundreds of thousands of their countrymen continue dying from famine each day as Africa continues to bury its dead. As if to challenge African statesmen, African musicians abroad, musicians of African origin, have taken the lead in fund raising. A group of British musicians kicked-off the series with a hit song “Do they know it’s Christmas” and the sales proceeds projected in millions of dollars, will all be channelled to drought victims in Africa. In the United States, leading musicians led by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, together with about forty other stars have also released a track “We are the World”, whose proceeds will go to Africa’s drought victims. Cameroon’s Manu Dibango is also leading dozens of Paris- based African stars in that same direction. With Africa’s sons and daughters abroad responding in a timely manner to the sorry situation of their brothers and sisters, there is utter confusion and indecision on the minds of African leaders on the continent. Although such a move is commendable as it would save more lives, it is also an indication of lack of co-ordination among African leaders. Could it be that Gabon has no confidence in the fund which it approved or that the OAU drought fund has simply been dumped to give room for individual action? Whatever the case, the facts are there on the ground-thousands of Africans are dying every other day 205 from lack of food and water and it should be the concern of all African statesmen. Whether voted into office by the ballot or by the barrel of the gun, each and every African leader has an inescapable responsibility i.e. that of guaranteeing the welfare of its citizens at all times, by trying to solve the continent’s problems firstly, before looking elsewhere for assistance. If the far- fetched slogan “Africa for Africans” has to come nearer each day towards reality, African leaders must try to close those avenues of neo-colonialism now more than ever before or it will be too late. Charles Landzeh 206 ...