Optimism on Africa's future

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32425, 12 October 1970, Page 14

Optimism on Africa's future

Many Africans had realised from the violence there in the last few years that they and their nations could develop only under conditions of peace and political stability, the senior information officer of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Mr Kingsley D. Dube) said in Christchurch last evening. Many African leaders and

planners believed that once their people realised the importance of economic progress, many of today’s sectional and ethnic problems would be forgotten, stfid Mr Dube.

“I am very optimistic about Africa’s future, and that the many problems of today will be worked out,” he said.

Africa had many economic and social problems, the greatest being underdevelopment this was where other nations of the world could help a great deal. DROP IN AID

Already much economic and technical aid came through the "United Nations and through aid provided by former colonial powers. But the Economic Commission for Africa, which is based in Addis Ababa, was concerned that over the last 10 years there had been a drop in financial aid from the developed countries. The developing nations in Africa needed experts, but to get them they needed the money to pay for them. Unless the situation improved, many African countries would not achieve the 6 per cent a year over all growth target set by the United Nations.

Particularly needed was a great deal of training—there was no shortage or manpower, but a serious scarcity of skilled and semi-skilled people. Another urgent need throughout Africa was for improvements in land, sea and rail transport, and in communications. As far as differences between nations were concerned, the Organisation for

African Unity was “firmly sold” on the idea that present borders should be maintained, Mr Dube said. “The various States are just going to have to try their best to live together in peace and harmony." Mr Dube is in New Zealand for 10 days as the guest of the New Zealand board of the foreign missions of the Churches of Christ. Last evening he spoke at the Bishopdale Church of Christ. A black Rhodesian, Mr Dube was trained at the mission station of the New Zealand Churches of Christ in Dadaya, Rhodesia. The principal of the college at that time was Mr Garfield Todd, later Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia. With Mr Todd’s encouragement, Mr Dube studied at university. He then entered the Rhodesian diplomatic corps as second secretary and information officer in Nigeria. He was later promoted to first secretary and posted to the United States, serving with the Rhodesian embassy in Washington. RHODESIAN POLICY When the Smith regime came to power in Rhodesia, Mr Dube left the Rhodesian Government service, and joined the United Nations. “The policies of the Smith regime were such that no man of good will could work for the regime,” he said. When he leaves New Zealand, Mr Dube will attend the conference of the World Convention of Christian Churches in Adelaide; he is a vice-president of the convention, and it is the reason for his visit to this part of the world. Mr Dube last visited Rho-

desia last year. “I found opinions had hardened even further on both sides of the colour barrier,” he said. “The Smith regime is following a policy with no future at all. I can safely say that the international community is going to keep on applying as much pressure as it possibly can.

"A solution? I think discussions among all the Rhodesian peoples—their leaders—on the basis of United Nations recommendations could lead to a peaceful settlement of the problem. But without such discussions, a peaceful settlement is unlikely.”