An eminent figure on Africa's development and economy has signalled that only about 10 countries on the continent will meet the poverty reduction, education and health Millennium Development Goals, if current trends continued.
African states have set themselves a target of halving poverty on the continent by 2015 through a host of initiatives, including the much-vaunted New Partnership for Africa's Development. This African economic renewal plan was partially adopted by G-8 countries in Canada two weeks ago.
But its cynics and critics say the financial gesture shown by these rich nations was chickenfeed to Africa as Nepad's success was based on a predicted $64-billion (R640-billion) a year, which African leaders had hoped to secure at the G-8 summit to meet Africa's 2015 target.
The executive secretary for United Nations' Economic Commission for Africa, Mr KY Amoako, told the 76th Ordinary Session of the Organisation of African Unity's Council of Ministers in Durban on Thursday that Africa's most precious asset, its people, was increasingly being consumed by HIV/Aids, and the poverty reduction targets would only be met by about 10 countries. He did not reveal which countries these were.
"Here in southern Africa, we are in the midst of a grim parade of funerals. The warnings are clear that west, central and north-east Africa are about to emulate the crisis of eastern and southern Africa."
Amoako also said rich countries were the biggest polluters and the main cause of global climate change. "They must be held to account," he said.
Officially opening the OAU-African Union Summit, Deputy President Jacob Zuma said the only development programme through which the continent could reverse its marginalisation from the global economic equation was Nepad.
"Having secured the support and commitment from the north, civil society organisations and the business sector, concrete action to mirror the verbal commitment by all parties is vital.
"In this context, (I) commend the efforts of our heads of state and the government who have secured support from the G-8 in the form of the G-8 Plan of Action for Africa," Zuma said.
