Now, proof of a ‘peace dividend’ needed

CAPE TOWN – African states once racked by war such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi are making great economic strides, but need more proof the “peace dividend” is real, the World Bank’s President said on Friday.

Paul Wolfowitz, speaking at the end of a four-nation African tour, said the World Bank and other international lenders had a duty to deliver more aid quickly for countries emerging from political and economic disasters. “The problems are enormous, I don’t want to minimise those.But there is a different attitude among the leadership, people are sick and tired of war, governments are more responsive to the people, so its time for the donors to step up and do their part,” he told Reuters in an interview.On Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe’s government stands accused of a brutal crackdown on opposition leaders and running the economy to the brink of collapse, Wolfowitz said the world would have to stand ready to move when the country’s problems are resolved.”It is potentially a very rich country …and it’s in terrible shape because of very bad policy,” he said.”It’s clear that it’s a tragedy and I hope that things can turn around.We’ve seen an awful lot of countries in the last five years turn around.It’s a shame that they had to go so far downhill before they turned.”Wolfowitz said programmes such as the World Bank’s new “rapid response” policy would enable the donors to move much more quickly – shoring up gains in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which last year held its first democratic elections in more than four decades.The bank has pledged US$180 million to help rebuild the Congo’s dilapidated capital Kinshasa as soon as possible, a move which could see key infrastructure such as water points, medical facilities and roadways reconstructed within months rather than the years it usually takes, he said.”I hope (this) will be the kind of concrete result on the ground that will encourage people in Kinshasa to say there really is a peace dividend …hopefully it sustains them in their democratic reforms.”Wolfowitz said the World Bank generally welcomed the emergence of China and India as alternate lenders to African countries, saying concerns over differing standards of transparency and governance in their loan programmes would likely diminish as they gain more experience.China in particular has been singled out for extending loans without political conditions to resource-rich countries such as Angola, a move analysts say threatens to undermine the good governance pressures exerted by traditional lenders such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.”I think every donor has a tendency to play by their own rules when their national interest is involved,” Wolfowitz said, adding that sooner or later the new “emerging donors” would learn that issues such as transparency were key.”As China grows as a donor it will develop a common agenda,” he said.Nampa-Reuters”The problems are enormous, I don’t want to minimise those.But there is a different attitude among the leadership, people are sick and tired of war, governments are more responsive to the people, so its time for the donors to step up and do their part,” he told Reuters in an interview.On Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe’s government stands accused of a brutal crackdown on opposition leaders and running the economy to the brink of collapse, Wolfowitz said the world would have to stand ready to move when the country’s problems are resolved.”It is potentially a very rich country …and it’s in terrible shape because of very bad policy,” he said.”It’s clear that it’s a tragedy and I hope that things can turn around.We’ve seen an awful lot of countries in the last five years turn around.It’s a shame that they had to go so far downhill before they turned.”Wolfowitz said programmes such as the World Bank’s new “rapid response” policy would enable the donors to move much more quickly – shoring up gains in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which last year held its first democratic elections in more than four decades.The bank has pledged US$180 million to help rebuild the Congo’s dilapidated capital Kinshasa as soon as possible, a move which could see key infrastructure such as water points, medical facilities and roadways reconstructed within months rather than the years it usually takes, he said.”I hope (this) will be the kind of concrete result on the ground that will encourage people in Kinshasa to say there really is a peace dividend …hopefully it sustains them in their democratic reforms.”Wolfowitz said the World Bank generally welcomed the emergence of China and India as alternate lenders to African countries, saying concerns over differing standards of transparency and governance in their loan programmes would likely diminish as they gain more experience.China in particular has been singled out for extending loans without political conditions to resource-rich countries such as Angola, a move analysts say threatens to undermine the good governance pressures exerted by traditional lenders such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.”I think every donor has a tendency to play by their own rules when their national interest is involved,” Wolfowitz said, adding that sooner or later the new “emerging donors” would learn that issues such as transparency were key.”As China grows as a donor it will develop a common agenda,” he said.Nampa-Reuters