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AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY DECLARATION ON NEPAD: "WE DO NOT ACCEPT NEPAD !! AFRICA IS NOT FOR SALE !! "
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1. NEPAD, DEMOCRACY AND 'GOOD GOVERNANCE'
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We discussed the nature and role of the post-colonial state in Africa, and the role of the developmental state in the earlier economic, social and human development achievements following independence. We noted that NEPAD:
- ignores the way the state has, itself, been undermined as a social provider and vehicle for development, particularly under the World Bank's tutelage;
- ignores the way that the 'structurally adjusted' state has, in turn, been undermining institutions and processes of democracy in Africa;
- does not reflect the historic struggles in Africa for participatory forms of democracy and decentralisation of power;
- promises of democracy and 'good governance' are largely intended to satisfy foreign donors and to gives guarantees to foreign investment.
We conclude that
- While we are committed to good government in Africa, we do not accept the interpretation and content that this is given in NEPAD, including questionable economic policies that we do not accept embedded within 'good governance'.
- We call on African people to mobilise for a developmental participatory state responsive to their needs and aspirations, and to build popular and democratic movements that can hold our states to their responsibilities.
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