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The Failure of International Welfare to Africa

James Shikwati blames the current conditions in Africa to International Aid.

"When aid money keeps coming, all our policy-makers do is strategize on how to get more," said the Kenya-based director of the Inter Region Economic Network, an African think tank.

"They forget about getting their own people working to solve these very basic problems. In Africa, we look to outsiders to solve our problems, making the victim not take responsibility to change."

Shikwati’s analysis is right on. This is not to deny the immediate and desperate need of the people of Africa, but to draw attention to the fact that famine will continue to be a recurring theme unless there are substantial political, cultural and social changes.

The topic reminds me of a post written by Jim at Stone's Cry Out earlier this month:

Africa can solve their own problems in the long run, but only through deep spiritual and moral regeneration, a commitment to capitalism, the ultimate rule of law, and broadly adopted sexual ethics.

Aid must be tied to progress in all of these areas, or we will continue to be co-dependents in the continent’s cultural suicide.

Africa - The Challenge, by African missionary Peter Hammond, addresses the necessity of change by pointing to the consequence of Worldviews that reject God (more here):

The root cause of the social, economic and political crisis in Africa is the spiritual crisis. As Patrick Henry declared: "Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is impossible that a nation of infidels or idolaters should be a nation of free men. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom."

Peace and prosperity do not grow out of paganism. The great Russian novelist, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, sounded the warning most eloquently when he stated:
"The strength or weakness of a society depends more on the level of its spiritual life than on its level of industrialisation. Neither a market economy nor even general abundance constitutes the crowning achievement of human life. If a nation's spiritual energies have been exhausted, it will not be saved from collapse by the most perfect government structure or by any industrial development. A tree with a rotten core cannot stand."
The foundations for a free society are laid in characters, minds and lives changed by the Grace of God. In order to be successful, a society needs to be made up of honest citizens who will not steal, diligent people who are hard working and productive, compassionate families who are concerned for their neighbours, and responsible workers who will fulfil their obligations and be faithful stewards of public resources. For nations to be strong their families need to be strong. For governments to be good the churches need to be faithful.

Africa's greatest need is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Posted by tim at July 31, 2005 2:52 AM

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