I will try and find the speech, but this is an interesting read

De Klerk: Give Africa a break
28/02/2007 19:30 - (SA)

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# 'SA will champion Africa at UN'

Pretoria - Africa needs a "fair break" from the rest of the world, and the determination to address its own problems, said former South African president FW de Klerk on Wednesday.

In a lecture at the University of Pretoria's Centre for International Political Studies, De Klerk said there was an unfair perception that Africa was lagging further and further behind in the global race.

He said while there were still "too many" African states that conform to the stereotype of poverty, conflict and tyranny, this was not only a problem on the continent.

De Klerk said: "Such states conform to the stereotype not because they are African, but because poverty, tyranny and conflict go hand in hand throughout the world and throughout history and not just in Africa. The problem, accordingly, is poverty - and not Africa."

The challenge for the world and for Africa was to address the causes of the cycle of poverty, conflict and tyranny on the continent.

'Expand inter-regional trade'

De Klerk said it was a challenge Africa accepted, but that there were some facets of economic policy that African countries must address urgently.

Africa should stop the flight of capital from the continent.

African countries should liberalise their own tariffs and expand inter-regional trade.

Steps should be taken to increase Africa's diminishing share in global trade - which had declined from two percent in 1980 to one percent in 1999.

"Although First World nations are quick to give lip service to the need to help develop African economies, they are often ruthless when their own interests are adversely affected," said De Klerk.

On the political front he said the continent has still some way to go to promote democracy.

"We need to apply the Peer Review mechanisms more fearlessly. This will not happen if African leaders continue to avoid criticism of countries like Zimbabwe.

"The future of our continent depends on our ability as Africans to establish peace and stability; to promote genuine democracy and to ensure basic standards of good governance," said De Klerk.

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After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man. - Nelson Mandela

Another interesting read, I look forward to your ideas and comments

Gadaffi: West's democracy ill-suited to Africa
Salah Sarrar | Sebha, Libya
01 March 2007 07:22
Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi defended his 30-year-old unique system of rule based on grass-roots government on Wednesday, saying Western-style democracy was not appropriate for Africa.

"All people must manage their country according to the cultural and social environment," Gadaffi said in a speech in the town of Sebha, 600km south of Tripoli.

"The peoples of Africa live in tribes and every tribe has a leader, so the system of elections and political parties suits Europe and America more than it does Africa."

Gadaffi, who is in his mid-sixties, seized power in the North African country in a coup in 1969. In 1977 he proclaimed popular rule to try to create the perfect society in line with the teachings of his Green Book, which combines aspects of socialism, Islam and pan-Arabism.

The Arab world's longest-serving leader, Gadaffi holds no official post but is called Leader of the Revolution. Political analysts say he appears secure atop a centuries-old network of family and tribal-based loyalties.

On Friday Libya is due to celebrate the anniversary of his Jamahiriyah, or state of the masses, based on a system of town hall meetings in which political parties are banned. Critics call it a dictatorship.

Supporters say the system guarantees stability and gives people a direct say in ruling themselves, unlike Western democracy which Gadaffi condemns as the dictatorship of the 51%.

Western politics 'a lottery'
On Wednesday Gadaffi described Western politics as a lottery and said the United Nations contained 190 leaders who were not chosen by the people but still oversaw six billion lives.

"They got into power through corruption," he said. "Politics for them, of course, involves buying votes in elections."

Gadaffi abolished big private enterprises and forbade Libyans to employ one another, explaining it was exploitative.

In recent years he has said Libya should build companies, invest and liberalise the economy to make its citizens rich and reduce the country's reliance on foreigners.

In his speech, which was punctuated by long pauses, Gadaffi returned to his traditional themes.

"Economic crisis is crushing most societies and the big fortunes are dominated by a very narrow social class," he said.

"Why do you criticise the theory of socialism or communism if all the people can benefit from the country's wealth? The fortune of every country belongs solely to the people."

Libya's oil and gas-reliant economy is struggling to recover from almost two decades of economic sanctions, held back by inefficiency and corruption which Gadaffi himself has criticised.

Gadaffi's speech came at the start of a public debate on democracy which included United States political scientist Benjamin Barber and British sociologist Anthony Giddens.

__________________
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man. - Nelson Mandela

I agree with the first article. Africa's problems are I think exaggerated a lot by the western media, which presents the continent as simply one full of corrupt dictators and starving children.
I don't think they should cut tariffs though, not as long as westerners use massive subsidies. That distorts comparative advantage, so has to be met with local tariffs.

As to Gaddafi, I think he's just making excuses for his dictatorship.

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... I am surprised at your insolence in writing to me at all. You know, as I know, that I bought this constituency... may God's curse light upon you and may it make your women as open and as free to the excise officers as your wives and daughters have always been to me while I have represented your scoundrel corporation.
I have the honour to be... your obliged humble servant, Anthony Henley
- MPs reply to constituent, mid 1700s