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by John A. Bredenkamp, Founder of the Group |
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I am African. I have spent most of my working life in the African
continent, especially Zimbabwe. I have seen Africa from within and
outside the continent, with great emotion yet with objective detachment.
And I have seen and experienced the colossal changes that have taken
place since the end of the Second World War. Like many of my contemporaries,
I have adapted to change. I was a Rhodesian; I am now a Zimbabwean.
I was a tobacco merchant: I am now an investor in many different sectors.
Like many former colonies, the African nations started their post-colonial
existence with few of the advantages of their former masters: their
political institutions were weak and untested, their working knowledge
of capitalism and the free market minimal. Furthermore, in the tense
climate of the Cold War, tribal differences and natural resources
were ruthlessly exploited in the East-West struggle. Many people conveniently
forget this today when they criticise Africa for what they perceive
as endemic flaws of conflict, repression and corruption. They also
forget the distorting effect of the foreign aid which flooded into
Africa when the Soviet Union and the United States competed for allies.
In Africa, it is essential to work with change, not against it. Otherwise
nothing is learnt and nothing is achieved. When the Presidents of
South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal and Algeria announced The New Partnership
For Africa's Development (NEPAD) in October 2001, I found I instinctively
shared their vision and conviction to place Africa on the path of
sustainable growth and development, and at the same time to participate
actively in the world economy and body politic.
African economies are vulnerable because of their dependence on primary
production and resource-based sectors, and their narrow export bases.
Value addition in agro-processing and mineral beneficiation must be increased
and a broader capital goods sector developed. This is exactly what
my group is doing - we are determined to extricate Africa from the
malaise of underdevelopment and exclusion in this globalised world
economy.
We tend to stay out of politics and get on with our everyday business.
But we have to work with governments of the day, just like multinationals
the world over. It is naive to suggest that other courses are open
to us. It is only by having good working relations with the Zimbabwean
government, built up over the last 22 years, that I have been able
to engage in constructive criticism and indeed, in recent times, to
create a bridge for dialogue on behalf of farmers in the land crisis.
Africa calls for bold and imaginative leadership. I believe we can
provide this in the private sector and that is the mission I have
set for myself and my team of outstanding professionals.
John A. Bredenkamp
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