Foreign Aid Bad for Africa

Several decades after independence most Africans still live in deplorable condition. Tanzania is no exceptional, in her 50th anniversary of independence is among the poorest countries. Why Africa has remain in such state despite its abundant natural resources; minerals, good land, forest, natural gas but to mention a few 

Developed countries spent millions for direct foreign aid to Africa. It’s estimated that more than 1 trillion US dollars have been spent in last fifty years. Consequently,  it doesn't come as a surprise, that there those who oppose and  foreign aids in perception that they cause harm than good to the continent.

Specifically, Dr. Dambisa Moyo argue that foreign aid play a significant role in hindering development in Africa. In her 2009 book "Dead Aid; Why is Not Working and How There is Another Way for Africa", the international economist, wrote foreign aid “fostered dependency, encourage corruption eventual perpetuated poor governance and poverty”.

In other words, she believes Africa true development can be realized from within, focusing on good use of local resources.

Moyo’s argument is supported by Tanzania political scientist, Prof. Mwesiga  Baregu, who once likened African government development policies to shopping lists. The St. Augustine University of Tanzania Professor argued that no matter how good development policies may be, the implementation largely depend on foreign assistance.

Definitely African wellbeing is largely placed into donors who in return dictate what the former should and shouldn’t do regardless of its impacts. Introduction of Structure Adjustments Programs in Tanzania in 1980’s is a typical example. The program is blamed for weakened  public services following an introduction of cost sharing policy to education, health, water and other basic services previously subsided by the state.

Convincingly, enormous foreign aids to Africa have failed to improve economic status of most African countries instead perpetuated dependency as donor countries use them to dictate the so called development policies to  Africa  to serve they are own interests