Those who forget the lessons of history are bound to repeat them. A Muganda Chief said, "Mzungu came to Africa to help himself and that goal has not changed much over the years". Africa has been depicted by the outside world as a bonanza land where foreigners flock to make it rich by scooping precious minerals. Tourist promoters, quite frequently, view Africa through selective optical lenses as an untamed landscape of wild animals and hunting. One has yet to find any mention or recognition of the fact that Africa belongs to and is populated by a diverse people with rich cultures, industry and science worth knowing and interacting with.

Wananchi, colonialism and slavery originated from European corporate greed to exploit Africa’s human and natural resources. European companies, i.e. East African Trading Co. LTD, The East India Trading Co., The Anglo-American Trading Company LTD. grabbed territories and recruited brutes, such as, Capt. Lugard, Cecil Rhodes to assist them in subduing natives who resisted foreign domination and robbery of Africa’s riches. In the process, they corrupted some of the chiefs and others to work against their own people and enabled foreigners to gain total control of the continent. Local stooges were rewarded with alcohol, clothing, money, sophisticated flatteries and chieftenship in total violation of the traditional rules of succession. Although slavery was officially abolished in America, economic exploitation of Africa has yet to be a thing of the past.

In 1844, colonizers met in Berlin to establish their modus operandi in Africa. They divided the entire continent among themselves and each secured the backing of their respective governments. The political part of colonialism was thus borne. The entire continent was overrun through that complex system of expropriation, extortion and exploitation. Some Africans were sold as slaves to America and the Caribbean Islands. Those who remained at home were forced to work on Mzungu farms and in mines as a matter of law. All the fertile land in Kenya highlands, rift valley, coastal area and all around Mt. Kenya became white man’s land. Wananchi were forced to live on "reservation camps" known as ICHAGI.

As it was in the past, corporate greed is the basic motive behind "AFRICA GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT, a misnomer name for H.R. 434. It promises growth and opportunity for foreign corporations, which will monopolize Africa’s resources.

In 1998, Africa Growth and Opportunity Act was introduced in the U.S. Congress by the Clinton Administration backed by a coalition of corporate interests. They pushed it through the House of Representatives at almost lightening speed lest the American people could have a chance to scrutinize and uncover its insidious objectives. U.S. companies, especially those in oil, mining and manufacturing, launched a vigorous campaign for this bill. The American public realized how detrimental this bill was by the time it reached the U.S. Senate. That was when a few of us Africans in the Washington DC area caught sight of what was at stake. We joined hands with a number of American organizations and campaigned against this bad bill, which we named "RE-COLONIZATION OF AFRICA BILL". We wrote to all U.S. Senators opposing it and pointed out that it offers neither growth nor opportunity for Africans. We collected nearly 800 signatures of Africans in Washington D.C. area who supported this letter. A big number of religious leaders, labor organizations, civil rights groups, academicians, public activists and development groups in the USA, together with many African groups here and at home, opposed the Re-Colonization of Africa bill. Mr. Randall Robinson of TransAfrica appealed to Congress not to pass it on grounds that, "no bill is better than a bad bill". Mr. Ralph Nader of Public Citizen Global Watch named it "THE NAFTA FOR AFRICA BILL. Thank God, it was killed in the U.S. Senate. That was then.

In 1999, the same bill, AFRICA GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT, H.R. 434, was re-introduced in the House of Representatives without change of name and contents. If this bill passes, it will broaden the ability of foreign corporations to dominate and control Africa’s economies and her resources, leaving nothing for our people who are yearning for economic empowerment and growth.

Again, a coalition of Africans in this area wrote a letter to all Senators and Congressmen opposing this bill. We collected 1200 signatures in support of our letter. I personally wrote to all African presidents urging them to use their influence and connections to oppose this dangerous bill. In a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus, I reminded them NEVER to forget that their ancestors (African slaves in America) were the first victims of foreign corporate exploitation of Africa’s human resources. A number of diverse individuals and organizations in America and Africa launched a campaign against this bill. In contrast, the big companies raised millions of dollars to campaign for its passage, using every means money can buy.

The late Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown revealed to an audience in Kampala that, "For a long time Africa’s business has been dominated by European companies, leaving only 17% of it to American companies. We have come in full force this time around to reverse that situation". It is unfortunate that Ron Brown, R.I.P. a grandson of African slaves who were victims of foreign corporate exploitation of Africa’s human resources, could utter such a statement on African soil before an African audience!

Unfortunately, African Ambassadors to Washington have been co-opted by the Clinton Administration to support H.R. 434. Many functions are conducted in this town to drum up support for it. They often use some black Americans who are strategically packaged and funded to pretend that they speak for Africa. African Ministers were summoned to Washington DC in the spring of this year and lured into supporting H.R. 434. Although some of them agree that this bill is bad for Africa, none has stood up publicly to oppose it. Their excuse is simply fear of offending the Clinton Administration. Others do not want to risk losing foreign aid. This Ndio bwana or plantation mentality or mental colonization is on both sides of the Atlantic and is killing us. Consequently, the vast resources of Africa will continue to benefit everyone else but Africans.

H.R. 434 undermines the sovereignity and independence of African countries, subjecting them to dictation of policies from Washington. It will impose upon African people conditions, which impede development and growth. It forces African societies to facilitate as much as possible foreign companies’ entrance into owning, managing and controlling Africa’s vast resources for the benefit of foreigners with no regard whatsoever for the national interests and welfare of African societies. It assumes and intends to strengthen the economic and commercial status quo as a given for doing business in Africa. It pays no attention to the fact that the status quo is steeped in foreign economic exploitation doctrine, which was nurtured and protected by colonialism for years. It has given us high unemployment of over 50% in each country, perpetual poverty, economic imbalance between genuine nationals and groups of foreign enclaves, corruption, dictatorships, internecine wars and famine.

This bill does not address the critical problems facing Africa today which must be solved first and which Africans have frequently articulated as pre-requisites to development; namely:

Yes, we achieved political independence. Africa has yet to achieve economic independence. All economies of Sub-Sahara Africa were founded and operate on a colonial system, which was designed to exploit her resources to benefit foreign interests. Foreign enclaves were institutionalized to own, dominate and control virtually all of the commerce and industry throughout Sub-Sahara Africa.

In 1908, Winston Churchill visited Uganda and expressed reservations on foreign domination of the economic life of that colony. He said:

In 1962, the first U.S. Asst. Secretary of State for Africa, Mennen Williams, angered Kenyan settlers when he said upon arrival at Nairobi airport that, "Africa is for Africans". If in fact Africa belongs to Africans, so do her resources, which must be utilized by Africans on terms determined by them for their mutual benefit. Joint participation in any venture must be mutually beneficial so as not to give the African people a short end of the bargaining stick or no part of it at all. The political slogan of the early 1960s in Kenya UHURU NA MASHAMBA was more effective than UHURU NA KAZI because it poked in the eye of the colonial essence, which is economic domination, and control of Kenya’s land. The emancipation of African people and economic growth of that continent cannot and will not be realized until we achieve full economic emancipation from foreign corporate domination.

TO ERADICATE DICTATRORSHIP. The existence of dictatorial regimes has caused many of them to resort to repressive measures against their people. The end results are internal uprising, civil wars, exodus of professionals and innovative persons commonly known as "brain drainage", internal displacement and disruption of normal economic life, which breeds famine, starvation and diseases. Dictatorships have forced many to be refugees abroad. There are more African refugees in the world today than from any other continent, according to a UN report. A people on the run cannot develop nor trade.

TO ELIMINATE FOREIGN DEBT. Africa’s foreign debt of over $230 billion is crushing many economies to death. It is impossible for any country to develop when half or more of its earnings go into servicing a debt, which never funded development projects.

TO FIGHT THE AIDS CRISIS. Right now the AIDS epidemic is the number one health problem facing Africa. It is destroying a large portion of our societies at an alarming speed, especially those between the ages of 13 and 50. In May of 1999, the Kenyan Ministry of Health reported that 22% to 26 % of Kenyan girls between the ages of 13 and 19 are HIV positive. AIDS has so far killed more people than all the wars to date starting with WW1. Yet, over 80% of those deaths are in Africa. If that is not a crisis worth our immediate and serious attention, I am afraid something is wrong somewhere. A dying people cannot trade nor develop.

Those of you who are old enough to remember the colonial days will recall that the Colonial Secretary in London determined all major policies and set guidelines within which each Governor and native chiefs operated. H.R. 434 is reminiscent of that era.

Under this bill, the U.S. President shall treat African nations as if they are his domains. He shall determine that African countries, among other things, are:

Promoting the expansion of the production base and the transformation of commodities and nontraditional products for exports through joint venture projects between Africa and foreign investors;

Reducing high import and corporate taxes, controlling government consumption, participating in bilateral investment treaties, and harmonizing such treaties to avoid double taxation;

Providing national treatment for foreign investors, removing restrictions on investment and other measures to create an environment conducive to domestic and foreign investment;

Minimizing government intervention in the market such as price controls and subsidies and streamlining the business license process;

Protecting against expropriation; and

Encouraging private ownership of government-controlled economic enterprises through divestiture programs.

Additional factors, which the U.S. President shall look into, include:

Reducing tariff levels. Binding its tariff in the WTO and assuming meaningful binding obligations in other sectors of trade;

Eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade. Each African country is expected to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). No African country should undermine U.S. foreign policy interests. The U.S. President shall monitor the performance of each Sub-Sahara African country basing on quantitative factors to the fullest extent possible.

There goes our independence!! Ladies and Gentlemen, let us be realistic and look at our societies. First, 80% of our people are in agricultural or pastoral activities or both. Our urban economies have yet to cut loose from the shackles of their colonial foundation. In a book "WHO CONTROLS INDUSTRY IN KENYA" published some years ago, it was revealed that 80% of Board members who control Kenya’s industries are foreigners and do not live in Kenya. If any partnership is to be formed between American investors and businessmen in Kenya as this bill proposes, chances are that it is going to be with any of those 80% (Lord Dalamere, Mitchell Cotts) who will cut a deal with GE or Disney World. Do not kid yourself that a man in Kericho, Muranga or Namanga will form joint ventures with Chevron, Exxon, Caterpillar, Texaco, American Mineral Fields or General Food. The same pattern of operation will continue thus exasperating high unemployment, astronomical poverty, destitution, political and social upheavals and spreading Mathale Valley. How can you expect a country to develop and prosper when the majority of its citizens do not have a chance to participate in ownership and management of their economy? How can you expect a country to develop and prosper when external consumers guzzle most of its economic juice? How can a country claim to be independent and at the same time hope to develop when its economic and commercial policies are dictated from abroad by a people who are driven by their own interests and greed?

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-ILL) introduced HOPE for Africa Bill (H.R. 772) not only to oppose a bad bill but also to offer something that is worth supporting. In his speech on the floor of the House, Rep. JJ Jr. stated that,

H.R. 772 supports bilateral, multilateral and international trade. It seeks, however, to establish a new principle that should underlie every trade bill in the U.S.A. so that the benefits of trade will have to be shared widely by the majority of the common working people in every participating society, but not just benefit the business and financial interests of some elite few.

H.R. 772 affirms each African nation’s right to economic self-determination.

H.R. 772 offers to abolish unconditionally Sub-Sahara Africa’s $230 billion foreign debt.

H.R. 772 addresses the AIDS crisis by targeting assistance from the Development Fund for Africa for AIDS education and treatment programs.

H.R. 772 puts a human face on U.S. - Africa relations by demanding uniform, verifiable and enforceable labor and environmental standards for Africans as well as Americans.

Secretary of State Mme. Albright speaking to OAU diplomats in Addis Ababa said, "U.S. policy towards Africa is concentrated on the Great Lakes region". As you all know, America openly offered financial and material support to any African country willing to send her people to fight and die in Sudan on U.S. behalf. U.S. involvement in the Congo, using the puppet regimes of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi for the purpose of looting Congo’s riches, is well known. The entire region is now a killing field, having consumed over 4 million African lives with no end in sight. The East African Standard, Nov. 24, 1995 run an editorial: U.S. SHOULD NOT ARM UGANDA. The Observer of London, July 28, 1996 reported that "U.S. Paid Burundi Coup leader". While all this is going on, President Clinton proposed to build a continental "roving army" composed of African soldiers but trained, armed and commanded by Americans. Isn’t that the same thing that Cecil Rhodes and Capt. Lugard did a century ago, out of which came KAR?

We have seen the damage inflicted upon Mexico by NAFTA. We have seen the damage caused to some Islands by the Caribbean Basin Initiative. We have seen the troubles Congo DRC is in after President Kabila retracted his word to American companies depriving them of their perfidious agenda. Nevertheless, we support and encourage foreign trade and investment in Africa. However, the terms and conditions under which such economic relationships will be conducted must be negotiated on a level field yielding mutually beneficial results for both sides.

The challenges facing Africa are coming from every angle. Mzungu is using military and congressional action to consolidate and impose upon our countries his brand of "GEMA". Instead of building our own African GEMAs, some of our people are facilitating and promoting alien ones. That must be resisted by any means possible. Africans should take special steps to build indigenous economic and political institutions, which will take their rightful place on the world’s trading table on her behalf.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

The most immediate step each one of you should take is to call or write to your Congressman and Senators, urging them to oppose H.R. 434. Ask them to support HOPE for Africa Bill, H.R. 772, as an alternative to the bad bill.

We Africans living abroad are the most educated and most informed. We should never consider ourselves as being aloof of Africa. The suffering of our relatives and countrymen at home is equally as much our own suffering. Many policies and programs which affect Africa, for good or bad, originate from western capitals such as Washington DC. How many of us pay attention to what is taking place here aimed at Africa? How many of you may have said that I am not a politician and, therefore, that is none of my business? It is your business by virtue of being an African.

ORGANIZE, AGITATE and ASSERT. We must organize as you have done in KCA. We must work with other Africans if not for any other reason, because we share the same problems. We must agitate and assert ourselves because we are the TRUE AFRICANS in this country and that is our constituency by birth. We know our countries as well as this one and have compassion and special commitment to our people. Not many others can claim that. In fact, THE VOICE OF AFRICA INC. was formed for that purpose. We should not allow others kuvuruga the affairs of Africa while we are napping in temporary comfort.

Mr. Kintu is president of