29 September 2008
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The following are remarks of former President, Festus Mogae at a recent meeting on poverty alleviation at the Clinton Forum in New York, USA last week.
Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps some of you will recall that during the 17th International AIDS Conference held in Mexico City early August this year, I launched an initiative called Champions for an HIV-Free Generation. This is a group of former African presidents and other renowned personalities who are calling on African leaders to rethink and step up efforts to prevent the spreads of HIV in Africa.
The group held its inaugural meeting in Gaborone, Botswana on the September 11. Members include four former African presidents namely, Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique, Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, first President of Zambia, and myself as chairperson.
Other members are Professor Miriam Were, chairperson of the Kenyan National AIDS Control Council, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and South African Supreme Court of Appeal judge, Justice Edwin Cameron. There is an option to enlist more respectable personalities.
The collaborating partners are the World Bank, UNAIDS, World Health Organisation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Fund and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Although the initiative focuses on HIV prevention in southern Africa as the epicentre of the problem, it is concerned with the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa, as you all know, is home to more than one third of all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths.
The Champions group will mobilise leadership in the region, inform global leaders and policy makers to renew and revitalise HIV response. They will also mobilise media and public support in the region, and foster mutual accountability among governments and development partners for resources, effective policies and action on HIV prevention and AIDS treatment and care.
Ladies and Gentlemen, over the next two years, the Champions will visit up to nine southern African countries to meet with political leaders, civil society, people living with HIV/AIDS and the media. They will promote the positive messages about an AIDS-Free Generation; articulate the need for a more effective response on prevention, and the importance of accountability for results.
The expected ultimate goal is to help move Africa toward an AIDS-Free Generation and that requires a reduction in new infections and continued counseling, testing and treatment.
The fundamental contribution of the Champions will be to reinvigorate and renew the discussion and debate; and encourage stronger and committed leadership in politics, business, faith-based organizations and communities. They may sponsor events such as a conference of respected leaders, scientists and HIV/AIDS specialists to address specific problems and exchange experience, especially related to prevention.
The Champions' principal counterparts and interlocutors at the country level will be Heads of State and Government, legislators, key government organisations dealing with HIV/AIDS, private sector and religious organisations, civil society groups working on HIV/AIDS, academic and research community and people living with HIV/AIDS.
While Champions for an HIV-Free Generation group focuses only on HIV and AIDS, Africa Forum tackles other issues such as governance.
Africa Forum brings together over 30 former African Heads of State and Government and other prominent personalities. They held a Workshop on HIV and AIDS for Heads of State and Government last year in Livingstone, Zambia as a realization that leadership is central to combating HIV and AIDS.
These two initiatives are aimed at mobilising the African leadership to fight HIV/AIDS and also promote leadership accountability on HIV and AIDS issues. They are meant to ensure that the top leadership takes charge and does not relegate the problem of HIV and AIDS to the lower ranks and the civil society.
I am confident that with the support of our collaborating partners and committed leadership these initiatives will succeed and save Africa's future generations. AIDS is not only killing our people but has compounded poverty and hunger prevailing in Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen, HIV and AIDS is a hurdle to efforts to fight poverty. It has left orphans and other dependents without breadwinners, it manifests itself in declining labour productivity, escalating health care costs and increased Government welfare spending.
I am convinced that like Samuel Johnson we all agree that "Poverty is a great enemy of human happiness". Hungry people are sad and susceptible to a myriad of infections. Poverty violates their human rights and lowers their self-esteem.
In 1993 the United Nations General Assembly reminded governments through Resolution 47/196 about poverty when it declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This resolution a standing reminder to all governments to constantly monitor and evaluate their poverty alleviation strategies.
We are also reminded about the problem of poverty by Goal One of the Millennium Development Goals which calls on countries to "Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger".
Although the 2007 United Nations Millennium Development Goals report says extreme poverty is falling in Sub-Saharan Africa it still remains a serious problem for millions of our people. It is still a huge challenge for African Governments. Many people still do not have sufficient food and are too poor to afford adequate and nutritious diet.
Countries have adopted different approaches to addressing this problem. In Botswana the government adopted a National Strategy for Poverty Reduction in 2003. The strategy provides the strategic pathways for reducing poverty and that includes broad-based labour-absorbing economic growth; provision of basic quality social services to the poor; promoting cost-effective pro-poor social safety nets; enhancing effective response to HIV/AIDS pandemic, and strengthening institutions for the poor.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Botswana has made some remarkable achievements in reducing levels of poverty since independence in 1966.
There has been a steady reduction from 59% in 1986 to 47% in 1994 to 37% in 2001 to 30% in 2004, with 23% projected for 2009. The country has also achieved remarkable progress in socio-economic development and welfare outcomes, as evident from increasing average living standards, low prevalence of child malnutrition, and a marked improvement in educational attainments.
However, despite these achievements conditions of poverty still persist. The percentage of our population living below poverty datum line is high. Unemployment remains high, particularly in rural areas and HIV/AIDS has also impacted negatively on human development gains.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, the two initiatives I have briefly outlined to you are committed to ensuring that Africa's top leadership take charge of leading the fight against the spread of HIV.
The virus is not waiting for anybody but continues to ruthlessly decimate our populations. I thank you for your attention.
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