Washington, DC — The unprecedented international attention being focused on the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa and the election of a new U.S. Administration could provide the impetus for a major new campaign to provide development assistance to southern Africa.
This prospect was raised in Washington D.C. on Monday by a visit by Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.
The Nobel laureate and retired church leader spent the day speaking to members of Congress, leaders of the African American community and journalists, lobbying for a five-year, U.S.$10 billion aid package designed to help southern Africa overcome the devastation brought about by apartheid and become an engine driving growth across the continent.
He described the plan as his "last project" for his country. Next month he returns home after a two-year teaching stint in Atlanta, Georgia, determined to cut back drastically on travel and public engagements.
He cited the Marshall Plan, in which the U.S. helped to rebuild Europe after World War II, and the multi-billion dollar aid package for Israel, Egypt and more recently the Palestinian authority, as precedents for the package he advocated.
Considerable interest was expressed in the proposal, but the leaders he met said that among key issues that would have to be addressed were: -- securing the support of those Americans who would ask, "What's in it for us?"; -- organising African Americans into a lobby as effective as those advocating aid for the Middle East; -- how did his appeal address the overwhelming HIV/AIDS crisis?
Archbishop Tutu said audiences he had addressed in Northern Ireland, the Middle East and in the United States in the past two years were inspired with hope by South Africa's experiment in racial reconciliation, and he had been invited to Bosnia to share his experiences.
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If democracy in South Africa did not translate into material improvements in the lives of South Africans, the country could "kiss goodbye" to reconciliation: "If South Africa goes up in flames, the repercussions for the rest of the world would be horrendous. (Helping southern Africa)... is not just altruistic, it's the best form of self-interest."
Supported by South African Ambassador Sheila Sisulu, he said a prosperous southern Africa would open new markets for the United States.
And they both argued that a package aimed at providing housing, education, healthcare and the supply of clean running water was essential to combat HIV/AIDS as well.
Some of the leaders they spoke to felt the appeal was well-timed: American political leaders were faced with decisions on how to deal with budget surpluses, and the installation of a new Administration offered the opportunity to launch major new policy initiatives.
John Allen, a long-time journalist, serves as press secretary and research assistant to Archbishop Tutu. He wrote this piece as a special report for allAfrica.com while accompanying the Archbishop to Washington.
