adminAs outlined in articles published earlier, Zimbabwe boasts of a mineral base which consists of huge deposits of diamonds, gold and platinum and many more. On the other hand countries like Zambia has its main export as copper, Mozambique’s main export being aluminum, Namibia uranium while South Africa’s main export is platinum. The main question is, “Why is Africa always referred to as the Dark Continent and why is Africa labelled underdeveloped when it boasts of all these resources.”
One reason outlined in the book “Reclaiming the Resources for Health” is that Africa’s substantial resources tend to flow outwards. It is further stated that this resource drain and the inequality in wealth leaves most of Africa’s people in poverty. Both the material and human resources have been affected by this resource drain with millions of African people migrating in search of what they term better living conditions and better remuneration and better political and social standing. Rev Martin Luther King Jr postulated that, “You will be judged by the colour of your skin”. This statement applies to everyone whether one is abroad or living in one’s country.
Our standards as black people are dictated by other people, our destinies determined by other people, and judgments on the African nations are prescribed and passed as correct. What worsens the situation is that other black people also succumb to those judgments, in the process our norms and values are distorted. Some nations including Zimbabwe are respected because they refuse to be judged and they have set their own destinies. In the book “Dear Africa: The Call of the Africans Dream”, it is stated that India started on the path of greatness when Mahatma Gandhi taught Indians to reject the British standard and adopt an Indian one to the extent of even burning clothing manufactured in Manchester. India then started spinning, weaving and wearing Indian cloth with a pride both out of a positive self-judgment.
In Zimbabwe, President Mugabe has also been clear on the land reform programme and has also castigated the United States and Britain for trying to meddle in Zimbabwean affairs. The Chinese, the Japanese, the Arabs and Jews also have their own set of standards.
These are opening words of a troubled heart and mind on how the African continent has suffered due to the slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism and many other forms of oppression. The focus of this publication is on health. Zimbabwe’s life expectancy now stands at 42, hence issues of health are worth discussing as the overall health system of any country is also affected by the resource drain discussed above.
The following table shows the life expectancy of other African countries Zimbabwe inclusive so that a comparative analysis can be done.
Life expectancy of African countries
Country Life Expectancy Rate
Zimbabwe 42
Lesotho 47
Botswana 61
Madagascar 60
Malawi 53
Namibia 63
South Africa 53
Swaziland 48
Ethiopia 58
Kenya 54
Source: The African Report 2001
Though this is just a sample, Zimbabwe has the least life expectancy and already an indication of the need to invest more in health services. This is central to the improvement of the quality of people. As alluded to resources in Africa provide the economic and social potential to address the major health needs of the people.
The Sunday Business of 13-19 May 2012 stated that Zimbabwe’s economy had recorded a nine percent growth rate in the first quarter of the year. It was highlighted that if the figure is maintained it will surpass the average seven percent growth envisaged in the Medium Term Policy (MTP) launched in 2011. This is quite commendable considering that between 2000 and 2005 Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product recorded negative growth rates annually of -7,9 percent and -7,1 percent respectively, as quoted in the Regional Analysis of Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (2007). In Southern Africa the DRC recorded the lowest official per capita in the region despite being a global leader in mineral resources which include coltan, diamonds, copper, cobalt and gold.
However, it is of paramount importance to examine whether there is good relationship between resources of a country and the health of its people. The figures in life expectancy differ from country to country in the region. The major driving factor in the fall in life expectancy is HIV and Aids. The differences found in life expectancy are also found in relation to infant, child and maternal mortality. Evidence from research has also indicated that economic growth has not translated into human development improvements.
Increases in mortality have been attributed to food insecurity, poor access to safe water, sanitation, energy, transport and shelter, high prevalence of HIV and Aids, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as other reproductive roles, according to a World Health Organisation report of 2006.
It has also emerged that the benefits of growth are not reaching households particularly where there is a rise in household poverty and inequality to access to wealth. Inequalities in wealth are associated to inequalities in health and improvements in health can also contribute to improvements in wealth. Zimbabwe has also however made improvements in health determinants which include education, water and sanitation.
In order to have improved nutrition at household level, there is a need to increase investments in smallholder farmers especially women and enhancing their control over land, seed, and other production inputs. This will ensure that households are better resourced to produce their own food.
Women are responsible for 80 percent of food production in Africa. Their agricultural work also includes labour intensive engagements such as irrigation, fertilizing, planting, weeding, harvesting and marketing. Women achieve all this despite inequalities in access to land and inputs such as credit, poor access to improved seed and fertilizer and unequal access to information.
When given equal access to resources and human capital, women farmers can achieve equal or better yields than their male counterparts. There is need therefore to have a shift in trade and investments that support large scale commercial farmers only. When women productivity improves the nutritional wellbeing of children and the family also improves.
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu