adminon Monday.
“In the last 50 years Africa has been made a guinea pig, we have all the resources, people come and take all our resources and we are having a conference here to help Africa,” Sata was quoted as saying by the paper in remarks made during the on-going Fifth Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (Ticad V) in Yokohama, Japan.
Sata, who is known for raising controversies at international meetings, said while Africa knows its problems, developed nations have used the continent as a “guinea pig” for taking raw materials to enrich themselves.
“We know the problems in Africa and the reason is the so-called developed countries that used Africa as a guinea pig for taking our raw materials for developing themselves. And they just come and pick all our raw materials because in Africa we still have plenty of raw materials,” he said.
The Zambian leader said Africa should not rely on others to help it but should rely on itself, adding that African leaders understand better the problems of infant and maternal mortality on the continent. He has since called on the continent to free itself from developed countries that have exploited its mineral resources for a long time.
“All these are all our personal problems as Africa. And it is not the conference that will help us. We have heard all sorts of stories,” the Zambian leader,” he added. – Xinhua.
Online Reporter