13 JANUARY 2001, Page 33

A paean to Africa

From Mr David Craine Sir: Matthew Parris (Another voice, 9 December) is surely too negative about the prospects for many African countries, and far too susceptible to the dangers of overgeneralisation regarding such a diverse and rapidly changing continent.

It is certainly not inevitable that countries which have at last climbed out of trouble will slip back 'like spiders in a bath' just because they happen to be located in Africa.

The truth is that there has been a massive shift towards multi-party democracies over the past decade. The Organisation of African Unity has agreed to banish leaders who have won power by undermining internationally established democratic processes. A core of African leaders who are committed to democracy, peace and good governance are now drawing up plans for continental recovery.

South Africa's own achievements in consolidating democracy are being noticed throughout the continent and beyond. South Africa's role on the continent in support of peace, democracy and development is also being increasingly acknowledged. The extraordinary humanitarian work of the air force to rescue 15,000 flood-stricken Mozambicans is but one example Economic management has also improved substantially. Diversification of output and ensuring macroeconomic stability have been part of the economic reform process throughout Africa: fiscal deficits are on average far lower than they were a decade ago, falling from almost 7 per cent of GDP in 1992 to about 2.6 per cent in 2000; inflation has been significantly subdued, with the average inflation rate for sub-Saharan African countries forecast at about 6 per cent for 2000; market-friendly investment environments have been established in more African economies than at any time in the past; trade liberalisation has progressed strongly in Africa and significant progress has been achieved in several key areas conducive to improved investment and trade, including tariff reduction, elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade, and improvement in the regulatory environment for foreign investors.

Of course some enormous challenges remain. But substantial progress on the continent has already been achieved. Initiatives by African leaders for continental recovery surely deserve international backing and support, not cynicism and simplistic overgcneralisation.

David Craine Information officer,

South African High Commission, London WC2