Gwinyai Dziwa - Newspaper Columns

Newspaper Columns ~ Financial Gazette

From Rural Rhodesia to Citadel of Global Capital.

Dr Callisto Madavo is a Zimbabwean who was raised in the rustic environs of Rhodesia.

With determination, intellectual brilliance and diligence as his sole weapons, he has become a fundi in economics and leader of an international organisation.

Appointed vice-president of the World Bank for the Africa Region from May 1 2000, Madavo told me at a banquet in Washington D.C. that he has been with the bank since 1969.

The soft spoken Madavo is not the gaudy type that is driven by affectation or condescension.

The bespectacled Madavo snaked out his business card for me and as I perused on the inscriptions, I didn't see any honorific or doctoral titles preceding his name.

It's simply Callisto E. Madavo - that's what humility is all about.

By observing Madavo from a distance, I have concluded that the man loves Africa deeply despite the ideological conflicts that often arise between his organisation and individual polities of the beloved continent.

He firmly believes in the bank's credo of a "world without poverty".

Equipped with a doctorate in economics from the University of Notre Dame, Madavo works with a highly skilled team of 1 400 individuals, with 850 staffers being native Africans.

An influential insider such as Dr Madavo can help to lubricate the friction between the bank's honchos and African governments.

Thus, Madavo would advocate for reforms within the bank in regard to their deportment in handling African economies as the bank's vice-president.

Yet he could also assume the avatar of an emissary of African interests in order to bridge the lacuna that exists between the bank's interests and the African cause.

For instance, as the bank's vice-president he can fervently advocate for free market economies but as an African ambassador to the bank he could encourage the bank to abandon its bully-like attitude.

It is on record that there have been ideological and diplomatic lapses between the bank and intended beneficiaries.

In the attempt to promote free market economies, the neo-liberal advocates of economic reforms have insisted on issues of governance and democracy but with a patronising or rather condescending comportment.

This has inevitably triggered resentment from local leaders because most of them felt slighted by the approach.

Rather than creating relations of affection and mutual concern, the intercourse between the bank and developing nations has been less consensual.

The ersatz relations have evolved into that of a philanderer and a prostitute: do this for my money - even when hurting!

Therefore the conditionalities have been rather imposed where cajolery was needed.

The idea of fostering capital investment in a free market culture is noble but the "proselyters" have been presumptuous, completely neglecting local needs, concept of development among the locals and setting quixotic standards.

The bank would achieve its goals if it focuses on promoting flexible frameworks for capital growth that allow free markets to flourish, foreign investment, technology flow from industrialised nations and respect of local sovereignties.

Such courtship can be smoother if middlemen like Madavo ensure that the relations are not abusive but reflect genuine commitment instead of meretricious flattery.

The World Bank has loaned Africa more than US$60 billion to date and made its first commitment to Ethiopia in 1951.

Madavo obviously realises how Africa is marginalised in global affairs and he tries to define Africa's wealth in terms other than material.

He says: "At the World Bank, our dream is a world without poverty. The challenge of achieving that dream is great.

"But, in a setting like this, I am more inclined first to celebrate the wealth of our continent. For there are, indeed, many assets that we can draw on. Not just minerals and forests. Not just the agriculture and water resources of the continent. And not just the scenery and wildlife which impress so many visitors to Africa.

"I'm talking of the joy and tranquillity we find when we go home to Africa, the warmth of family, the strength of our traditions in the face of modern pressures, the habits of sharing and civil discourse, the social obligation not to leave anyone behind, particularly the weak, the elderly and orphans; the notion of shared responsibility within the family and community and rich, rich arts which express the joy and community of being African."

The quotation vindicates my assertion that Madavo loves the continent.

However, it is the approach of the bank towards Africa that leaves a lot to be desired.

There is no doubt that Africans want good communication technology, better transportation systems, clean water, better housing, quality health care and so on.

The process must be implemented while local leaders are treated in the same manner as leaders in wealthy nations regardless of their shortcomings.

Dr Madavo, the ball is in your court. Diplomacy works!