Africa should learn from best practice, says Mills
“Africa’s poverty is optional, but only Africans can solve it.”
A quick glance at the blurbs of Dr Greg Mills’ many books reveals two themes – lavish praise from leading authors, academics, politicians and presidents, and the adjectives controversial, passionate, inspirational and invigorating.
On Tuesday, at a South African Institute of International Affairs talk, Mills was at his controversial best.
Why, he asked, should Africa not aim to be the next China, because in 2050 it will have the same amount of people?
Africa should learn from what China did right and emulate it, he said, particularly its laser-like focus on job creation and growth. Another country that Africa should use as a template is South Korea.
It turned itself into a winning nation, chasing exports.
Every village that exceeded expectations was rewarded, and those that fell behind were punished.
South African municipalities had to improve by looking inward and fixing their problems, he said. Mills is head of the Brenthurst Foundation, based in Johannesburg, which aims to strengthen African economic performance.
Mills operates in many African countries, but only at the request of their governments, and more often than not, from the head of state.
When asked if SA had invited him, he answered that recently there were overtures, but only from the new regime.
Mills, a regular columnist for some of the world’s leading magazines and newspapers, said only by intense concentration on these areas can Africa propel itself out of poverty: skilling the youth, strong democracies, planning for 1.6bn people in cities by 2050, job creation, and development.