This file photo shows Chinese agriculture expert Liao Zuoquan checked rice plant in Kalimbeza Rice Research and Production Station in north-eastern Namibia, May 5, 2016. (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
Namibia and African countries need to take a cue from China in fighting poverty especially among those in the rural areas after impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
WINDHOEK, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Namibia and African countries need to take a cue from China in fighting poverty especially among those in the rural areas after impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a renowned Namibian analyst and academic has said.
Omu Kakujaha-Matundu, an economist and academic from the University of Namibia, said Africans need to find courage from China's battle against poverty.
"China has been a long time friend for African countries, but our leaders still have a lot to learn in terms of policies that deal with poverty like in China. It is important to follow the footsteps of how China has fought poverty among its vulnerable groups through improving agriculture. Our leaders need to learn from this and abandon self-fulfilling policies," he said.
The Namibian academic said China is a giant in terms of fighting poverty as well as empowering the poor.
"If our leaders learn form the Chinese way of dealing with economic challenges in improving the lives of poor people and uprooting corruption, Africa will prosper," he said.
While parties in Africa have benefited immensely from the support of the Chinese people, they need to work their policies in line with the way China has put lives of its people first when it comes to development, he said.
"China has managed to integrate artificial intelligence and ICT into improving agriculture production and agro-processing. What we need to do is to use intelligence and young people to drive the economy. We are still behind in this aspect," he added. ■
