Botswana speaks out

Serwalo Tumelo, Botswana’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, has called on the United Nations Development Program to take a more forceful role on free trade in Africa. According to this allAfrica.com article, Tumelo believes the global trade and intellectual property regimes play a significant role in the marginalisation of Africa from the benefits of globalisation. "Africa is stuck in trade in low value added commodities, with tariff escalation in developed countries restricting value addition in developing countries." He also called on the UNDP to engage Africa more forcefully on governance, adding that reforms the continent needs are also about good policies, good legislative environments and functional institutions. The reforms are also about pro-development value systems that interlock to empower ordinary citizens and create opportunities for them to work their way towards better living.