By Takura Zhangazha*
Billionaire Chinese philanthropist Jack Ma of the famed
Alibaba Group has donated medical equipment for Africa to step up its fight
against the Corona Virus, now officially referred to as COVID-19 by the World HealthOrganisation (WHO). It is a donation, as reported and celebrated in the mainstream (global) media, that is for every
African country.
Alibaba Group has donated medical equipment for Africa to step up its fight
against the Corona Virus, now officially referred to as COVID-19 by the World HealthOrganisation (WHO). It is a donation, as reported and celebrated in the mainstream (global) media, that is for every
African country.
In the urgency of the global pandemic this is an immediately
welcome donation. No matter what part of the world you are from. Mainly because
this is a global health crisis that needs all hands on deck. Even if the donation is not limited to
Africa. Ma will also donate relevant preventative
materials to countries that would not want to be known to be in need of such
help. He will also donate preventative
kits to the United States of America (USA), Europe and Iran.
welcome donation. No matter what part of the world you are from. Mainly because
this is a global health crisis that needs all hands on deck. Even if the donation is not limited to
Africa. Ma will also donate relevant preventative
materials to countries that would not want to be known to be in need of such
help. He will also donate preventative
kits to the United States of America (USA), Europe and Iran.
And as quoted in the mainstream media, the
main reason he donated is because, “Now it is as if we were all living in the same
forest on fire. As members of the global community, it will be irresponsible of
us to sit on the fence, panic, ignore facts, or fail to act. We need to take
action now.”
main reason he donated is because, “Now it is as if we were all living in the same
forest on fire. As members of the global community, it will be irresponsible of
us to sit on the fence, panic, ignore facts, or fail to act. We need to take
action now.”
He is very correct. Except in a number of other
respects. The rich people of the global political
economy probably feel a moral obligation to help the rest of us in times of
tremendous crisis. As he says, “its all
the same forest on fire.”
respects. The rich people of the global political
economy probably feel a moral obligation to help the rest of us in times of
tremendous crisis. As he says, “its all
the same forest on fire.”
The metaphor he uses is awkwardly interesting given the
recent forest fires in South America, Central Africa and Australia which were
attributed to the devastating impact of climate change.
recent forest fires in South America, Central Africa and Australia which were
attributed to the devastating impact of climate change.
As an African it is also important to place Ma’s generous
gesture into perspective. The first
being that I, for all my own personal ideological differences with him (not
that it matters), I have no choice but to be grateful for any help that comes
from those that are already in positions of privilege. Also in anticipation that my own Zimbabwean
government will accept the act of generosity in this very unpredictable global health
crisis.
gesture into perspective. The first
being that I, for all my own personal ideological differences with him (not
that it matters), I have no choice but to be grateful for any help that comes
from those that are already in positions of privilege. Also in anticipation that my own Zimbabwean
government will accept the act of generosity in this very unpredictable global health
crisis.
The second being that I would however retain a serious sense
fo trepidation at the fact that Ma would easily announce this to the
world. As another philanthropist who probably
has algorithms and human behavioral experts at his behest as to how the COVID-19
crisis would likely pan out. Especially
in Africa, a continent that is regrettably still viewed as one that is a source
of many a potential global epidemic. Or
in Edward Said terminology still ‘orientalised’ together with the Global East. As
has recently happened with USA current president Donald Trump’s uncouth, racist
reference (not once but twice) to COVID-19 as a ‘ Chinese virus’.
fo trepidation at the fact that Ma would easily announce this to the
world. As another philanthropist who probably
has algorithms and human behavioral experts at his behest as to how the COVID-19
crisis would likely pan out. Especially
in Africa, a continent that is regrettably still viewed as one that is a source
of many a potential global epidemic. Or
in Edward Said terminology still ‘orientalised’ together with the Global East. As
has recently happened with USA current president Donald Trump’s uncouth, racist
reference (not once but twice) to COVID-19 as a ‘ Chinese virus’.
Ma probably sees an urgent need to demonstrate his public
concern as a necessity. For what has been historically the world’s most
vulnerable continent. I would not know what favours he would want from all 55 African Union recognized countries in the potential aftermath of the COVD-19
pandemic, but the generosity does not come without business/profit
considerations. And we would all know that, if we were not either in the global
health crisis we are in. Or if we had
not been ‘hegemonised’ into an awe of ‘apprentices’ (Trump anyone?) or an
assumption that we, even as Africans, can become as rich and therefore as philanthropic
as Ma is.
concern as a necessity. For what has been historically the world’s most
vulnerable continent. I would not know what favours he would want from all 55 African Union recognized countries in the potential aftermath of the COVD-19
pandemic, but the generosity does not come without business/profit
considerations. And we would all know that, if we were not either in the global
health crisis we are in. Or if we had
not been ‘hegemonised’ into an awe of ‘apprentices’ (Trump anyone?) or an
assumption that we, even as Africans, can become as rich and therefore as philanthropic
as Ma is.
But this is where we are.
And this points to an even more important third consideration. While we could never have predicted as
dangerous a pandemic as COVID-19, we know we could have had public, not
private, health services prepared for it.
Had we not taken a route as calamitous as that of abandoning the role of
the state in the well-being of its own citizens. Our still very regrettable penchant for privatized
medical services, more as a status symbol than an ability to keep everyone
regardless of class, able to receive the best treatment has unfortunately come
to haunt us. That Ma and other
philanthropists most likely to follow if not already doing so, identify a void
that they probably think only they can fill is an indictment on the state of
our public health services.
And this points to an even more important third consideration. While we could never have predicted as
dangerous a pandemic as COVID-19, we know we could have had public, not
private, health services prepared for it.
Had we not taken a route as calamitous as that of abandoning the role of
the state in the well-being of its own citizens. Our still very regrettable penchant for privatized
medical services, more as a status symbol than an ability to keep everyone
regardless of class, able to receive the best treatment has unfortunately come
to haunt us. That Ma and other
philanthropists most likely to follow if not already doing so, identify a void
that they probably think only they can fill is an indictment on the state of
our public health services.
As arrived
at via ruinous neo-liberal economic policies that left a greater majority of
our populations vulnerable to public health crises such as the one we are
currently having to deal with.
at via ruinous neo-liberal economic policies that left a greater majority of
our populations vulnerable to public health crises such as the one we are
currently having to deal with.
To the extent that the key question emerges around the fact
that while COVID-19 may be untreatable it is the question of the capacity of
our health delivery systems to look after the inflicted to recover from it that
matters the most. Not only in Africa but
globally. The default mode of more privatized
hospitals for the rich and less for the poor will directly affect our ability
to deal with the COVID-19 global health crisis.
that while COVID-19 may be untreatable it is the question of the capacity of
our health delivery systems to look after the inflicted to recover from it that
matters the most. Not only in Africa but
globally. The default mode of more privatized
hospitals for the rich and less for the poor will directly affect our ability
to deal with the COVID-19 global health crisis.
While the help of philanthropists such as Ma is welcome in
emergency situations as at the moment, it is more reflective of our public health
system’s shortcomings than their random acts of kindness. And even from their evident positions of privilege.
Almost like in dystopian and apocalyptic films (again- hegemonic) where the
rich guy eventually finds the antidote and saves everyone else. But him/herself first.
emergency situations as at the moment, it is more reflective of our public health
system’s shortcomings than their random acts of kindness. And even from their evident positions of privilege.
Almost like in dystopian and apocalyptic films (again- hegemonic) where the
rich guy eventually finds the antidote and saves everyone else. But him/herself first.
Finally, there is the geo-political fallout between global
superpowers such as the USA and China that Ma would inadvertently
represent. Being Chinese, Ma probably
knows too well that he also represents his country of origin’s foreign policy
imperatives. Especially in relation to
its counter-hegemonic global economic role (if there are billionaires in USA
surely the same can and will exist in China?)
And this means the first philanthropist to make an offer that Africa, in
desperate circumstances, cannot refuse, will represent more than him/herself.
But with the same aim of presenting and re-presenting individual wealth as the
proverbial holy grail to public health well-being.
superpowers such as the USA and China that Ma would inadvertently
represent. Being Chinese, Ma probably
knows too well that he also represents his country of origin’s foreign policy
imperatives. Especially in relation to
its counter-hegemonic global economic role (if there are billionaires in USA
surely the same can and will exist in China?)
And this means the first philanthropist to make an offer that Africa, in
desperate circumstances, cannot refuse, will represent more than him/herself.
But with the same aim of presenting and re-presenting individual wealth as the
proverbial holy grail to public health well-being.
Or at least intervening to ensure public health
well-being particularly for states/governments that abandon their democratic roles
of being the guarantors of social and economic
justice for all.
well-being particularly for states/governments that abandon their democratic roles
of being the guarantors of social and economic
justice for all.
So many thanks to Jack Ma for the support. We, in learning from Amilcar Cabral, probably
need all the help we can get in our struggles to prevent COVID-19 from being an
even more comparatively catastrophic pandemic in Africa. As imagined and as we
live and again, struggle against it. We
however do not owe Ma an eternity of gratitude nor do we owe the same to globalized
capital that arguably has got us to where we currently, again, globally,
are.
need all the help we can get in our struggles to prevent COVID-19 from being an
even more comparatively catastrophic pandemic in Africa. As imagined and as we
live and again, struggle against it. We
however do not owe Ma an eternity of gratitude nor do we owe the same to globalized
capital that arguably has got us to where we currently, again, globally,
are.
There shall be after effects that are wide ranging from
COVID-19. A lot of us would be well aware of that. One that is most certain, from an African
perspective is that we need to get our public health service fully back on
track. For the many not the few. With or without Jack Ma of Alibaba.
COVID-19. A lot of us would be well aware of that. One that is most certain, from an African
perspective is that we need to get our public health service fully back on
track. For the many not the few. With or without Jack Ma of Alibaba.
*Takura Zhangazha is an optimist. He writes here in his
personal capacity (takura-zhangazha.blogspot.com)
personal capacity (takura-zhangazha.blogspot.com)
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