By Magnus Mazimpaka & Patrick Bigabo
THE NEW TIMES

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is expected in the country today, Wednesday, as part of his week-long first overseas mission around Africa.

Wolfowitz, who arrives in Rwanda from Nigeria, will also visit Burkina Faso and South Africa in a clear attempt to signal that Africa is top on the bank’s priorities. He aims at reducing the plague of poverty in Africa adding that poverty reduction in Africa is his main goal.

“Leaving people behind in this world is the formula for failure for us all,” the World Bank President said, while announcing his plans to visit Africa this month. “A clear message from modern history is that this is a small world, and that both the benefits of progress and the pain of despair can be felt globally.

His visit to Rwanda comes in the backdrop of a historic agreement by the G8 group of nations on Saturday to terminate $55 billion in foreign debt owed by 18 of the world’s poorest countries, including Burkina Faso and Rwanda.

Last week, Wolfowitz said the international community was facing an “extraordinary moment in history” in terms of its support for Africa.

“I have watched East Asia - my home for several years - and parts of Eastern Europe - make strides that many of us never thought we would see, but Africa has continued to struggle. Believing that Africa’s plight has no effect on the rest of the world is not only naïve, but it’s morally wrong,” Wolfowitz said.

During an earlier interview with the press, Wolfowitz described his first trip to Africa and what it could mean to the African people.

“While the Bank is a global institution and there are many priorities for the bank, first the priority has to be Africa. Africa needs the bank in a unique way and I think the bank has a unique role to play in Africa. I think this may be the extraordinary moment in history, where Africa can become a continent of hope and the bank can play a role. In terms of substantive priorities, (Africa) is number one. I would also say I have a lot to learn about Africa.”

One of the best ways to learn is to get on the ground and actually see the place and talk to, real people. I don’t mean government bureaucrats aren’t real people, but you can learn a range of things that are otherwise inaccessible. I look forward actually to many trips to Africa. There is no way you can cover the diversity of that huge continent in a single trip or even two trips, but I am eager to get started,” he explained.

During his seven-day visit Wolfowitz will meet political and community leaders in each of the four countries and view World Bank funded projects supporting infrastructure and medical facilities.

Wolfowitz’s appointment as president of the world’s leading development agency in April provoked a storm of controversy questioning his credentials for the job. Critics pointed to his role as chief architect of the Iraq war when he was deputy US Defense Secretary.

His African tour will hit at critics who maintain that he lacks specific development agenda and experience. Wolfowitz has since sought to reassure skeptics that, under his leadership, the World Bank’s primary focus would continue to be on poverty reduction, particularly in Africa.

However, charities and development bodies said Wolfowitz needed to back up his words with action.

Oxfam, a charity organization, called on him to secure increased investment in education and healthcare, particularly treatment for HIV-Aids.

“This visit to Africa signals willingness from Wolfowitz to listen to poor men and women in Africa, but it must translate into real change in the World Bank policy,” said a spokesperson for the charity.

“The Bank must stop enforcing blanket trade liberalization policies on poor countries that leave them unable to compete with rich producers,” he added.

Wolfowitz will next month attend a G8 Summit in Gleneagles which aims at tackling poverty in Africa through a combination of debt relief, increased aid and trade initiatives which will be the top issues on the summit’s agenda