The chainsaw feels an inadequate metaphor for the brutal violence with which the Trump administration slashes €58 billion annually from aid to poor countries. On top of that, European governments in the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands are cutting more than €10 billion in aid savings. This represents a catastrophic blow to the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS, food assistance programs, and democratic development. The number of human lives lost to these reckless and inhumane decisions is incalculable.
Against this backdrop, it is all the more striking that, while aid workers strive tirelessly to mitigate the damage, African discussion forums are raising a provocative question: does the recent attack also present an opportunity? Is this the moment to achieve genuine independence and put an end to the kleptocratic self-enrichment rampant in many African power centres? Is it the time to establish effective taxation systems that remain absent in so many countries? To curb the neocolonial exploitation by Western, Chinese, and Russian resource extractors? To compel Africa’s own wealthy elites to assume responsibility for the development of their nations?
“Reimagining the system” is the rallying cry in the forums—not aid, but solidarity grounded in equality. This is exemplified by Gen Z-inspired protest movements, such as those in Kenya, which Jaya Khamala explores in her Op-Ed in this edition. It is also reflected in the solidarity with creatives who are challenging the white digital domain to ensure diverse perspectives are represented—a focus central to our Glitching the Future project.
In this edition, we launch a new transnational investigation into the role of local sellouts—figures who profit from business deals and donor contracts. The first two instalments focus on Zimbabwe and Zambia.
ZAM Team
