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Debt

Cluster of NiZA's Economic Empowerment Programme

“Debts haunt the Third World. In many developing countries, interest and instalment payments cost more money than is available for health care and education.”

David Ransom, ‘Dictatorship of Debt” in: Ode (27) 1999.

Most countries in southern Africa are struggling with debts from the past. The repayment of these debts is being made at the expense of essential expenditure on basic social services such as health care and education.

Apartheid Debt
Southern Africa is burdened with a heavy debt from the apartheid regime. As a result of the introduction of apartheid in South Africa, the entire region suffered tremendously from border wars, oppression and economic disruption. As a result, the effected countries built up heavy burdens of debt.

European Lobby
The Economic Empowerment Programme participates in networks focussed on lobbying the European Union and the various European governments. NiZA is a member of Eurodad and the Jubilee Campaign. The purpose of this lobby is the general cancellation of debts that the Third World countries have to European governments. The Dutch government supports Eurodad, as well as the Jubilee Campaign.

African Lobby
In southern Africa NGOs are actively lobbying their own governments. In this manner, governments are kept up to date on the existing openings for negotiations with western governments about debt cancellation. The NGOs also keep a focus on whether the ‘profits’ of the debt cancellation are indeed used for the good of combating poverty and sustainable development of a country. NiZA works towards this end, among others with Jubilee South Africa, Jubilee Zambia and Mozambiquan Debt Group.

Activities
NiZA conducts an active lobby at European level. Information is exchanged on behalf of the European and African lobby. Additionally, the Economic Empowerment Programme supports its partners in southern Africa in strengthening their own organisations.

More information
You can write your questions on the cluster Debt to economie@niza.nl (manager Gerno Kwaks)

Links

  • Eurodad
  • Jubilee Network

    Themes Economy Programme
    trade relations | debt | NePAD
    corporate social responsibility| Fatal Transactions campaign


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