Cameron revives Rhodes’ Cape to Cairo dream

Cecil John Rhodes’ dreams of establishing a trade route from Cape to Cairo have been revived by another Englishman – this time British Prime Minister, David Cameron. During a visit to South Africa he committed his government to support an African tripartite free trade area (T-FTA), which could include 27 countries from the Cape to Cairo. The so-called “grand” T-FTA negotiations include members from the East African Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Southern African Development Community. Negotiations are expected to be concluded by 2013. Cameron said the T-FTA had the potential to raise gross domestic product (GDP) on the continent by US$62-billion a year. The UK would support projects to beef up key “trade corridors” and to streamline border crossings. The British government is already supporting the North- South Corridor, with funding of some of the initial scoping work through the Department for International Development (DFID). The DFID is also helping establish a one-stop border post at Chirundu between Zambia and Zimbabwe. T-FTA will open up a market of 533 million people, with a combined GDP of US$833-billion, or a GDP per capita of US$1 500 – equivalent to 58% of Africa’s GDP and 57% of its people. A plane-load of business people accompanying Cameron signalled that the British were ready to fight the Chinese and others for a share of this market. Despite droughts, famine, war and economic collapse in places, Cameron said parts of the continent were “booming” and that South Africa represented the “gateway” to a region that was set to grow strongly.