Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.92.960509111603.18016A-100000@be201.engr.utk.edu> Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 11:49:07 -0400 From: Kunle Harrison <mailto:kunle@BE201.ENGR.UTK.EDU> Subject: Re: Computers to Africa To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear Friends, I can understand the list member's frustration with "dumping of used computer equipment" on African countries. Unfortunately, however, s/he is well ahead of their time - at least 20-50 years ahead. That is when (hopefully?) Africa will no longer need this "used stuff!"I suspect that most people engaged in true development work in Africa recognize that this "dumping of old technology" theory represents the view of only a few Africans. I take the view that a lot more used equipment needs to be "dumped" in Africa. I would like to see a whole lot of lathes, milling machines, surface grinders, optical comparators, metal presses, spot welders, injection molding machines, heat treating ovens, etc. dumped on the continent. All well used! We'll take them. For it is through these that a significant portion of the "wealth of nations" is born. As many of you know, these pieces of equipment, in the right hands, give birth to *other* equipment, tools, devices, and machines, all to be used in productive enterprise. This is a step in the right direction, never mind the "used" label on the producing equipment.
So, keep the computers coming to Africa, please. We will be sure to advise those of us Africans who are above these dusty, out-dated pieces of equipment to make personal purchases of just-out-of-the-box Pentiums. By the way, even if the donated equipment cannot be hooked up as originally intended, engineering students in Africa can use them for computer programming, amongst other things.
To my fellow Africans concerned about "dumping", the issue is not intelligence; it is about the current economic conditions in most of Africa. Let's continue working on improving our lot and lend our support to those who are making a positive contribution, however measured.
All the Best.
Olakunle Harrison University of Tennessee