Political leaders’ role in a caring post-Covid economy
Wednesday January 27 2021
Coronavirus effects: Workers at Equator Flower Farm in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, pack flowers for export on March 16, 2020. Mr Micah Cheserem, the owner of the farm, said the main market is Europe and the flower business had been greatly affected. PHOTO | FILE | NMG
By SABELO NDLOVU-GATSHENI
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the necessity to rethink the existing economic model informed by capitalist logics of exploitation and profit-making. In many instances, the desire for profit trumps consideration for welfare and the environment.
In many African countries, exploitation of minerals without beneficiation, or value addition, has contributed to mass poverty. This compromises people's health and ability to cope with the outbreak of a pandemic of the magnitude of Covid-19.