Five Quick Questions to Humphrey Polepole

Humphrey Polepole visited Denmark in April 2009 and MS ActionAid Denmark’s actionmagazine met him at the entrance stairs to the Danish parliament as the Africa Commission presented its recommendations for the elimination of poverty in Africa.

Who can best help Africa out of poverty - Africa or others?
I do not think it is a question of who is best for what. It is rather a question of whether development in Africa is based on African ownership of development projects. Africa knows the solution to its problems but lack the economic and technical expertise to solve them. What we want are partners and companies that can give us the growth, knowledge and expertise needed to create healthy development. Many companies have other interests that are not always best for Africa.

Do you agree with the Africa Commission's focus on promoting growth in the private sector?
It is clear that the African Commission has taken a major turn towards private-sector programmes. The Commission focuses on small and middle-sized companies which represent the middle class and not the poor. If we want to eradicate poverty, it is important to involve farmers and small traders from the informal sector in private sector support. It will strengthen all social levels of society.

Humphrey Polepole is a grassroots activist. He is 26 years old and director of the Tanzania Youth Coalition (TYC), the largest youth movement in Tanzania.

Why is the focus on human rights important?
A strong civil society who know and demand their rights creates a breeding ground for good governance and reduced corruption. The Commission's report should have focused on the need to give young people more influence in civil society than they have today because young people are aware of, among other things, human rights.

Why should development focus on youth involvement in civil society?
Today information channels are controlled by older men who want to deprive young people of knowledge, because it produces political influence. We, the TYC, have started a massive campaign targeting the youth - for example in democratic elections and HIV/AIDS. According to the Africa Commission, in 2025 every fourth person under 25 years comes from Africa - they are the ones we need to get hold of. Young people make up a huge electorate and are potentially powerful if they have the right knowledge and use it actively.

Unlike most other African youth, you have put yourself into the political game. How have you done it?
I see no obstacles. Rooms are always filled, so we should persistently try to squeeze ourselves into the room until we are inside. Once you are there, they cannot push you out again. It is stubbornness that has made me politically active. I will use my influence to create a gigantic youth movement across Tanzania to raise awareness among young people about their rights.