When Secretary of State Marco Rubio moved to shut down the Agency for International Development in January he noted that it had largely become a global charity for non-profit grifters. He announced the U.S. would now promote “trade over aid, opportunity over dependency, and investment over assistance”.

Lo and behold, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has stepped forward to publicly agree with him. He says cuts to U.S. foreign aid were “long overdue” and offered his country the chance to “take care of our own affairs.”

“It forces us to grow our economies and to do the things we should have been doing,” he told the Financial Times, saying the mantra of his new government is “seek ye growth” as a way to pay for needed social programs.

“It’s painful for now,” he admitted. “There is a shock. But longer term, it’s a good thing.”

Hichilema, a businessman who was elected in 2021 with 60% of the vote, has streamlined licensing, cut public employees and paid off foreign debt.

Sounds like Trumponomics!

Other African leaders privately agree with Hichilema that foreign aid is a narcotic that prevents countries from pursuing sound policies. We just wish they had the courage to say so publicly.

Economic development isn’t complicated. You let the free market work and get the government out of the way. Duh!!