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Mamphela Ramphele: Nobody's Tool
By Suvendrini Kakuchi
As a black South African woman with solid credentials in political activism, Mamphela Ramphele, is accustomed to questions about her senior position and role in the World Bank, one of the financial institutions under constant bashing for its policies in developing countries. .
“I am not a tool to be used. I accepted the offer because I am person with a strong sense of public duty,” she said in an interview here yesterday as she shrugged off the criticism that is sometimes levelled at her as being “bought” by the World Bank .
Ramphele refutes the criticism of the World Bank as a being a barrier to social development by stifling national governments and ignoring the voices of the poor. “ It is important for individual States to also stand up and take the correct steps,” she argues. “As a black woman I did not sit back and accept the oppression of the white population. I said: ‘Get up and do something’” .
Ramphele,53, Managing Director, Human Development at the World Bank, could easily be the most sought out delegate at the Geneva Social Summit .
She came to the Bank from a dramatic political past: She was a forceful student activist in the anti-apartheid movement, then moving on to become a medical doctor. Before joining the World Bank this May, handled the challenging job as the Vice- Chancellor of the white-led University of Cape Town, she represents a unique position that serves as a new force in the current social development debate.
“ This ( referring to her unique role) is exactly why I joined the World Bank,” she told Terra Viva in the interview. “ As a woman and a representative of Africa, I bring this diversity to the Bank,” she explained. “ I am enable to engage in a way that my colleagues cannot because, for example, I have experienced racism and they haven’t,” she nods. Ramphele explains her decision to enter a new world by stressing that she is following a certain logic in her life. “ Growing up in rural South Africa and as a black woman, I was a non-person, “ she says. “When I entered the Bank I as realising the power of one’s self-confidence .
The decision I took was also for my personal growth,” she says”. Ramphele insists she has no regrets with the change she has made in her life. “ It is not a question of belonging to the left or the right,” she says referring to her popular image as a black activist. “I am talking about a new approach where the complex issues of globalisation are not approached in terms of black and white, or non-governmental organisations versus the government.” An illustration of her new thrust was her view point on the private sector. “ The private sector is being demonised and that’s not quite correct,” she argues. She refers to Merk Pharmaceutical Company that developed a treatment for river blindness helping thousands Africans to rid themselves of the disease. She points out that the medicine was distributed free, an example of how drugs can be used to help people and reduce poverty. Ramphele is cautious when asked about her goals at the World Bank. “ When I was Vice- Chancellor of Cape Town , I set goals and I nearly killed myself,” she explains. “What I want to see a comprehensive development approach which gives me an opportunity for a much sharper focus in the Bank. I want to see that human beings are at the centre of development and with my strong links to networks and friends, we can do it. Non-governmental organisations cannot denounce me because I am one of them.” But on how the World Bank benefits from her, Ramphele is more enthusiastic .
She says her approach will make the institution more effective and more responsive to people. “Take for example the issue of gender equality,” she explains .
“For the Bank it simply means that more women should be involved. But I believe that inequity should be addressed by tackling the unequal relationship between men and women we see at work places and in society, a slightly different outlook.” Rmphele exudes a passion for her new life. “ I am fascinated with my new work .
I love living in Washington, and as it is my first experience away from South Africa it helps me to have a new perspective of my country” she laughs exuberantly.
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Solidarity 2000 starting 17th of June!
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The 1996 Copenhagen Social Summit final report in English, French and Spanish.