The scramble for African minerals by the global economies Geologists are of the view that nearly three quarters of the minerals in Africa are yet to be discovered. Africa has 40% of the total gold found on the planet

The scramble for African minerals by the global economies
Geologists are of the view that nearly three quarters of the minerals in Africa are yet to be discovered. Africa has 40% of the total gold found on the planet and more than 85% of the planets platinum and chromium. Other resources found in abundance in this continent are cobalt, chrome, iron, vanadium and diamond. Moreover, this continent is home to 60% of the worlds untapped arable land. Researchers argue that, owing to this arable land abundance, Africa is poised to play a pivotal role in feeding the Chinese population going forward. The population of China has grown so huge that its current food demands outstrip supply. To cushion its population against food deficits, China has already invested heavily in the agricultural sector of Mozambique. Here, crops such as soybeans, tea, coffee, tobacco and cotton are cultivated. The policy employed by the West and America of treating Africans as patients as opposed to partners is what is damaging the relationship between the two sides. Up to date, Europe still uses neocolonial approaches in its view of the African continent. This is a view that portrays Africa as a continent whose population is impoverished hence deserving sympathy and mockery. The investments of the United States and EU in Africa are majorly in the area of healthcare. The United States has for instance directed massive resources towards efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge (Sachs and McArthur 2005). More resources have also been invested in campaigns to deal with malaria and tuberculosis. Researchers see this perspective as an ill advised one. They assert that the EU and America have been unable to win the hearts of Africans hence strategy change is imperative. Although helping these countries to deal with the health issues they are incapable of managing is highly laudable, making it the only focus is counterproductive to these Western economies