Introduction
The United States has the interest of African growth among its global growth and development agendas. The US government does all it can to ensure Africa remains a dynamic continent. It is true that the United States cares about Africa. In particular, the government has concern over the growth and development of Zambia. Although, it is not the only country in Africa requiring growth the government finds it good to offer outstanding support to Zambia. The government has allowed its Non-government organizations to work in the African land to eliminate poverty and give hope to the generations of the continent. Proper health and livelihood are major concerns for the US government.
Although, the United States has limited economic and political connection at the moment, there are projections that the ties will continue to advance. The government is pushing for ways through which it will assist various African economies to grow. According to the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, the wealth in Africa should not be ignored.
The previous administration of Bill Clinton matches the current governance over the status of Africa. The two administrations have an exclusive interest over Africa. Clinton ensured that his government was in full support for the activities that took place in Africa. For example, he was involved in various peace and security missions in Africa. On the other hand, president Obama has fostered his relationship with Africa by pushing for the existence of peace in the region. He believes the African society can achieve political and economic ability. He is working with the continent to ensure development (Defense.gov 01). However, Bush administration did not have so much to show concerning the development of Africa.
The US government has come up with AFRICOM, which is an organization that aims at improving the social status of the Africans. Through the American command for foreign policy, the organization controls various projects by the US government. For example, the organization monitors the role of the US government in Africa (Defense.gov 01).
The government has developed the USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) whose role is to provide economic, development, as well as humanitarian help across the globe. Through the USAID organization, the United States pumps approximately $50 billion in aid for other nations every year (Richardson 01).
Background
The U.S foreign policy is a unique strategy for the government to influence the world. The policy was adopted when the United States realized that it had the power over the rest of the world. As the super economy around the world, it had to show its prowess in management of political and economic affairs (Defense.gov 01). As a result, the country developed interest in Africa as well as other nations in a bid to bring revolution to the world.
Other nations were wrangling in poverty, diseases and poor governance, and the United States had to intervene. For example, in Africa there were extremely poor forms of leadership or governance. There was no proper definition for democracy and people never thought it existed. The United States intervened to give hope to the nation and restore proper livelihood for the Africans (Defense.gov 01).
Through the interventions, the United States aimed at enhancing its ties to the nations so that it may have direct benefits from the nations. The foreign policy agenda was developed in a unique way that no African country could have ignored. In return for the assistance, the United States enjoyed the benefits of the resources in Africa. The U.S aimed at strengthening its reputation among the African countries (Richardson 01).
The United States would fetch massive benefits from an exclusively safe and stable world. Being the leading economy around the world, it requires stability and peace to sustain its status. It shows that the government is unwilling to lose a war against peace and stability around the globe. The United States wants to achieve global stability by assuring the world of its wellbeing. However, in return the United States seeks control for global resources in the untapped areas like Africa (Defense.gov 01). It is easy for the country to enjoy trade with other countries in a safe, healthy, and stable global economy.
Humanitarianism could be the better definition of the American foreign policy. It refers to the ethic of kindness, benevolence, as well as sympathy that all people around the world should enjoy unselfishly. The United States employs the strategy to win the world to its operations (Defense.gov 01).
The world is the definition of two social classes. There are the haves and the have-nots. The haves in the world are fighting for control of the have-nots. The haves use their abundant resources to control the wellbeing of the have-nots. The United States, which is a well-grown economy, experiences pressure from other developed nations like China and Russia in a bid to control the developing regions such as Africa (Richardson 01).
The economy of the country stands at nominal GDP of $20.517 and per capita income of approximately $1,473. The country is ranked as the 127th safest investment country around the world.
Zambia enjoys tropical climate that is modified by elevation. Most f the country can be said to be tropical set and dry with some steppe climate along the Zambezi valley. The country has two rainy seasons (November to April), which corresponds to summer June to November, which corresponds to winter (Zambia - Life Expectancy at Birth 2014 01).
The average life expectancy for Zambia is 57.04 years. Women have higher life-expectancy than men at 58.70 years compared to 55.43 years (Zambia - Life Expectancy at Birth 2014 01).
The health expenditure in Zambia is approximately 6.1% of the GDP of the country. The expenditure is channeled to medical research and education (Central Intelligence Agency 01).
The country experiences a generalized HIV epidemic, with an approximated prevalence rate of 13.5% for adults between 15 and 49 years. Since 2001, the HIV incidence has reduced by more than 25% (Central Intelligence Agency 01).
Poverty in the country is extremely serious and has spread widely. In rural Zambia, poverty prevalence stands at approximately 76%. In the urban areas, poverty is less prevalent. Dependent and headed families are the ones exposed to massive poverty (Central Intelligence Agency 01).
Zambia supports both public and private school systems. There is basic education form year 1 to year 9 and secondary education from year 10 to 12. However, the country supports higher education as it has three universities and a number of technical schools. The education is controlled by the ministry of Science Technology and Vocational Training.
Zambia enjoys wide history. The Khoisan was the inhabitants of the modern Zambia up to around AD 300. In the 12th century, the Bantu-speaking immigrants came to the country during the Bantu expansion. The country had extensive migrations which define the current settlements in the country. The country was colonized by the Portuguese, who also assisted in the discovery of various natural resources such as Victoria Falls. The currently was divided into North-Eastern Rhodesia and North-Western Rhodesia. Northern Rhodesia is the current Zambia, which obtained its independence on 24 October 1964. The first president of the country was Kenneth Kaunda (Central Intelligence Agency 01).
The poverty in Zambia attracts exclusive malnutrition rate in the country. Mother and child health is not a major concern in the country. Approximately 45% of children under the age of 5 in Zambia were malnourished and stunted.
The stability of the country is following lack of proper sanitation in the country. Poor sanitation is a major cause for diseases in the society, and it needs exclusive control and concern. Also, the country experiences high rates of insecurity amongst neighbors.
The outlook justification
The status of Zambia for sure needs intervention by a force such as the United States. There are numerous issues in the society that only humanitarianism can handle. Humanitarianism will have a direct impact on the wellbeing of the Zambians who have been in extensive pain of poverty, ill-health and poor livelihood.
Following the sensitivity of the problems, an integrated system should be developed to ensure the proper solution is obtained. The US policy through the AFRICOM has been influential in dealing with the massive challenges that the society is facing.
The ambassador of the U.S to Zambia has the role of discovering the problems in Zambia and addressing them to the US government to attract finances. However, the government has to increase its responsibility in Zambia and other countries. There are numerous inhuman challenges that the societies are facing, and there is a need to focus on resolving them.
The commitment is out of the humanitarianism policy that comes with the desire to assist without immediate gains. Therefore, the commitment would remain to ensure proper livelihood for the citizens of Zambia and Africa at large.
There is an absolute need to remain hopeful that the assistance for Africa will continue, and the American society will be willing to support various activities in Africa. There is hope in continuous support for growth in the African economies.
Works Cited
Central Intelligence Agency Top of Form
"The World FactBook." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/za.html>.
Defense.gov Top of Form
"United States Department of Defense."Defense.gov Speech:. Defense.gov. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <http://www.defense.gov/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=943>.
Richardson, Clare. "U.S. Foreign Aid By Country." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 30 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/us-foreign-aid-by-country_n_1837824.html>.
"Zambia - Life Expectancy at Birth 2014."Countryeconomy.com. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <http://countryeconomy.com/demography/life-expectancy/zambia>.
