Vice President Kamala Harris has concluded her week-long visit to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia. The trip marked her first foreign trip as vice president and was aimed at highlighting Africa’s economic potential. Harris used the visit to push for increased investment in the continent and strengthen trade ties.
Harris Strengthens Ties with African Leaders, Emphasizes Education and Inclusion
Vice President Harris met with various African leaders during her trip, including Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan. She emphasized the need for tangible solutions, education without lecturing, and inclusion. Harris drew on her own lived experience in Zambia, which shaped her political career and contributed to her effective messaging.
During a speech at the International Conference Center in Accra, Ghana, Harris spoke of the importance of empowering women and called out gender disparities as the unfinished work of democracy. She also highlighted the need for investment in infrastructure, including roads and bridges, and energy.
Harris’ Visit Represents a Shift from Aid to Trade
Harris’ visit to Africa is part of a larger shift in how the US is engaging with the continent. Rather than just providing aid, the focus is now on increasing trade ties. During a roundtable discussion with business leaders in Lusaka, Zambia, Harris said that “Africa is open for business” and encouraged US companies to invest in the continent.
Historic Visit for Harris and The 19th
Harris’ trip to Africa was also historic for The 19th – an organization dedicated to covering gender inequality in politics – as it marked the first time a black woman had been elected vice president of the United States.
Throughout her trip, Harris spoke of her personal connection to Zambia, where her grandfather once worked as a freedom fighter with the country’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda. She also shared childhood memories of the country and visited a community health center where she participated in traditional dance and music.
Reaction to Trump Indictment
During her trip, Harris avoided commenting on the indictment of former President Donald Trump by a Manhattan grand jury after a years-long investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. However, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema addressed the question and shared his views on the rule of law.
Hichilema Stresses Importance of Adhering to Constitution and Laws
President Hichilema emphasized the importance of adhering to the constitution and laws that create a framework for governing themselves. He pointed out that when there is a transgression against the law, it does not matter who is involved. Hichilema drew a parallel between Trump’s indictment and partisan tensions to corruption in his own nation, where they fight against corruption that takes away resources from children and the sick.
Trump was indicted as part of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s years-long investigation for hush money payments, including $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and $150,000 to Karen McDougal. The payments had been investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York and by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York opted out of charging Trump related to the Daniels payment in 2019, even as his former attorney Michael Cohen implicated him.
Harris’ visit to Africa highlighted her strengths as a leader and her commitment to empowering women and increasing trade ties with Africa. The historic nature of her trip was not lost on those throughout the continent who expressed hope about what her visit represented. However, it remains to be seen how effective Harris’ push for increased investment will be and whether US companies will take up the call to do business in Africa.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
