Editor,

RE: "Six things Donald Trump can and should do for Africa” (The New Times, January 22).

Why is it the responsibility of the President of the United States of America to "make Africa great again”— whatever that means, rather than that of Africans themselves? There is no free lunch, and nobody owes us anything; the sooner we allow that to sink in the better it will be for us. Support from willing partners—if it is in our mutual interest and does not come with unacceptable strings—should be welcomed, but only to supplement domestic effort, which should preponderate in our own development..

Mwene Kalinda