I was disturbed by Stephen Ward's letter suggesting that the problems of Africa could be solved only through recolonisation (Oxford Mail, June 27).

If I recall correctly, his sources were a number of economic statistics and, of all things, a travel book.

The one thing he got right was that cancellation of loans and aid is not enough to solve the continent's terrible poverty and instability.

But the idea that the African people are unable to govern themselves without the help of the white man is, frankly, nonsense.

In ancient times, and up to the beginning of the colonial period, Africa was a continent of advanced and sophisticated cultures with literature, philosophy, science and medicine.

They were not bongo-banging, leopard skin-clad, club-wielding savages, as Victorian history portrays them.

It had to portray them this way -- how else would we Britons justify, in our own minds, our domination and rape of Africa and her people?

The problem we have today is that the continent is plundered by greedy multinational companies, through their subsidiaries and accomplices, which appoint corrupt and violent business and political leaders to do their will.

We are seeing this now in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe only got into power after his rival Tongo Gara was assassinated, probably by British intelligence.

Mugabe is descended from an ancient Mashona emperor and his great-grandfather was a big name in the slave trade.

Is it a coincidence that tribal wars and military coups always seem to happen in areas where there is enormous mineral wealth?

Darfur stands on the site of a huge oil field. I think that these wars are provoked and manipulated into being to serve a political end which furthermore serves an economic end, the institution of a complicit government, albeit a despotic one.

I suggest Mr Ward looks at a few other reference books before he makes his mind up on the extreme action he believes should be taken.

He might like to read books by people who have lived in Africa. I recomend heartily the works of Credo Mutwa, a Zulu medicine man from South Africa, who has written three fascinating books, Zulu Shaman, Let Not My Country Die and African Folk Tales.

Within their pages, he might see another side to the issue and learn some of the mythology and true history of this glorious continent. Ben Emlyn-Jones, St Clement's, Oxford