Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates attended an interview session at the University of New South Wales earlier this week. One of the audience members asked Mr Gates about the possibility of negative consequences providing aid to Africa. The question was based on the highly acclaimed book of Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo - Dead Aid, Why Aid is Not Working and How There is Another Way for Africa.

The female audience member mentioned Dambisa Moyo's book as referring to Africa receiving aid for many years but with no clear results such as poverty reduction. The book also contained information that international aid caused Africa's economy to be dependent on it. This created a cycle of giving aid which did not produce effective results.

According to Moyo's book, the money from international aid was not used to address problems in Africa, particularly sustaining local businesses in the country. Mr Gates was asked to give his reaction to the contents of the book.

The billionaire philanthropist claims to have read the book in question and said that the author doesn't know about aid and its purpose in Africa. Mr Gates further said, "Books like that are promoting evil." Mr Gates is the co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dambisa Moyo's book looks at aid in Africa from a different perspective and proceeds to discuss how it affects the development of Africa. Instead of depending on aid, Ms Moyo presents alternative solutions to push the Afican economy forward. Dead Aid became New York Times bestseller.

When Ms Moyo learned about Mr Gates' statements, she used her blog to refute his claims. She lashed out and finds it shocking to find Mr Gates personally attacking her and her book. She said she was disappointed to hear Mr Gates' response to the interview question and appalled at the gross misrepresentation of her literary work.

Ms Moyo then defended herself by saying she has a PhD and has spent years studying economics and the disadvantages of international aid. She also has extensive experience working at the World Bank as a consultant aside from being born and raised in poverty-ridden Zambia.