African poverty, Whose cause? Understanding the proud carelessness of African leaders

Poverty in Africa is real. People who have come in contact with some African communities will surely agree. I personally came across a scene in Benin which made me sick for a year. But Africa is the richest continent in the world, in respect to natural resources.

But what am I saying? Is it that Africa is so poor that these people should go through circles of poverty? No!!! Africa is not a land of poverty! It's a land of abundance. Even in my own hometown up to date, we have houses that throw food away each night. But how come the continent is so plagued with poverty? Whose cause?

It is a big fact that the vicious poverty in Africa is alluded to leadership. If more than 46 African independent states cannot feed Somalia, then all of you reading this piece should understand. Nigeria alone can feed Somalia let alone South Africa.

Africa has always have greedy and selfish political leaders, presidents, capitalists, etc. The rich in Africa only lavish themselves in wealth. So the marginal line keeps widening between the rich and poor. African money do not care for it's people. Everyone wants to make money just for a name without any communal interest in mind.

Sometimes you walk through a community where there is an opening gutter which needs to be constructed. In the same vicinity you can get one rich business man (capitalist) who can fix this without government intervention. But this gutter will be there widening and flooding away lives each year. Proud carelessness that kills society is eaten up deep in the hearts of the privileged. And as Africans continue to have this mind, will there be progress? Absolutely no.

We have heard stories of presidents dieing or leaving office with huge amount of money in foreign banks. Recent is ex-president Laurent Gbagbo of la Cote D'Ivoire having 7billion CHF in a Swiss bank. Obasanjo of Nigeria had more than 24billion dollars in a foreign bank. Zaire former president Mobutu Sese Seko all having huge amount of money in foreign lands. Where did they get these money from? Absolutely exploitation of the country to lavish self.

Because of political ambitions, ruling governments empty national funds for next terms campaigns. Every government in Africa ascends to power to find deficit and huge amount of debt. The present also leaves with zero in coffers or topping up the deficit. While such a monkey tactic is being played, will the jungle continue to be in peace?

African leaders also lack vision. Instead of building a strong societal amenities like roads, hospitals, good drinking waters, residential estates, controlling rural-urban migration, etc. they lavish money in aircrafts, luxurious cars for ministers, spending money on travels, relying on loans, failing in primary measures that make everyone feel at home.

For example Ghana's purchase of the Embraer Aircraft with a contract that will be valued at approximately $200 million, which includes also $105.3 million Brazilian-made Embraer 190 coupled with the construction of an ultra-modern hangar. Meanwhile the Volta lake which serves Ghanaians with fresh fish has been killing hundreds because of stumps in the Volta and poor boats on it. This is absolutely lack of vision.

Instead of promoting local business enterprises to enrich the land, African leaders keep on exporting raw materials only for 10% and 13%. For instance in Ghana where one of the best cocoa's are found, the average person cannot maintain a constant Cocoa drink or chocolate in the home. These are some of the areas African leaders should turn their eyes unto.

There is no reason why Africans should rely on foreign aids. She can make it herself. It's time for bad leaders to be kicked out of government. The people must understand that, partisan or political affiliation is destroying the progress of Africa. We must vote for people with clean conscience and when they fail we must direct them to where they came from.

This is not a mere criticism. Even that, I have tried to be sincere and candid in my criticism. African leaders must build communities and refrain from unnecessary high tech developments that favor the rich and their families; not forgetting the former.

She must live! Africa must live!