Africa’s woes are hinged on bad leadership
Feb 15, 2010
What went wrong with Africa? Some people blame Africa’s woes on history, some on geography whereas some thinkers contend that Africa was destined to be that way.
Ronald Hanyerere
What went wrong with Africa? Some people blame Africa’s woes on history, some on geography whereas some thinkers contend that Africa was destined to be that way.
I am tempted to agree with the history school of thought. Colonialism, slave trade and neo-colonialism are to blame. But, South Africa, an African country that got independence as recently as 1994 is miles ahead of countries like Uganda that got their independence in 1962.
What about Korea? History tells us that Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910. Japan tried to erode everything Korean, ranging from culture, language and education.
Korean young men were shipped to Japan to offer slave labour in mines and industries, young women were sold off to Japan as sex slaves. Koreans were barred from university education.
Korea’s redemption came when America dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Then war broke out when North Korea invaded South Korea.
With such a traumatising history, no African country would be poorer than either South Korea or north Korea, if history were to blame for our economic polio.
What then is Africa’s problem? Is it a crisis of leadership? Chinua Achebe identified this about his home country Nigeria when he wrote: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.â€
Simply because a leader is torn between criticising a vice which he is himself addicted to, they will act like a toothless dog which only barks at a threat. A typical African leader will do everything possible to remain in power. Power hunger is the reason for rebel activities that are tearing the continent into pieces.
Today, despite the claim that African nations are sovereign, they are still vulnerable. The first world countries use their economic position to thrust their abominable habits on African nations.
Africa is, therefore, caught at a crossroads in a vicious cycle of woes, things like poverty, poor leadership, dependence, neocolonialism and hunger. These woes have led to greater problems like corruption, selfishness and injustice. Africa’s woes, therefore, work in a web of networks.
To get out of the web of problems Africa needs a clear strategy manned by clear headed leaders.
The writer is a student of leadership, UCU
What went wrong with Africa? Some people blame Africa’s woes on history, some on geography whereas some thinkers contend that Africa was destined to be that way.
I am tempted to agree with the history school of thought. Colonialism, slave trade and neo-colonialism are to blame. But, South Africa, an African country that got independence as recently as 1994 is miles ahead of countries like Uganda that got their independence in 1962.
What about Korea? History tells us that Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910. Japan tried to erode everything Korean, ranging from culture, language and education.
Korean young men were shipped to Japan to offer slave labour in mines and industries, young women were sold off to Japan as sex slaves. Koreans were barred from university education.
Korea’s redemption came when America dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Then war broke out when North Korea invaded South Korea.
With such a traumatising history, no African country would be poorer than either South Korea or north Korea, if history were to blame for our economic polio.
What then is Africa’s problem? Is it a crisis of leadership? Chinua Achebe identified this about his home country Nigeria when he wrote: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.â€
Simply because a leader is torn between criticising a vice which he is himself addicted to, they will act like a toothless dog which only barks at a threat. A typical African leader will do everything possible to remain in power. Power hunger is the reason for rebel activities that are tearing the continent into pieces.
Today, despite the claim that African nations are sovereign, they are still vulnerable. The first world countries use their economic position to thrust their abominable habits on African nations.
Africa is, therefore, caught at a crossroads in a vicious cycle of woes, things like poverty, poor leadership, dependence, neocolonialism and hunger. These woes have led to greater problems like corruption, selfishness and injustice. Africa’s woes, therefore, work in a web of networks.
To get out of the web of problems Africa needs a clear strategy manned by clear headed leaders.
The writer is a student of leadership, UCU