by Selaelo

Created on: September 10, 2008

Creating a sustainable development in Africa seems like a daunting task given the many challenges that the continent face. Although Africa has abundant natural resources, it remains the world's poorest and most underdeveloped continent, due largely to the effects of poverty, diseases including HIV/AIDS, corrupt governments, widespread human rights violations, illiteracy and many other factors. Sustained development is what the African continent needs if it is to survive and compete with the rest of the world. The following are important issues that Africa need to addressed in order to create and maintain a sustained development for the continent.

a) Eliminating Corruption:

Corruption is rife in Africa and it seems to be on the increase spreading around like a contagious disease. Corruption, which is usually caused by nothing but greed, is one of the leading factors preventing Africa from fully developing and reaching its goals. The environment in which some of the countries operate in is very corrupt and high ranking government officials are usually part of the deal. Sad enough, corruption has somehow become an acceptable phenomenon or a way of life in some parts of Africa. Public funds that should be used to further develop Africa by improving education, healthcare and building infrastructure are used by corrupt government officials for their own personal benefit.

Key to eliminating corruption is holding public figures and government officials accountable for public funds and also ensuring that proper corporate governance together with high ethical behavior are reinforced. To help curb or reduce the level of corruption, there has to be a well respected police system and an impartial judiciary system so that perpetrators of corruption can be identified and brought to justice early rather than later or never. Before Africa addresses any of the issues below, the continent and its leaders need to ensure that an environment in which development can be sustained is created by eliminating corruption.

b) Promoting Democracy

One of the things Africa is known for is dictatorship and autocratic ruling styles that have been in existence for many decades. It is almost impossible to sustain development in an environment that does not practice democracy. Africans have to have a say as to where their respective countries are heading and having the kind of leaders that do not value public opinion is totally unacceptable and prevents true progression of the continent. One of the

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