African leaders are power hungry despots because of Africa's past history of colonialism? Why not say Britain's current problems with a binge drinking youth culture is the fault of the Roman invasion and colonisation of England? Or Australia's strict immigration laws are a product of having been Englands last resort penal colony? I'm sure Americans can find something they don't like in their governance to blame on Britain's initial colonisation of them too!

The question is, as I see it, when are African leaders going to stop conveniently blaming everyone and anyone for their shocking track record and get on with the job of running their countries properly and not into bankruptcy? Despite what people today think of the rights and wrongs of colonisation, the fact of the matter is that it happened, it is over and that it is time to move on and make a go of things.

African leaders are power hungry because they are greedy me first people who care nothing about the little man scraping a very basic living in his little house with no running water and leaking roof until election time comes round again. Then all the unrealistic promises start again until they are in power and they can line their pockets and Swiss bank accounts with more naive donor's aid money. Alternatively, they bring out the 'heavies' to beat their electorate into submission to guarantee another term in office and the opportunity to line their pockets further.

I can only imagine the world's outcry if Britain decreed that only white people could be natives of England and then only if they could prove that they had no 'immediate' ancestors of a different nationality, i.e. great grandparents, even if they were born in England. Also, non citizens can not own land in Britain and those that already do must immediately sell it back to the government at a price determined by the government regardless of what its worth or what they paid for it in the first place. This is essentially what Robert Mugabe has done in Zimbabwe and so far very few poverty stricken 'little people' have benefited at all. In fact they are in even worse shape than before. Judging by the results and TV coverage of this latest election it seems they would love to see the back of him but that he is determined to stay in power regardless. Where else in the world would we accept the deliberate refusal to release election results because the man in power doesn't like them? And how can we take seriously a legal system that supports this man?

The current situation in Zimbabwe is by no means unique. There have been similar incidences all over Africa and the only sufferers are the general population. As soon as a power crazy African leader refuses to give up his Presidency, even in the face of overwhelming dissatisfaction from his subjects, vicious and cruel military intervention is only a short step away. How can any genuine investors be expected to invest their time and cash in such an unstable environment? It is solid investment that Africa needs, not freebies!

The best thing the western world can do for Africa is to stop feeling guilty, to stop dishing out aid and to make Africa stand on its own two feet and take responsibility for its own actions. As long as there is always someone else to blame and someone else to guilt into forking out cash, these power hungry African politicians will continue to line their own pockets and to make excuses to a desperate population that will believe anything in the constant hope for a better life.

Learn more about this author, Jayne Scott.
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