Where Lies The Reason For Privation In Nations That Took Independence 60 Years Ago?

Why are those nations that were granted independence some six decades ago indigence-stricken to date? This is right and proper question apropos current global state of affairs, especially, that of our continent. In short, the cause for the said question is but mismanagement. How? This is yet a follow-up question, which requires due answer. In the wake of decolonization, a number of nations defaulted from the outset on fulfilling national action program for improving the quality of life of their peoples, thereby conceding, in the name of privatization, all the national resources to foreignersand their abettors from within. Instead of marshaling all the existing resources towards laying a solid economic foundation, governments at the earliest stage of nation-building aimed for the philosophy of privatization in vogue. Surprisingly, too, the private sector in the economy of many nations is practically parastatal, albeit dichotomized into private and state-run.

It is not uncommon to witness in many countries an amalgam of political power and national resources in which a Minister ownsthe largest animal husbandry and meat and dairy products business, First Lady be in possession of the largest mall and corners the market for qat, a Minister holds the biggest bank and his/her nephew monopolizes the arms dealings, and an administrator cartelizes the poultry industry. National resources aside, these same officials privatize and trade the aid handouts donated by the international community, and thus, arrange international bank accounts.

The socio-economic policies that have entered into effect under such circumstances are oriented to serve the aforementioned vested interests. As parochial interests of these officials are intertwined, any official paves asphalted road towards his/her hometown, a president builds airport in his/her place of birth, as well as an administrator conducts mining activities in his origin with a view to controlling the wealth of a nation by an elite group and marginalizing the people from equitable distribution of national resources. Accordingly, national treasure is cornered by a handful that all the country’s resources is harnessed and structured to satisfy a minority. Since such modus operandi turns out to be fertile ground for speculations in which scores of brokers emerge to negotiate the sale and procurement of goods and services produced by a few, this wheel and deal economy proves to be worthless for the majority.
Whereas ensuring vested interests that marginalize the majority lie the breeding ground for subnational and nepotistic congregations, that very nation is bound to fail. The history of Africa—which is endowed with a considerable total area, minerals and petroleum as well asrivers— amounts to this misfortune. The hunger in Africa, which has led up to the formation of institutionalized corporate greed, remains sustained. In a manner that threatens the very existence of this continent. Aid organizations that mushroomed abreast the stated developments secured their base and market in Africa. Aids and decayed crops that have been handed out to Africa by the so-called relief organizations, whose blessing in disguise underpins the frustrations of indigent peoples, created conducive environment for their benefit.

Thus, in order to reverse the unjustified drought and famine which looms over African countries, improve the quality of the people, as well as to ensure food security, regimes that accord primacy to robust action programs, rid of external meddling, as well as regimesthat count upon people-based policies must come into existence.