Africa’s problems have either been magnified in the minds of the West or perhaps Africans have come to accept that they are meant to be down on the stairs of poverty.

Hollywood film makers enjoy painting a monastery type of Africa with uncivilised people who are always fighting for power, food, and diamonds. Analysing films like blood diamonds, the rise and fall of Idi- Amin, Hotel Rwanda have much to tell on what resides in the minds of Hollywood filmmakers. In trying to cancel this picture Nollywood (Nigeria) film makers have gone to the edge of the scale indicating what the majority of Africans are not; a borrowed African American accent and exaggerated mansions. These two sets of people do not really show the picture of what Africa is and the right dosage to cure a lot of its problems.

The question that begs to be answered is- is poverty in Africa real? Do the global media overplay this fact? According to the living conditions monitoring survey (LCMS) IV, of 2004, as much as 68 percent of the Zambian population fell below the national poverty line, earning less than K111747 ( $25). Strangely this is in spite of the implementation of the PRSP and the positive growth trends during the  last few years. Zambia has over 50 percent of people living in what would be termed grinding poverty.

It is interesting to not that Africa, Asia and South America still have high stench of poverty that can be heard by the various governments and its peoples’ nostrils in the West. Scarcity of resources are not tied to poverty, hence, poverty can disappear if the proverbial national cake can be shared equally. Sometimes it is very difficult to find who to blame on Africa’s well headlined poverty, is it: its leaders, the general citizens or perhaps the West? African leaders such as Muammar Ghadaffi  is in the front row of those who want the West to pay African governments for the slave deals, setting such a precedence of compensation and commissions has a far-reaching adverse effects for the future generation. Without sounding more negative, it is in the minds of Africa’s most educated class to work overseas and it is true that most of them are in the Diaspora. Does it click in one’s mind that this is another form of self driven slavery which after 100 years will make African leaders then to fight for compensation from the West for having taken all the good brains away from them.

Africa leaders are born from the typical African womb like anybody else in Africa; they are nurtured and groomed in the same society like everyone else. They have never been distinct in birth, yes! Jesus was different; His birth still remains a myth in the science world but not our African leaders. The African society that nurtures these leaders, who eventually become more powerful than the people they are meant to serve, should be blamed. It will be very unfair if this article does not illuminate the fact that not all African leaders are covered in the chapters of bad governance. Africa still shines because of leaders like Nkwame Khrumah, Nelson Mandela, Seretse Khama( father to the current president of Bostwana), Kenneth Kaunda, Jomo kenyatta, and in my opinion Wade of Senegal.

Africa is one of the few continents that receive sympathy from the West and this is evident through the presence of organisations such as Oxfam, CRS (Catholic Relief Services), World vision etc. It must be accepted that all these organisations are in the art of giving fish to the Africans and not manufacturing fishing rods and training Africans in how to catch fish and it has been a long desire that needs to be fulfilled now.

Africa’s answer lies in the prudent leadership, reducing illiteracy levels and inspiring an African child that they are just as good as the child in Europe and USA. An inferiority complex in the mind of an African child needs to be removed through making education as a top priority on Africa’s agenda. 

Global issues (www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats) reports that; Infectious diseases continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world. An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, with 3 million deaths in 2004. Every year there are 350–500 million cases of malaria, with 1 million fatalities: Africa accounts for 90 percent of malarial deaths and African children account for over 80 percent of malaria victims worldwide.

Organisations such as Oxfam are doing their there best in alleviating poverty around the world, all stakeholders are encouraged to work together to end poverty and suffering. Oxfam’s vision: “We believe we can end poverty and injustice, as part of a global movement for change”. This ideal vision can be attained if Oxfam and respective stakeholders and in this regard African governments work together. The developed countries have also contributed to the poverty levels that Africa is currently dancing to. The climate dents that the wealthy countries have caused to the environment have direct link to the droughts Africa is experiencing hence pushing Africa to the waste bins to look for food. Developed nations have failed to follow the Kyoto protocol. As Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director of Oxfam International observed: “Africa has pulled the emergency cord to avoid a train crash at the end of the week.  Poor countries want to see an outcome which guarantees sharp emissions reductions yet rich countries are trying to delay discussions on the only mechanism we have to deliver this – the Kyoto Protocol”

African governments should restrain themselves from buying luxury cars and living what Americans call “big life”. A perfect example of irresponsible priorities is the Malawi government which houses 4.6 million illiterate adults and more than 700 youth out of school. For example Nyasatimes reports that the government gave Zimbabwe a tune of US $100 million and spent US $15.9 million for a presidential jet and spent another £3 million on a fleet of 22 Mercedes Benz cars from Britain for the cabinet.

Surly the question I will leave the readers to ponder on is: can poverty end in this resource rich continent with such carelessness from the power that be? To some extent the problems Africa is facing do not need the statistician to numerate the levels of poverty, just the faces of distress, the watery eyes and the sense of hopelessness are visible to send a clear message to a honest mind.

Bibliography:

http://www.nyasatimes.com/national/reasons-for-malawis-forex-crunch-–-bingu-to-blame.html/comment-page-7

Oxfam.org

Globalissues.org