Same Problems. Same Promises. Then What? Thoughts on Irrationality of African Leaders

Luntadila Paulo, MBA

The previous generations of Africans often blamed Europeans for the misfortune of Africa. When they rallied during political campaigns, their messages were beautifully drafted to the common past of colonization and all the problems we inherited with it, and promised  a better life under their leadership if we voted them to the office. 

Unfortunately, the socio-economic problems like poverty, mass unemployment, uncontrollable inflation, broken healthcare and broken education systems, among others, continue the same, and in some cases worse. What also hasn’t changed are the promises and strategies to rob our democracy and our future with well-crafted marketing and PR campaigns coupled with electoral fraud. 

Let’s look into the case of my country, Angola. In 2017, we elected our third president in our 45 years of independence. The previous president stayed in office for almost 3 decades. The rise of the current President to power had brought optimism similar to the time of our independence, especially due to his PR campaign presenting him as “savior of the economy” and rebranding Angola as a trusted partner to the international community. 

Angolans’ euphoria quickly transformed into suspicion, and now anger due to the president's inability to bring to fruition his campaign promises, but especially his choices and priorities. Here are a few examples:

1. President authorized the purchase of new Lexus LX 570 that cost Angolans more than $78 million for 220 members of parliament (MPs) (2018)
2. President signed a presidential decree authorizing the construction of a hospital for “those who lead Angola (i.e. governors, ministers, MPs)”, estimated at more than $128 million (2019). 
3. Construction of a new administrative district for government operations alongside Luanda’s shoreline under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement following examples like Brasilia, Dubai, and Toronto (2019).
4. President authorized $12 million for construction of a gym and to provide new office furniture for Angolan MPs (2019).
5. Angolan government paid more than $230,000 to Angolan musicians to produce a song as part of the celebration of the 45 years of independence

In a country where more than 70% of the population live under poverty, more than 30% is unemployed, and the economy has been in recession since 2014, the government’s priorities show a lack of priority to serve and work for the Angolan people. 

Today, we know that Europeans and other international actors played and still play their role in many of the misfortunes of Africa. But more than that, African leadership ought to take responsibility for a further breakdown of the continent and hopefully leave “the business of governing” to those who can actually lead our nations to a better place.

What can individuals like you and I do to help?

1. Educate yourself - read about our history, economy, politics; research, question the status quo, start meaningful conversation with your family, relatives, and friends.
2. Think globally and act locally. Organize in your community. Identify challenges and issues in your neighborhood, and recruit neighbors to find solutions to them. 
3. Vote (don’t stand by). Voting is making history.
4. Denounce abuse, violence, and injustice, especially for minorities. 
5. If you are a national of a European country or of a developed nation, educate yourself about the world beyond your borders and about your country’s foreign policy and actions beyond your territory. Also, call your members of congress, tell them to hold your government accountable for supporting oppressive regimes around the world, and stop predatory foreign policies.