We’re being asked to make poverty history today. But we need to make corruption history first.
African governments are some of the most corrupt in the world. And until corruption ends, poverty will always exist
The events of today are about calling for the African debt to be dropped. But where did all the money go? The poor, sometimes starving people of Africa have little to show for all that dept.
You need to look at the wealth of the governments, leaders, heads of state, sovereigns and ruling families of Africa.
Like the king of Swaziland, who a few months ago bought BMWs for each of his 10 wives (at a cost of $820,000). And not to be out done, the king bought himself a $500,000 Maybach – possibly the most luxurious car you can buy, with on-board TVs, DVD players and a whopping 21-speaker surround sound system.
Where did all that money come from? It certainly didn’t come from trade – Africa exports just 2% of the world’s trade. Everyday a third of Swaziland’s population rely on UN aid handouts just to survive.
Don’t forget it will almost certainly be our tax money that will be used to relieve the debt. But if we “drop the debt” without tackling the corruption in Africa first, then we’re effectively consenting to our money being given to the ruling classes of corrupt African countries whilst the poor continue to have nothing.