Why is there so much corruption and poverty in African Countries

Question

I had a chat with a Zimbabwean Friend and drinking partner who explained to me that this sad state of affairs was instigated by the British colonial system and would take years to repair.

When i pointed out to him that, in fact the people of Zimbabwe thrived under British rule and that law and order prevailed along with the fact that the infrastructure put in place by the British all those years ago (rail, roads and public buildings etc) were still the only true infrastructure in his country. He then called me a racist.....this i don't understand, what did i say that was untrue or racist. or indeed was it a case of some people failing to acknowledge the harsh truth and reality

Answer 1

Your friend is right. The only people who flourished in Africa during colonialism were the landowners. The workers were just as poor as they are now.  

Answer 2

becuase they was under our power for so long when they got control they couldnt handle it and lost lots of money and became corrput

Answer 3

I really think that sometimes affluent countries go into underprivileged  place's with the wrong intent & alterior motives to benifit themselves. Sure the UK built roads & buildings & such but what good are these things if the people are not educated on how to use or maintain them.  So they can say "look what we did" but the original folks in these places generally didn't want the help to begin with.  I could never understand why we have to police the rest of the world when there are so many things wrong with ourselves. Maybe your friend felt that you meant that his people didn't appreciate the help or felt slighted that another culture interfered with theirs trying to change them.

Answer 4

There a forces at work that we don't know about...it's complex and very dark

Answer 5

Because they owe the World Bank an absolute fortune for privatising their water supply, which nobody can afford to pay far. Your friend was right.

Answer 6

'Cause they can't stop ******* each other so they make more babies which means more people to feed which means less food which leads to more poverty.

Answer 7

The only way that these countries can move forward is to abandon the backward tribalism and cronyism that forms their way of life. Anyone with a pink nose (Mugabe) who tries to educate them is seen as an outside interferer

Also this is not just a problem in Africa, much of the Muslim world is the same but still feel the need to call us the infidel.  weird eh!

Answer 8

Sadly, Captain, I fully agree with you.

As Rhodesia, where I was born to Brit "colonial" parents some 52 years ago, everything seemed to be flourishing, and there was a high degree of confidence under Brit influence, planning, and effort.

It is now a complete shambles.

I am anti-racist by nature, but am dismayed that many African countries have fallen foul of greed, corruption, and disgusting attitudes to the populace.

But what to do ?

We can't barge back in to sort things out anymore.

Sadness !

I pity the kids.

Answer 9

he has obviously been listening to Mugabe propoganda

Answer 10

You are correct and your friend is 100 percent wrong; they just do not want to admit Africa was much better off under British rule. There are virtually no countries in the world which are black run and operated and have not collapsed completely under the weight of dishonesty and corruption at the top levels.