(May 11, 2012, Addis Ababa)--What is the poison that corrupts many African leaders, no matter how
honorable their intentions when they take office? That was the question
put to a panel of that included heads of state and government at the
World Economic Forum on Africa on Thursday. The question received a
surprisingly candid answer.
It was promoted as a conversation on Africa's leadership. Among those on stage were the leaders of Africa's two most populous nations - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The conversation was routine until the floor was opened to questions from youth leaders. A young South African woman stood up to ask the question that many had pondered, but few dared to pose.
"Good day. My name is Gobano Madnamaraso," she said. "When our leaders are young - most of our African leaders - they are visionaries. They have wonderful visions for our continent. They are admirable. The speak good, they do good. But something happens to them once they are seated in those chairs of power.
My question is: We want to see our continent change, but we are afraid of this power that corrupts even some of the best, most admirable leaders on our continent, and what is this poison that happens in these chairs of power and how can we prevent it? "
But perhaps just as frank as the question was the reply. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi pointed to greedy foreign corporations as a main driver of corruption. Read more from VOA »
It was promoted as a conversation on Africa's leadership. Among those on stage were the leaders of Africa's two most populous nations - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The conversation was routine until the floor was opened to questions from youth leaders. A young South African woman stood up to ask the question that many had pondered, but few dared to pose.
"Good day. My name is Gobano Madnamaraso," she said. "When our leaders are young - most of our African leaders - they are visionaries. They have wonderful visions for our continent. They are admirable. The speak good, they do good. But something happens to them once they are seated in those chairs of power.
My question is: We want to see our continent change, but we are afraid of this power that corrupts even some of the best, most admirable leaders on our continent, and what is this poison that happens in these chairs of power and how can we prevent it? "
But perhaps just as frank as the question was the reply. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi pointed to greedy foreign corporations as a main driver of corruption. Read more from VOA »
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