via African liberators are bad administrators-Expert | The Zimbabwean by Farai Mabeza 04.10.13
Africa needs to ditch its attachment to socialistic ideology and embrace a free market approach if it is to achieve meaningful economic advancement, says a renowned African economic researcher, adding that rulers who brought independence are bad rulers.
Adedayo Thomas from African Liberty, an Atlas Economic Research Foundation and IMANI’s African-focused program, told a roundtable discussion in Harare that the concept of a free market was not foreign to Africa.
“A free market economy is not a foreign philosophy. We are supposed to go back to the pre-colonial era and define the systems that we had at that time. Africa was founded on free market societies. People moved from Nigeria to Benin and Togo trading freely amongst each other before colonialism,” he said.
Thomas said free trade was complemented by sound systems of traditional government. He said post-colonial Africa society had suffered from a failure by leaders to transition from independence fighters into administrators.
“We must be able to distinguish between independence fighters and administrators. Most of our leaders who fought for independence are bad administrators,” he said.
Thomas said African leaders should have followed the example set by former South African President Nelson Mandela.
“Mandela knew it so he only gave himself five years and left,” he said. “Independence fighters became the rulers and we became servants. We were taught that capitalism was colonialism. Let us not continue to accept colonialism as an excuse for our failures because we are no longer colonised,” he said.
He said it did not make sense that African countries imposed visa restrictions on other African countries. “It takes one hour to fly from Nigeria to Ghana but it takes two days by road because of the numerous border check points,” he said.
Thomas said that the privatisation drive in Africa had faltered due to lack of transparency
COMMENTS
Colonializism by other names is still colonializism. Socialism enslaves all but the elite few who care only that their own bellies are full. For their lust for power, and greed for the small remaining loot, ZANUPF is herding Zim toward having Chineze masters.
We politically independent but economically dependent that neo colonialism mandela they call him a hero but most of his people is suffering look white they are benefiting that’s why they like him three quarters of black south Africans they are living in squatters
Why do you want to see and talk of the poverty in South Africa yet in zimbabwe we are equally the same. What are you trying to say. You want to mention Mandela but how long did he rule South Africa.It beggars belief.
ps you denounce south african economy but you cant see that we have nearly a million zimbabweans working in that country. you dont know what you are talking
mafurakureva, 3 million Zimbabweans are economic refugees in South Africa while you are busy condemning Mandela. You need to use your brain….just a little bit and the obvious facts will reveal themselves.
Do not fool people to believe that South Africa is free. That is far from it. The white minority give Mandela all the praise becoz they are in control of the wealth. Look at the miners, look at the rural setting. The situation in towns where blacks are prohibited to enter certain places. These are a few examples. Do not be fooled by whites who pretend giving showers of praise. How long did USA take to remove Mandela from the Terrorist list? Food for thought.
You should look to the BEE billionaires that abound in South Africa. Don’t be racist and blame just white people for the economic sins of South Africa. Sounding like Malema is no help, he cried over the poverty of the povo while stealing their money.
Thomas your reseach is totally invalid. South Africa is not even a good example to use in your research! 99 percent of black south african live in squatter camps or poor RDP house. Whites dominate in good luxurious houses with luxurious cars.
This is what you call development and democray! There is racism between amongst the black, colourds and white people. Malema has excellent ideas and l bet you that he is the next South african president.
Its funny some ppl are rubbishing SA yet its housing millions of Zimbos. Its because of SA that we are surviving cos most of needs are coming from there. Surely can 1 honestly compare Zm and SA, their economy is fully functional. Its a 1st world country in Africa. Its road network is second to none. Criticizing its leaders is not a treason like here