Cash Donations to the Poor In Africa. A Prescription for Perpetual Poverty

Early this year, when the president signed the anti-homosexuality bill, many donors withdrew their financial support from the country. This country has a problem of begging and most people expect that somebody else will give them the money. In the rural areas, those with jobs or businesses and politicians are expected to pay fees for the endless number of children people have. The youth everywhere expect money from government. The various schemes, entandikwa (startup finance), NAADS,  Bona bagagawale have resolved to giving out money to inputs to farmers and other people. They know this is a gift from government. Members of parliament are expected to pay fees for the electorate, provide transport to bury the dead in their constituencies among other things. Even the parliamentarians themselves, recently appealed to the President to give them some money because they say they did not have. And yet they are reportedly some of the best paid civil servants in the country. This begging syndrome means nobody is willing to do anything in this country because they expect free things from other people. I have read somewhere President Museveni advising Ugandans to work to be able to live well. One of Uganda’s successful but literally unknown business men Francis Xavier Kitaka said that from Childhood money was earned not just given. See New Vision of May 30, 2014. Uunfortunatly, there is a theory coming up from the donor community that Africans do not need to work, they just need to be given money. According to UNICEF see the East African of June 6, 2014. Africans are becoming happier and the reason behind this happiness is what is called the social protection floors where a growing number of candidates are supporting cash transfers to the poorest and most marginalized with no strings attached.  It is being advocated that instead of letting these poor Africans work, they will be given money and they will work. Coming from UNICEF, this policy may be taken through to the United Nations and may come up as a policy of Multilateral institutions including the World Bank. Poverty is lack of income and lack of income is lack of an economic activity. Africa is in such a situation that the little economic activity it has is of twofold; that which is agricultural for food consumption and the agricultural of mining which leads to export of raw materials. Africa is therefore unable to sell anything meaningfully on the World Market to be able to buy high quality products that determine the quality of life. The article in the East Africa says that this phenomenon of happiness arising from these cash gifts has caught attention of African leaders. Do not be surprised if they agree to confirm the policy that will come of donating cash to Africans. Poverty and Africa seem to be synonymous.