The Inextricable Nexus Between Poverty and Politicians in Africa

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue IX, September 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Inextricable Nexus Between Poverty and Politicians in Africa

Dr. Ambrues Monboe Nebo Sr.
(Doctor of Sociology D.Sc), Department of Political Science, University of Liberia

Abstract: Researchers have documented multiple causes that explain the reasons for the persistence of extreme poverty in Africa, despite existence of comprehensive policy frameworks (Poverty Reduction Strategy). These causes are: corruption and poor governance, limited employment opportunities, poor infrastructure, poor resource usage, wars and unending conflicts, poor World Bank and IMF policies, among others. While sustaining these genuine causes, this paper probably the first of its kind look at different reason that explains the persistence of extreme poverty in Africa. It looks at the inextricable nexus between poverty and politicians as another reason for extreme poverty, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This article argues that the existence of extreme poverty is strategic to the political agenda and promotion of politicians. In other words, this paper makes the case that extreme poverty protects and enhances the selfish interests of politicians. And because poverty serves the personal interest of politicians, the urge and inclination to substantially reduce poverty have remained a mere lip political rhetoric in Africa. Precisely, the paper advances the argument that vote buying is the interest that explains the nexus between the former and the latter in Africa.
To solve this old aged problem, this article recommend that civil society must rollout their sleeves to robustly engage electorates through the concept of sustain civic education for holding politicians accountable for their failures or pretense of reducing extreme poverty substantially.

Key Words: Poverty, Politician, Poverty Reduction Strategy, Vote buying,

I. INTRODUCTION

Over the past two decades, Politicians in Africa as fulfillment of campaign manifestos or promises have introduced a good number of comprehensive policy frameworks intended to tackle or reduce the prevalence of extreme poverty. This ambitious framework is called poverty reduction strategies. For example, in 1997, Uganda’s government launched its Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) with subsequent revisions in 2000 and 2005 (Canagarajah, A van Diesen, 2006)
In 2009, Liberia’s government launched its poverty reduction strategy (VOA, 2009). The Kenyan government committed itself to poverty alleviation by 2015 through the adoption of the National Poverty Eradication Plan (Nyamboga, Nyamweya, Sisia, & George, 2014). In 2002, Malawi officially introduced its poverty strategy paper. Similarly, Nigeria inaugurated couple of strategies namely: Poverty Alleviation Programme Development Committee in 1994, National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy between 1997-2007, President Yar’adua between 2007-2010

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