Bribing Africa's Leaders to Stop Corruption

Sudanese-born telecom tycoon, Mo Ibrahim (founder of Celtel) is offering $5 million and a $200,000 annual stipend for life in hopes of enticing African leaders away from their national coffers. Mr Ibrahim said the prize, which has the backing of international heavyweights such as Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Mary Robinson, is necessary to encourage African leaders to consider a fourth alternative to those they currently face when nearing the end of their term, namely “relative poverty, term extension, or corruption”.

Of course he would never call it what it really is: a bribe. While heads of government on other continents are expected to deliver peace and prosperity with only their people's gratitude and a pension as compensation, in Africa's case this is considered a tall order. This prize reaffirms the view that African leaders (and by implication, the African societies that produce them) are irredeemably corrupt. It is a view widely held not just outside, but within the continent. Why else would we accept the argument that the Kenyan policemen are corrupt because their wages are so low? Why else would we pay our MPs a small fortune each month hoping that they then wouldn't need to steal from us? What is the difference between that and "protection money" paid to the Mafia?

Such thinking completely misses the point. Giving the police and our politicians more money will not stop corruption. If it could, then Kenya would be a graft-free paradise. Poverty is not a sufficient or even necessary condition for corruption. A lack of integrity is both necessary and sufficient. Integrity cannot be bought. You either cultivate it or you don't. For as long as we don't put a premium on integrity, wage increases and prizes such as Mo Ibrahim's will only serve to whet the appetites of those seeking to devour us.

Pigeonholed

From the BBC:

Families and tourists in a London park were left shocked when a pelican picked up and swallowed a pigeon.

The unusual wildlife spectacle in St James's Park was caught on camera by photographer Cathal McNaughton.

Punster's Paradise in the fall of '06

Did pride come before the fall? Or a ride that came after? Was it road-rage? Was money poured? Was that the root of all upheaval ($150,000 in one fell swoop)? To make an omelette, did he really need to crack his head? Is he a head banger? Should he sue or just let it slide? Would he be banging his head against a brick wall? Would it (could it) be beneath him? Or did the race organiser's already slip him some cash under the tape? Isn't that a slippery slope? Ama he's the fall guy? A layman? I'm not falling for that!

Speaking of which, did he fall for someone or just decided to slip into something less comfortable? Was that the exquisite pain of falling in love or did he just fall out of favour? Could that be it -a falling out? He did fall in though. Perhaps he just didn't want to get caught on tape. Needs to lie low for a while. Or he thought it was punch tape. That might have been a stumbling block for he really did stoop to conquer.

Kenyans, let us not forget our fallen hero. Upon a falling star, let us all wish him well. Encourage him to hold his head high and avoid the low road. And constantly remind him: To fall does not make one a fallure (No point in butting heads. I'll take the fall for that one). It's just the luck of the toss: heads he wins, tails we lose.

For those who missed it, here's a heads up.