Bongo’s death abroad mirrors the folly of Africa’s big men

Africa is once again in the limelight following the death of its longest serving leader, President Omar Bongo of Gabon.

The death of Bongo at a Spanish hospital, like many other African heads of state, leaves a lot to be desired in regard to leaders’ patriotism and trust in our social institutions.

It is unfortunate that four decades after independence, Africans still exhibit signs of neo-colonialism in healthcare provision.

History shows most African leaders die in foreign countries while seeking ‘quality healthcare’ and for the few who die in their countries, their deaths are sudden. Or is it in agreement with Hegel’s doom philosophy that Africa has nothing good to offer other than ethnic violence?

To achieve Millennium Development Goals by 2015, Africa must invest in quality healthcare that can win the trust of all — rich and poor. The leadership class must assure poor Africans in Kibera or Soweto slums that our hospitals, drugs and doctors can save lives.

We also must change our politics; it should be based on development rather than ethnicity.

Robert Rapando, Nairobi.

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Though it is a taboo to speak ill of the dead, Omar Bongo’s obituary, like that of his contemporaries Bokassa, Mobutu, Idi Amin, and Sani Abacha, would be incomplete if we didn’t mention his/their contribution to the continents’ regression.

These strongmen cum serial looters contributed immensely to the underdevelopment of Africa. They stifled democracy and bred corruption at an unprecedented scale thereby relegating Africa to poverty as they and their families lived a princely life on ill-acquired wealth.

Daudi Mwenda, Nairobi.

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