Business Post Contributor
By Nneka Okumazie
Looking microscopically at factors responsible for Africa’s persistent underdevelopment, dishonesty swirls everywhere.
Fingers pointed at corruption excuse its underpinning accelerator in a multiplex of snubs for passage of graft success.
There are theft cases in many workplaces and different kinds of schemes crossing employment agreements and inducing output cuts.
There are all kinds of corporate fraud, kickback planning, gross nepotism, reckless cronyism, internet fraud, naturalized bribery, positioning for grifting, inspection and panels of deception, etc.
The dishonesty is so pervasive that it is almost rare to have anything go through without deception in parallel.
There are low trust societies, but total deception makes social trust almost like a joke.
Several things many say they do, or offer, or mean are not the case, regardless of the appearance of it.
Underdevelopment, hiring anxiety by some employers, lack of progress in anything are more of a result of dishonesty, than cost or infrastructure.
What could be the root of Africa’s dishonest ideology? What is responsible for this commitment to façade, far invasive than any virus?
It is impossible to discuss Africa’s struggles and not look at the times before colonization.
What foundation was missed, that made people so individualistic without care for others?
What sweetness or reward was found in certain momentary power or benefit that led to desperation to keep – no matter the disadvantage to society?
What community projects of great ambition were not built or pursued, to integrate the philosophy of building a civilization, or to ensure punctuality, self-less, and deep consideration for others?
There’s deception and all forms of its shade everywhere – as part of human nature, but many societies have come together to build things or over time add a general base of truth, hardly falling below those.
Africa is in a severely devastating crisis of dishonesty – which may not be sometimes seen, but so there, so affective, so deterministic, the competition is who can out-dishonest in many situations.
Many are wise in their own eyes, ruining others, misshaping society and tearing down the future. Some, in their play for dishonesty, speak bluntly, to get others carried away, so they can deceive.
There were leaders decades ago in Africa who had a better chance for change but did nothing. There are many now, who think all that matters is now, but the account of the present life can also include what is done to be useful for those ahead.
Africa goes farther and farther away from its starting point.
Aside from the available creativity not being enough for development – the hapless minimum competes with encompassing deceit.
Sin is sin, no matter, whoever.
[1 John 3:7, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.]
