The Inextricable Nexus between Poverty and Politicians in Africa

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.