4. NEWS SUMMARY

The pitfalls of Africa's aid addiction.

Most African countries have now been independent for over 40 years. Most are blessed with all the elements to help compete on a global stage (abundant natural resources, a young population and the climate and conditions to be a major agricultural force). The symptoms of corruption are:

- Teachers demand bribes from their students because they cannot get by on their wages.
- Government officials, doctors and nurses steal drugs meant for their patients to sell on the black market.
- African leaders have property portfolios across the globe, while their citizens live on $1 a day or less.

Until these gifted and enterprising people can be attracted to return, most of the world's peacekeeping efforts, on the continent, and certainly most of its aid, will have little effect.

http://http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/7742426.stm