PDA Syndrome

This is none other than Put Down the African Syndrome.  It is a self inflicted syndrome that affects the Africans here.

I was talking with my hosts in Malawi and the girlfriend of one said that the Africans treat white people like gods (to which I replied, "well...yeah").  Her point being that there is a lack of confidence in their own abilities.  There is a huge problem holding onto money as many spend it as soon as they get it.  They go spend it on beer or cigarettes or other things like that.  There are a disproportionate number of Indian, Asian, and white run businesses in Malawi.  Most businesses have the owner on site of all times so that they can watch the Malawians who work here.

In South African, there is a huge fear of Xenophobia where the blacks are worried about Malawians, Zimbabweans, Zambians, etc. taking their jobs.  They will even speak to blacks in Zulu and arrest those who doesn't understand.  There is a huge fear right now that other African countries will use the World Cup as easy entry into the country and won't leave.

These are serious issues that  must be overcome for these countries to develop.  Training and education must take place for local run businesses and skilled labor to take off.  These are the type of things needed for serious economic development.  So how to do it?  I wish I knew.