Cape Town - US President Barack Obama has lashed out at African leaders who enrich themselves while their citizens live in poverty.
Speaking at a packed Jameson Hall at UCT on Sunday night, Obama paid tribute to the legacy of Nelson Mandela and said countries and institutions that were the “backbone of democracy” on the continent could become the “root of corruption”.
He singled out Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe as the type of leader who had abused power with disastrous consequences for Africa. Democracy was not evident when one person continued to hold onto power.
Obama then vowed that the US would “not invest in strong men, but in strong institutions”.
He damned those Africans who “sold off their nations’ resources, so long as they get a cut”.
“In some countries leaders enrich themselves with impunity,” Obama said. “In others, some get a house by paying a bribe. These things have to change.”
Obama said that such corruption was not only immoral, but it destroyed development in Africa.
Acknowledging UCT’s status as the country’s oldest university, Obama praised it for educating a new generation for more than 100 countries.
And young people such as these, he said, represented “the heartbeat of Africa’s story”.
“There’s an energy here that can’t be denied,” he said to a roar of support.
He called on young people to “change the continent’s future”.
“My bet is on the young people,” he said
“Africa is rising. There is no question that Africa is on the move… but it’s not moving fast enough for the forgotten kids in the townships… and for the women who get raped.”
Obama urged the youth to be the masters of their own destiny.
“You get to decide what kind of future you want. More than 60 percent of Africans are under 35. Young people will determine the fate of the continent and this country. The world does not only see conflict in Africa, it is also seeing the opportunities for investment. Business are sizing up the continent for opportunities.”
Obama stressed that the US was on the side of the continent’s youth and against corrupt leaders.
“We want all the world’s leaders in China, India, Brazil and Turkey to pay attention to what’s happening here,” he said.
“As the US, we want Africa to access greater opportunities.”
On investment, Obama called on US businesses to “up their game” when it came to Africa.
“We will launch more trade missions. We want to unleash the power of entrepreneurship.”
Referring to Mandela, Obama said he was an “extraordinary leader”, who showed had everyone that courage can change the world.
“His legacy is here for all to see.”
Speaking before Obama took to the podium, UCT vice-chancellor Max Price brought greetings from UCT chancellor Graça Machel, who he said “certainly would have been here today were it not for the obvious reason that she is staying close to her husband, Madiba”.
On the M3 outside the campus, a few hundred anti-US protesters held up posters chanting “NObama, NObama!”
Cape Argus