Africa is one of the most blessed continents in the entire world, with abundant natural resources, wildlife reserves, beautiful landscapes, and a resourceful population. Despite this, Africa still remains the poorest and most underdeveloped continent in the world.
If Africa is so blessed, why is it so slow in catching up with the rest of the world in terms of development? Some of its problems can be traced back to the pre-colonial and colonial era, with the exploitation of many African nations and harassment of its citizens.
However, it is not in Africa’s best interests to continue to hold onto past grievances while refusing to push forward growth. As Africans, we must remove the veil from our eyes, and recognize that the problem Africa is facing is mostly due to bad governance.
Corruption and greed are prevalent in the governance of many African nations. The rulers care more about increasing their own wealth than improving the lives of the citizens. Some nations are faring better than others, but bad government is the underlying cause of the many issues Africa is facing.
Currently, many countries in Africa are facing several issues, including price volatility, high levels of crime and insecurity, joblessness, a lack of infrastructure, etc. All these problems are a result of bad governance. The system is bad so no one can rely on the economy for sustenance.
It is no longer news that Africans often turn to drastic means to lessen the consequences of challenging socioeconomic circumstances. In this article, I will discuss 10 tips for surviving bad governance in Africa:
1. Invest in self-improvement
The population of Africa is growing drastically, but growth in infrastructure and job opportunities is almost nonexistent. This means that there are more people than job opportunities in many African nations.
In times past, higher education guaranteed you a good job, but nowadays most graduates are jobless. The job market in Africa is very competitive, to stand out, you need both connections and in-demand skills.
This means that as an African, you need to possess more skills and excellence than the average person. A bachelor’s degree is never enough. You need great social and interpersonal skills to meet, interact, and form connections with people that might help you advance in your career. You need outstanding skills to stand out in the competitive job market. Despite all these, you might still not be gainfully employed, so you should also learn a vocation so you can be self-employed.
All these mean that you will need to spend a lot of time, effort, and money on self-improvement. This will increase your employability and open up more opportunities for you.
2. Educate yourself on politics
Knowledge is crucial everywhere, especially in a nation with a volatile economy. You will fall behind if you are not in the know of the current political happenings of your country. One government policy has the power to make or break people’s businesses, but being aware of it in advance enables you to take the necessary precautions against any negative effects.
Becoming politically literate doesn’t end in being updated on the latest happenings in the country, you need to take a step further and be actively involved. Voice out your opinions of the current political situation whenever and wherever you can. During elections, vote for the candidate you believe will make positive changes to the country, not the candidate who makes the most promises and bribes the most people.
Knowing your fundamental human rights is a prerequisite to surviving the bad governance in Africa, as you may get trampled upon otherwise. Defend your rights always and ensure that everyone around knows that you are knowledgeable and will not be put down.
3. Plan ahead
Every adult needs to have short-term and long-term plans especially if they live in a country with an unstable economy, which many countries in Africa are facing. Things may be hard but having a vision allows you to stay focused.
Plan a bright future for yourself regardless of the current hardships faced in the country, and work hard towards it. When you work both smart and hard, with an efficient plan towards an achievable goal, you will be successful despite bad governance in the country.
4. Budget your money
You should have a budget for how you spend your money regardless of how much you make. Naturally, recurring costs like food, housing, and clothes as well as other equally vital expenditures like health care and children’s education will be included in your budget. Follow your budget to the letter, unless there is a medical emergency, or some other calamity that requires you to spend more than you have planned.
Don’t spend money on frivolities; only on necessities. Don’t try to live an extravagant lifestyle when you know you cannot afford it. Cut down on spending wherever you can, and try to save every month no matter how small.
5. Invest, don’t save
Every time you get paid, you have to adopt the mindset that you should save money. Don’t use the weak justification that there is nothing to save because your expenses greatly exceed your income. Because rainy days are inevitable, saving money is fundamental.
However, inflation in many African countries means that saving money may not be a very wise move, instead of saving, you should invest. This way, you increase the value of your money instead of it remaining the same or reducing. If you need to buy an appliance, furniture, or any lasting commodity, buy it and don’t save money because the next time you want to buy it, it might increase in price.
You need to strike a balance between buying, saving, and investing. If you need something, buy it as soon as you have the money. Any extra money you have should be invested. The only money you should have in a savings account is an emergency fund.
6. Earn in dollars
The currency of many African countries is extremely weak against the dollar, so if you earn small amounts in dollars, it will be a lot when converted to your local currency. The best way to achieve this is by finding remote work opportunities abroad and working from wherever you are.
Learn a skill that is marketable abroad, and search for lesser-paying jobs. Companies naturally prefer to hire natives, but if you can provide the same value for less money than natives, you will be extremely valuable to them.
7. Have several income streams
One income stream is unlikely to sustain you and your family, and even if you earn enough, there is still the risk of you being out of a job at any time. As such, you will need to have at least two income streams. You can have a business on the side while you hold a full-time job, or dabble in freelancing when you are less busy.
There are several side hustles that you can use to supplement your main income, but as much as possible find a passive income stream that will generate income for you even while you are sleeping.
8. Stay true to your values
The system in many African countries is frustrating, so citizens often take drastic actions to survive. It might be easy to fall into crime when the normal way of doing things is not working for you. Even if it may be tempting, you should always look for legitimate ways of earning money. Or else, you may end up in jail and damage your future and those after you.
Everyone has values that were instilled in them since they were a child and it usually does involve not committing heinous crimes to make money. There are people living well without involving themselves in dirty businesses, and that could also be you.
Whenever you feel tempted, think of your values, your goals, and the plan you have for your life. If what you are planning on doing is not in line with those three things, then you should avoid it.
9. Stay safe and healthy
There is great insecurity in many African countries, so you, your family, and your properties are not safe. As such, you need to actively invest in methods to stay safe. Avoid moving around at night as much as possible, especially long-distance travel.
Invest in security in your household and properties; use quality gates, install CCTV cameras, employ security guards, etc. You never know who might be out to get you, so while you should encourage forming connections with people, you still need to remain wary of their intentions.
Cybercrimes are also on the rise, so you need to be knowledgeable about the tactics scammers use and protect yourself against them.
In a similar vein, the healthcare system in many African nations is not very good, and medical bills cost a lot nowadays. The health industry is experiencing brain drain and inadequate infrastructure, so you can’t trust the system to save your life. Because of this, leading a healthy life is the greatest thing one can do for oneself.
10. Relocate
Despite following all the best tips to survive bad governance in Africa, you may find that the country you are currently in has become too frustrating for you to live in. In this case, you should seriously consider relocating abroad.
The mistake most people make is to relocate without doing adequate research. Most people leap without considering so many things and end up suffering more than they did in their home countries. For instance, you should be aware that although job opportunities are surplus in developed countries, they will always prefer their natives so you may be relegated to the jobs natives are not too fond of doing. Things are also not as great as they may seem, and it may take you several months to get a job.
Before moving, ensure that you do adequate research, have the right mindset and the willingness to do any job to survive, and most importantly, have a place to stay or enough money to support yourself until you get a job.
Conclusion
You can still live well in Africa and be successful even if your country is facing bad governance. You must be smart about your approach, and be resourceful in your technique. The tips highlighted in this article will go a long way in helping you survive the bad economic situation wherever you find yourself on the continent.
