Ariccia made the remarks during a roundtable discussion held in the capital under the topic "Global Risks to African Development".
He said that the current crop of African leaders has betrayed their own people through looting resources for purposes of self-enrichment at the expense of the development of their countries.
"While the first generation of African leaders was committed to the construction of African socialism, now there is the current generation of African leaders who have started to feed their own pockets and have betrayed the will of the people.
"In some cases, they have introduced a system that is as oppressive as that of the colonisers and they have become enemies of the people,"
said Ariccia.
In reference to Zimbabwe, Ariccia said that it is disheartening g to note that the majority of the populace are wallowing in poverty yet a few political elite who have used their influence to go on a looting spree are riding in expensive cars.
"You have in this city (Harare), people who do not even know what they are going to eat this evening," said Ariccia.
ZIPRA War Veterans Trust Chairperson, Baster Magwizi blamed a regression by the political leaders on the need for economic emancipation of the masses for the poverty currently prevailing in Africa.
"Some of us went to war so that there could be equitable distribution of wealth among the masses. But it appears we regressed on the overall objective and that is why we find ourselves poor," said Magwizi.
Former Attorney General, Sobusa Gula-Ndebele said that Africa's over-reliance on foreign partners has had a negative impact on development in the continent.
"The problem with Africa at the moment is that we are expecting everybody except ourselves to do something for us. We are not taking responsibility for our own development. We have to know that whoever is here is working for their own interests first.
"There is no one who is going to come and liberate Africa economically. We are our own liberators," said Ndebele.
Post published in: News