"Like most colonies, [Belgium] had imposed on [Zaire] a stifling bureaucracy, the sole function of which was to refer decisions upwards to its colonial masters. Focal officials rarely had the power to do things, only to prevent them being done until bribed. So once the colonial masters are removed, the bureaucracy continues to trash around like a headless chicken with nothing to do other than trip itself up, bump into things and, when it can get the firepower, shoot itself in the foot. You can always tell an ex-colony from the the inordinate numbers of people who are able to find employment stopping anybody who has anything to do from doing it."
DNA in "Last Chance to See".
DNA in "Last Chance to See".
