Why it's wrong
Implies that countries rich in natural resources are destined for mismanagement or underdevelopment. It presents negative outcomes as inevitable rather than shaped by policy choices, governance, and value addition.
What's actually true
Natural resource wealth is not a curse by default. Nigeria's Dangote Refinery is expanding domestic refining capacity. Ghana exports higher-value cocoa products such as cocoa butter and paste. Botswana has long pushed diamond beneficiation. Zimbabwe is investing in lithium processing. The issue is whether countries can capture more value locally.
Don't say · Say instead
Don't say
“The country is suffering from the resource curse.”
Say instead
“The country faces a resource value gap.”
Shorthand: Resource value gap