Mugabe is in his 30th year as leader of Zimbabwe. Omar Bongo died in 2009 after forty one years in power in Gabon. Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is still holding on after grabbing power in 1986 following a guerrila war.
The list of African leaders either in the past or present who have clung to power is long, but what makes power so difficult to give up in Africa?
Struggle Against Colonial and Neo-Colonial Power
In southern Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Angola waged brutal wars to unseat colonial governments. By refusing to give up power through democratic means, colonial governments set a precedent in Africa. Those who took over from them learnt the same brutal lessons from their erstwhile colonizers.
After independence Mozambique and Angola were embroiled in civil wars as part of the Cold War. The ballot that propelled the respective national leaders to power sustained their positions.
Lessons from the East and West
Most first generation African leaders were communists and socialist of one variety or another. Their role models Chairman Mao and Stalin had not voluntarily given up power. Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, a socialist, stayed for 24 years at the helm as he tried to implement Ujamaa.
Africa's first generation leaders grew up under colonialism. From the Roman Catholic Church they learnt that the Pope is infallible and dies in office while the British monarchy is hereditary. These concentrations of power and privilege did not exist in most of pre-colonial Africa. From them African leaders learnt to cling to power.
Transfer of Power Between Africans
The handover of power between successive African governments has in many situations been through bloody coups or brutal guerrilla campaigns.
As with the removal of colonial governments, there is a feeling among African leaders that since they took great personal risks to get into power, they cannot hand it over through the ballot box. Robert Mugabe is a case in point. He spent much of his adult life either in prison or in exile. He sneaked into Mozambique after release from prison then organised a guerrilla campaign that played a part in forcing the Rhodesians to the negotiating table.
Writing in Mail&Guardian online on January 30, 2009, Alex Mathews argues that African leaders are not democratic, and most hold the view that liberation movements have the divine right to rule.
The unwritten rule seems to be that whovever wants to succeed a liberation movement must wrest power through war and bloodshed.
The Colonial Origins of African Nation States
The structures and systems of government in Africa were set up by Europeans-parliament, legal system and law enforcement. To a great extend leaders keep the form but follow the spirit of their traditions in ruling or neglecting their countries.
Almost all African leader fall into nepotism and corruption like their predecessor whom the may have criticised and removed violently because of corruption and economic mismanagement. It is a culture not a personal malady relating to a few leaders, hence the prevalence of life long, corrupt leaders on the continent.
Big Power Politics
A leader who is compliant with Western interests is guaranteed longevity no matter how brutal he is. Mobutu Sese Seko was brutal and ruled over the Congo for 30 years with the support of the United States of America, who considered him an indispensable ally during the Cold War.
In recent years America has turned a blind eye to the excesses of African leaders who adopt IMF and World Bank reforms even if these do not benefit the population but entrench the nations in debt while funding the suppression of dissent and sponsoring lavish lifestyles for dictatorships.
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was a darling of the West until the invasion of commercial farms. He drastically changed allegiance and still maintained his grip on power due to support from China.
Big power politics ultimately determines the longevity of Africa's leaders.
Sources:
Tongkeh Joseph Fowale, Death of Omar Bongo, the Message for Africa, in African History at suite101.com
news.bbc.co.uk
Farai Muchemwa - I am medically qualified and worked as a general practioner in Zimbabwe for five years. I have an uncompleted Master of Public Health ...
