Old tired line that African dictators invoke in order to stay in leadership

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunzinza (left) during a party congress after his nomination as a candidate for the next presidential election on April 25 in Bujumbura. PHOTO | LANDRY NSHIMIYE |  AFP

In Summary

• Many questions may be proffered in light of such statements by our leaders.

By AUSCAR WAMBIYA
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"The people still love me". This is the old tired line that African dictators and tyrants have resorted to as a smokescreen to remain in leadership.

Apart from being sarcastic, it negates the fundamental basic requirements of democratic ideals. Many questions may be proffered in light of such statements by our leaders.

When was a survey conducted to determine the alleged “many” who still love such leaders? What does the constitution require of such leaders and term limits? Are such leaders immortal? Is there a poverty of leadership in the continent? While opinion is varied on what counts under each circumstance, it is sad that this situation keeps recurring over half a century after the colonial yoke was lifted. Let me attempt to deal with each of the underlying issues in this debate.

Primarily, no widely credible opinion polls have been conducted by such leaders or any other institution to determine the many people whom such leaders purport to be in love with their leadership styles.

In fact, such leaders are surrounded by a cabal of liars who thrive by painting a jolly picture to the leadership so that the opinion of the masses is rarely sought. Events are stage-managed amidst a small base of supporters to buttress the allegation of popular support.

Rallies will be called at strongholds to confirm allegiance and the mainstream media are muzzled to report what the leadership may want to hear only. If any opinion polls are held at all, the figures are generally massaged to reflect support even where there is none. Dissent is silenced and hardly reported.

To the general public, therefore, a rosy picture will be painted by such tyrants indicating “support” even where there is none. The truth is indeed concealed as weapons to prove “non-existent” public support are manufactured.

To further entrench their thirst for leadership and their ever growing egos, such tyrants have the incessant habit of mobilising teams of “legal experts” whose expertise is actually money minting to identify and discredit those laws that may limit presidential terms while also ensuring that loopholes are earmarked.

The letter of the constitution is largely emphasised by such “experts” rather than the spirit of the constitution which is ignored totally. Advocates of the flawed interpretation of the laws are then encouraged to recruit activists on the leader’s payroll to advance the notion that the constitution can either be amended or that it allows for yet an extra term.

This school of thought is currently at play in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. In extreme circumstances, the constitution is sacrificed at the altar of greed. Even when people die, such tyrants use their illegally acquired resources to mobilise legislation that favours their never-ending search for absolute power. The situation is further complicated by the ever-growing number of spineless civil society institutions and weak oppositionists.

Beyond opinion polls and constitutionalism, tyrants have the unchallenged belief of immortality. While power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely so that a notion is advanced to lift the mortal leaders to the “messiah” position. The sycophancy and absolute loyalty practised by their courtiers have elevated such leaders to demi-gods. Every day, they are reminded that their countries begin and end with them.

That we all die at some point is a humbling knowledge that leaders need to intimately embrace. Africa has, now and before, produced fine leaders that have influenced change across the continent and beyond. Such leaders have also exited the scene naturally through attrition or voluntarily while the people still wanted them to stay on.

A look at the Mo Ibrahim leadership programme provides a rich list of individuals who have contributed to their nation building efforts and who exited their political stages voluntarily or naturally. Why not emulate them? Why not exit when the people still love you? 

Beyond those who have exited, there exists a crop of young leaders rising from the lows and highs of government and corporate sector. Our leaders should ship out when their term limits end.

The writer is a development consultant