Don’t blame Nkurunziza, power is sweet

 

 By JANET OTIENO-PROSPER

We are all aware of the recent happenings in Burundi following the controversial elections with Pierre Nkuruzinza seeking third term. Well, as we had expected, 'the man of God’ was declared winner of the July 21 elections with 69 per cent of the vote.

The tiny country has witnessed a wave of violence with prominent opposition figures and critics either getting arrested or assassinated. A well-known rights activist Claver Mbonimpa was accosted by motorcyclists and shot. This came shortly after General Adolphe Nshirimana’s assassination. I am referring to President Nkuruzinza as a man of God owing to his passion for singing gospel songs. Religion is also central to his personal leadership style.

In Africa, we have many like Nkuruzinza who I will just mention briefly. They have manipulated their constitutions to amend term limits therefore enabling them to stay longer in power. Perhaps he is taking notes from his neighbour Yoweri Museveni and others like Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Paul Biya of Cameroon.

The apologist nature of African politics has made extension of term limits acceptable. When he is from our community, we defend him at all costs despite what the constitution says.

It is so worrying when democracy and respect for human rights are deemed western concepts which our leaders don't want to be identified with. It seems all the good ideals which come with good leadership are meant for the West according to our leaders.

Leadership as a birthright

Once African leaders ascend to the throne, they concentrate so much on stealing from their citizenry and engage in unlawful activities. They therefore cling to power when their terms come to an end to protect their illegally acquired possessions. If push comes to shove for them, they front their family members to take over and continue with the theft. They impose restrictions on political competition and use force to clamp down on dissenting voices.
It is time to pave way for inclusive governance and stop treating leadership as a birthright since people are increasingly getting fed up with that attitude. At the end of the day people are always contented with proper service delivery, food security and job opportunities to enable them lead good lives as deserving citizens. Staying longer in power without fulfilling these requirements increases political instability for any country and is a turn off for investors thus increases risk for businesses.

It also entrenches graft and ethnicity which have become part and parcel of governance in Africa. Any long-serving leader would of course want his tribal loyalists who cheer him while abusing power. This results in a country with inequalities where a section in the country is marginalised for saying no to the president. They are excluded from leadership and not invited to share in the national cake table.

I would therefore call upon all those leaders who cling to power that they are overstaying their welcome and the citizens are fed up. It is time for them to exit and let other deserving citizens serve. Nkuruzinza; this is really not personal. It's just the truth.

Twitter:@JanetOtieno