�No body should be president for life�

Mmegi Editor | Friday July 31, 2015 12:39

They intimidate the citizenry and amend the constitution to stay in power.  This is the tragedy that has befallen the African continent.

In his historic address to the African Union this week, the US President Barack Obama lambasted African leaders for refusing to let go of power and transfer power peacefully.  We entirely agree with Obama that by refusing to let go of power these power hungry leaders are causing instability and strife in their countries. 

It is a sad development that currently leaders of Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, and Rwanda are considering extending their stay in office.  In DR Congo president Joseph Kabila is said to be seriously thinking of amending the constitution to allow him to stay in power more years.  In Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, one of Africa’s longest serving presidents has since called for the amendment of the constitution to allow him to stay in power beyond 2016. The same is true in Rwanda, where Paul Kagame has appointed a committee to review the country’s constitution to allow him to run for presidency in 2017.

It is shameful that few months ago, Zimbabwean president and African Union chairperson Robert Mugabe told an AU summit in Johannesburg that African slammed the two term limits. Mugabe was quoted as saying, “… if people want a leader, let him continue”. 

It is clear that Mugabe, himself one of the longest serving presidents in Africa, has lost touch with reality.  We are not surprised by Mugabe’s statement because he is a failed leader who has failed to transfer power to the younger generation. As president Obama has said, African leaders should abide by term limits and their constitutions.  We also agree with president Obama that when a leader “tries to change the rules of the game in the middle of the game just to stay in office, it risks instability and strife.”

History has shown us that failure to peacefully cede power has led to untold miseries in Africa. Thousands have died as a result of this stance by African leaders.

In Burundi, the country is going through civil unrest because a leader wants to extend his stay in office.

Africa should move forward, and it can only do so by allowing new leaders to emerge. This is the only way that Africa can reach her full potential. President Obama is right, “no body should be president for life.”

Today’s thought

“Not necessity, not desire - no, the love of power is the demon of men. Let them have everything - health, food, a place to live, entertainment - they are and remain unhappy and low-spirited:

for the demon waits and waits and will be satisfied.”

 

 - Friedrich Nietzsche