RSS 2.0 FeedMarch 2010 Vol 7, Featured Articles, National News
African leaders show there are many countries for old men
Robert Mugabe is the eldest statesman on a continent where age is seldom a barrier to power
Let them eat cake. That is one of the likely headlines after an all-night birthday gala for Robert Mugabe, the autocratic president of Zimbabwe, which was due to finish in the early hours of yesterday. Mugabe, who last week turned 86 in a country where average life expectancy stands at 45, is the eldest statesman on a continent where age is seldom a barrier to power.
But events confronting both Nigerians and Nigeriens in the past week have demonstrated that the next generation of African leaders might find it somewhat harder to crush all comers.
President Mamadou Tandja of Niger, who had rewritten the constitution rather than quit when his term expired, paid the penalty when soldiers stormed the presidential palace and spirited him away in a military coup. Diplomats were ambivalent about whether to condemn the means or praise the ends.
President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria, who created a power vacuum when he disappeared in November for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, returned at dead of night to a country where politicians, lawyers, media and ordinary citizens have made their demands for accountability and transparency clear. Yar'Adua's deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, remains at the helm while questions linger over the president's health.
In recent times, the objections raised to the likes of Menzies Campbell and John McCain in recent British and American election campaigns rarely keep politicians awake here.
Africa's club of leaders of pensionable age includes Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, 81, Cameroon's Paul Biya, 77, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia, 73, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, believed to be 67, Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, also 67, Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville, thought to be 66, and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, believed to be 65.
Together these men have ruled for close to 250 years combined and none seems in a hurry to bend to free and fair democratic will. It took the grim reaper to part Gabon's Omar Bongo, at 41 years the longest-serving president in African history, from the levers of power last year at the age of 73.
It is hoped that the rise of civil society organisations across Africa, flourishing on the internet, will prove a powerful counterweight to future big men turned old men. But optimism should be checked. The Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership, intended to honour good governance, was not awarded last year because no worthy candidate could be found.
Mugabe, for one, shows no signs of going quietly. In April, he will mark 30 years in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain, making him one of the world's longest-reigning leaders. Urban myths abound about how the 86-year-old retains the zeal of a man half his age.
Many wish that he had followed the example of Nelson Mandela, now 91, whose decision to step down from South Africa's presidency after one term guaranteed his special place in posterity.
More Featured Articles
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Nation Bleeds While Battle for Chiadzwa Intensifies
THE mystery surrounding the Chiadzwa diamonds continues to deepen with the alleged blockage of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines' visit to the fields for investigations wites William Chibhebhe.
Tales of Witchcraft Abound in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, witchcraft is still common in rural areas. Hardly a week passes without a local report or newspaper story on the practice. For example, police recently cornered a man at the Mbare Mbare bus terminal, after they discovered a live cobra snake in his luggage. He told officers the reptile was one of his witching tools.
Avi Krawitz: An Open Letter to Abbey Chikane, the New KP Monitor for Zimbabwe
Dear Abbey: Firstly, congratulations on your appointment as the Kimberley Process (KP) monitor for Marange, Zimbabwe. It would be appropriate to say welcome back to the diamond industry, and even more appropriate to say welcome home. As a founding member and a former chairman of the process, I can’t think of any individual who is more suited to the job at hand.
Zimbabwe: Political and Security Challenges to the Transition
Despite initial scepticism, Zimbabwe’s year-old unity government has achievements to its credit, but the democratic transition remains at risk, especially from hard-line security officials – President Robert Mugabe’s last reliable supporters.
Journo calls Zuma a 'sex-obsessed bigot'
President Jacob Zuma has touched down on his first state visit to the UK and his programme begins in earnest on Wednesday when he will be entertained by the Queen.
A mysterious arms dealer lands Illinois golf course in legal "twilight zone"
MARION, ILL. — Until recently, people here had little reason to know the name John A. Bredenkamp or anything about his past, a tale worthy of a James Bond villain, filled with allegations of international arms deals, blood diamond trades and ties to despotic regimes in his native Africa.
Bob is 'God's gift to Africa'
Praise-singing politicians fall over themselves to salute Zimbabwe's leader as he nears 30 years in office
Windies slump to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe recorded a 26-run triumph in an extraordinary Twenty20 International against West Indies in Trinidad.
Women in Zimbabwe:We want a future
The UN Commission on the Status of Women convenes in New York today (1 March) to look at gender equality and the advancement of women. The ongoing challenge is how to help young women with few choices, like Privilege Zengeni, realise their aspirations. Oxfam’s Nicole Johnston reports
Transcript: FT interview with Jacob Zuma
Interview with Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa.
