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Features |
Art of ruling from behind |
by
Edwin Nyirongo, 30 December 2004
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13:31:07
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When the other part of the world is trying to move forward, Africa seems to insist on moving backwards. In Europe, when time for the president to pack and go comes, they go honourably. But in Africa, you need to carry ropes assisted by heavy prayers and cursing from the church for them to go. Whether it is because of greed or fear of exposing what they have been doing while in power no one knows.
Presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Omar Bongo of Gabon, Eyadema of Togo, Paul Biya of Cameroon and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt will have to take God’s intervention for them to go. It will either be sickness or death in order for their countries to see change.
Then there are some leaders who are forced by their constitutions to leave power but decide to rule under the table through party chairmanship.
News coming from Namibia is too sour to swallow. President Sam Nujoma has ruled the country for 15 years. In fact, he was supposed to rule for 10 years but had to force parliament to give him another five years to rule (or is it misrule?) the country.
He then hand-picked his successor, 70 year-old Namibian Lands Minister Lucas Hifikepunye Pohamba but retained the position of party chairman. The reason is simple: to rule Namibia forever. He has taken advantage of his status as founding father of the nation to manipulate the unsuspecting Namibians.
Pohamba is the same old timer like his godfather Nujoma. He kept beard for many years only to shave it after he was picked to run for the presidency. He might have missed the whole chapter.
And during campaign trail, Pohamba, who was expected to win, given the weak nature of the opposition, took issue with the media for suggesting that Nujoma will govern via remote control.
What is interesting in Namibia’s handing over of power is that it will take place in March next year — over four months after the elections.
This will be enough time for the new president to go in class and be taught the political principles of “follow the leader”. Nujoma will drill him, twist his thinking which will make him learn that it is the bearded man who is in charge of the country and that he is there only to enjoy the presidential convoy. Isn’t it unheard of that presidents take office four months after elections?
The first person to try the remote system of ruling was Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. After he left power, he continued to be chairman of the party just to make sure that he influenced decisions in government.
The fortunate part of their set up was that Nyerere bowed out of power on his own. It means he was tired of ruling. That could be why things went smoothly in Tanzania till the man died.
Frederick Chiluba of Zambia copied the style but with different motives. He tried hard to change the Constitution in order to have a third term but failed. He then gave himself the post of chairman with the hope that he would be pulling strings behind president Levy Mwanawasa.
Mwanawasa did not like that and now Chiluba is in trouble with government. All his past has been exposed because of his ambition to rule forever. It is a matter of time that he will be in prison, if the courts rule against him.
Daniel arap Moi of Kenya tried to maintain the position of party chairman but dumped it after seeing that it would have no benefit, especially when his party, Kenya African National Union failed to retain power. President Mwai Kibaki has rewarded him by announcing that he will be immune to all crimes he committed during his rule.
In Malawi the story of ruling when you are actually not a ruler is also rearing its ugly face. Unfortunately, it has caused a lot of misery in the ruling party.
Bakili Muluzi was supposed to rule for two terms and leave. Feeling not satisfied, he tried his best to change the Constitution so that he could rule for a third term but failed.
He then hand picked Bingu wa Mutharika to rule in his place, probably hoping that he would still be in control of government affairs.
But when Bingu showed that he wanted to be his own man, doing what he thought to be fit for the country, the waters turned sour. Party supporters, executive members and members of Parliament have since divided themselves between Bingu and Bakili.
One interesting thing is that although Muluzi knows that he is the problem, he still wants to stay on. He knows that his insistence to remain as party chairman is the cause of the division in the party. He ought to know that if he can leave today, all problems between him and the President will be over.
When Muluzi was President, he made sure that only those that sing his song are in party and government positions. That is why he never allowed a convention to take place till he was about to go.
And true to people’s expectations, many of his friends were left out through vote. They had to be incorporated into the executive committee through contact and dialogue.
Muluzi is still commanding influence in the party because most of the current holders of positions in UDF have his blessings. And they cannot betray loyalty because of Bingu.
On the other side, Bingu wants to make sure that he is in control of the country and party affairs. During elections, people were saying he would only be a cover for Muluzi who will be ruling the country under the curtain.
This statement might have annoyed him. That is why he is trying his best to take actions which will make people believe that he is his own man but at the same time avoiding to paint Muluzi black.
Some of Muluzi’s friends that are suspected to have dipped their hands into government coffers are waiting to be judged by the courts. Bingu has also managed to call his friends that sat beside him during some hard times in the past — the likes of Ken Zikhale Ng’oma.
But the President is not satisfied. He is reported to be demanding the co-chairmanship of the party, failing short of demanding total withdrawal of the former President.
But, that is soda water for Muluzi who has not hidden his love for political rallies. He knows that if he can leave the party chairmanship today, he will have no justification to hold those rallies and that will be the end of his sight.
Party members are now divided between those that want to be in government and those that want to have solace from the former President. Some people have suggested that most of those that have skeletons in their cupboards are siding with the former President so that in case of trouble, Muluzi can stretch his hand.
But unfortunately, events on the ground have shown that Muluzi has no hand of God which has influence, otherwise people like Humphrey Mvula, Kennedy Makwangwala and John Chikakwiya would not have tested the agonies of being in jail.
All said, but the question remains: After all these years the former presidents have been in power, why don’t they want to go and rest?
Political scientist Boniface Dulani feels it is greed for power.
“The problem with Africa is that those that are in power do not want to relinquish it after finishing their term because to them government is their gold mine where they get what they want. So, it is total greed,” he said.
Dulani has another reason: “These people are sometimes afraid of their corrupt deeds when they were in government. They know their shady deals will be exposed once they leave the government.”
The talk is open to the public for one point. |
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