No Champagne, please... We're Africans

I’ve just been on safari in Africa, that large cashew-nut shaped mass that sprawls from the Mediterranean down to where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.  I left the continent just before the 92^nd birthday celebrations for Mr Robert Mugabe were held in Harare and was, therefore, not able to join the adoring throngs congratulating the obviously infirm gentleman on attainment of such a great age. But, as this Black History Month ends, I cannot help but recall Martin Luther King’s deprecation of pointless longevity. Longevity is all well and good. However it most certainly has limits when it comes to ruling a country.  Sure, among a venerable's family gathered around his feet receiving the pearls of wisdom acquired over a long life, the pleasures may be manifold. But equally likely, there may be some maverick skulking in the fringe who might beg to differ, remarking under his breath, eyes rolling, that granddad always has something to say, relevant or not. But, by and large, the respect and affection deriving from great age will be his.

          While thinking about Mugabe’s birthday bash (who knows how much that cost?). I thought we should take a look at the league table of long-term African leaders who have gone beyond their sell-by date. The list is a long one but for this piece, let us restrict ourselves to the five with the longest period in office who, together, have served for a total of 169 years. They are, in order of length of service:

1.   José Eduardo dos Santos – Angola (36 years)

2.   Robert Mugabe – Zimbabwe (36 years)

3.   Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – Equatorial Guinea (35 years)

4.   Paul Biya – Cameroon (34 years)

5.   Yoweri Museveni – Uganda (28 years)

And when we add the years imposed by the next five long-termers, we reach a staggering two and three-quarter centuries, a duration that rivals that of the Atlantic Slave Trade.

          How do they do it? Some of these superannuated gentlemen (note that they are all men) get into this forever-mode by blatantly manipulating their country’s constitution. Others use the blunter instrument of the military to grab and retain power indefinitely.   

There is no doubt that being granddad is a lifelong gig, but being the ruler of a country is not. Barring unexpected death while in office, governing a country must have a time limit, beyond which a leader becomes burdensome. He may be excellent, but too much of a good thing can be good for nothing. Fancy having nothing but champagne and caviar every day for just one week. The mere thought induces gaging. After a few days one begins to hanker for more ordinary fare like rice and palaver sauce which, some among one's children and grandchildren’s generation might be a great hand at cooking up. But, so what if they are not such great cooks? One can always go elsewhere and defer indulgence in champers and caviar for special occasions. Anyway, we all know that the African champagne and caviar of the last 50 years has mostly been sour and rancid. By all measures, Africa’s fifty-three countries remain firmly rooted in the bottom of all indices of development that you care to invoke.

Something to think about as we hold our breath and wait for Mr Mugabe’s one hundredth birthday.

 

Tell Fren Tru