African leaders ought to honour Mandela by sticking to their promises

First published by 256news on November 16, 2009

Last week the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) broadcast that 18th July has been designated Nelson Mandela international day because of the values that Nelson Mandela embodies. Mandela fought for justice fought for the liberation of South Africa from the yoke of colonialism but when he captured power as many of African rulers would have done, he chose to serve only one term. He is indeed illustrious for the pace he set in Africa.
I know to very many people, the three Ps; power, profit and prestige are always the driving factors. Sadly, our leaders erroneously think that they are a preserve of state house occupants. As the entire world continues to hail and recognise the uniqueness of Mandela, other African leaders’ egos continue to be deflated. I wish the president of the once pearl of Africa would learn from this recognition. I strongly believe that Africa does have many other leaders who would embrace the values and ideals that Mandela stands for.

The problem though is that we have leaders whose aim of ascending to leadership positions is but for selfish reasons; to inflate their egos and earn respect. Such leaders do anything to capture power; they manipulate, deceive, co-opt, cajole, bamboozle, coax, intimidate, maim, coerce, intimidate, kill, and desecrate their constitutions among many other things to stay in power. They use both the stick and the carrot to stay in power. Nelson Mandela didn’t do these things to stay in power yet if he wanted he would readily be accepted by many South Africans for he is indeed looked at as the father of the nation. Mandela didn’t serve one term of office because he was lethargic and listless but because he wanted to set a pace for other African leaders to follow. He also wanted to prove to the world that indeed he was indeed fighting for liberation of the entire South African family and not self-aggrandisement.

The biting wit is that we have some leaders on the continent who have said boldly that they hunted and killed their animal so the question of telling them to go is neither here nor there for they are going nowhere. Such leaders in my view are a disappointment to Mandela who is not only an iconic figure for Africa but the entire world. Such leaders portray a wrong picture that Africa has only Mandela yet if in all countries political space was not to be hogged, many Mandelas would inevitably be nurtured and ultimately emerge. Although Mandela remains the paragon of virtue and excellence in Africa, I do believe that president Paul Kagame of Rwanda is clearly steering his country on a socio-democratic path although there are reports that media freedom is curtailed. I know many of us have been pocketed by the western world and we have let the westerners define for us concepts. Because of that, we tend to confine democracy and human rights to the terrain of civil liberties and political rights.

I believe in the indivisibility of rights but I would definitely credit leaders who emphasise the importance of survival-based rights, the socio-economic rights over those who prioritise the civil liberties and political rights even when their citizens can starve to death. African leaders must first and foremost ensure that their citizens have access to health facilities, education, jobs on meritocracy basis, good roads and ultimately the citizens would be empowered to assert their civil liberties and political rights. The hallmark of development is the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease. Leaders worth recognition are those who touch and improve the lives of many citizens. Kagame’s resolute fight against corruption will surely help him do that and in future he would be yet another exemplary African leader.

Although I cherish term limits for African leaders because I know the powers associated with incumbency, I wouldn’t gravely fault any African leader who stays long in power but transforms his country. Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore spent thirty one years in power from 1959 until 1990 when he voluntarily stepped out of power. But he transformed his country into an economic power house. In Africa, however, leaders promise bread and butter, milk and honey and create an impression that they are leading us to the Promised Land. After five years, they come back making similar promises hence vindicating Lord Acton’s dictum, power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. For this reason, it is in our best interests that our leaders serve for limited period of time. Surely, we need leaders who can prioritise our roads not merely blaming drivers for over speeding. I know over speeding is bad but it becomes more dangerous when our roads are full of potholes as over speeding drivers are forced to cross from one lane to another. As our people continue dying in road accidents, our leaders will be held liable for criminal negligence.
Finally, we ought to learn that greater leadership can still be provided outside state house. I am sure Mandela provides moral leadership that no other African leader does now notwithstanding that he is out of state house. May our leaders honour Mandela by sticking to their promises and refraining from overstaying their welcome. For God and my country!


Vincent Nuwagaba is a human rights defender.
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