Date Published: 12/23/09

Out with the old, in with the glossy old By Babatunde Fagbayibo

Keen observers of political development in post-colonial Africa are arguably the most frustrated and disappointed in the globe. To be optimistic in the midst of constant episodes of electoral chicanery, perpetual rule, the abuse of power, endemic corruption and chronic underdevelopment is indeed an arduous task. Unlike Asia, where the deficiency of democratic values is compensated with economic prosperity and social welfare, the architects of the political process in Africa are neither affected by vox populi nor committed to the meaningful advancement of the populace. Rather, the preservation of the inherited colonial construct and all its contraptions remains the sole objective. The brutal suppression of all forms of dissension and the rationalisation of impunity all stem from the paranoia and obsession with monopolising the structures of political and economic power.

It is against this background that the chequered trajectory of post-colonial political development has taken another troubling turn in recent times. Before explaining this, it is pertinent to first present its origin. A psycho-analysis of first and second generation post-colonial elites reveal the tendency to personalise political power and in turn entrench a perpetual, life-long term in office. The pressure from international donors in the late 1980s and early 1990s brought about a façade of multi-party democracy, which only legitimised autocratic regimes. Except for a handful of African states, the so-called democratic revolution of the early 1990s ensured that dictators remained in power through manufactured electoral victories. Equally complicit, international donors accepted this charade as a benchmark for democratic rule and the continued supply of aid. As such, the desired change only remained, and still remains, a mirage.

As an extension of the ideology of indefinite rule, African autocrats, working in tandem with other members of the ruling class, have devised a quasi-monarchical/hereditary political system. Like a windswept fire, sons of African dictators are either succeeding their fathers or are being groomed to take over as soon as daddy ‘expires’. Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Gabon, and Botswana are currently being ruled by sons of ex-presidents. In Senegal, Egypt, Equatorial-Guinea, Libya and Uganda, there are strong indications that favourite sons are waiting in the wings.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with sons or daughters of sitting or ex-presidents vying for the highest office in the land. This however becomes questionable when such ascension is narrowly designed within the prevailing autocratic format that has sustained their fathers’ regimes. In other words, the office of the president should not be construed as a birthright or entitlement, usually effected through electoral manipulation. Except for Botswana, the processes through which the offsprings of ex-presidents have been elevated to high office remain controversial. Without subjecting them to transparent electoral process, the children of ex-presidents are rightly gauged, by the populace, through the prism of the entrenched corrupt and autocratic system that has thrown them up. As such, it is important that their records, either as daddy’s minister or private citizen, be thoroughly scrutinised in order to determine their eligibility and also guarantee a level playing field. Without this, they are nothing but a glossy re-enactment of the old order.

Post-colonial Africa is indeed at a crossroad. Combining the inherited colonial instrument of oppression with a revisionist understanding of pre-colonial institutional matrix, post-colonial elites have perfected, and entrenched, the art of subverting the free will of the citizenry. Largely buoyed by the unqualified support from fellow autocrats, ineffectual sub-regional and continental institutions, and geo-political influence as a result of the abundance of mineral resources, African dictators remain relevant. The capacity for re-invention, either through sham elections or keeping the presidency in the family, aptly sums up the tragic state of political development on the continent.

In light of the foregoing, the big question is this: when and how will the desired change come about? Simply put, is there any feasibility of entrenching a common and shared practice of democratic norms and values on the continent? Such possibility is, however, contingent on a radical paradigmatic shift in the understanding and conception of what amounts to fundamental values. The sad reality is that the majority of governments on the continent are not prepared to embark on a journey of cultivating shared norms and values. More worrying is the fact that the so called regional hegemons, except for South Africa, rank poorly in both international and regional surveys on democracy and good governance. It is thus pertinent that the road to entrenching fundamental values on the continent be guided by tough choices. One such is the acceptance that all may be called but only the few with clean hands (adherence to democratic values) will be chosen.

Babatunde Fagbayibo writes from South Africa.