How does longevity in power transforms heroes into villains?
4 min readBy Mading Abraham Majur, Kampala, Uganda
October 8, 2015 (SSB) — There is mystery how longevity in power transforms heroes into villains, of people see how the Mugabe regime is still vilified, they forget that at one time that government was described in positive superlatives. The whites that later became regime victims were admirers of the regime non-vindictiveness.
They people fighting the regime are largely beneficiaries of the large scale access to education opportunities. This is just one example to the people of South Sudan but it is enough for illustrative purpose of what happen when regimes overstay. Regime which overstay eventually become corrupt, violate human rights and in some cases, become so brutally repressive that people easily believe that they committing atrocities predated their coming to power. Overtime, media coverage of their bad behavior and malpractices, report by researchers, activist and opponents.
Lead to wiping out of their record of good behavior quality services delivery from social memory, the regime however, keeps harping on their past revolutionary contribution and their past good record of service and this maintains a fair amount of support particularly in an environment of repression, which keep the opposition weak.
So how do heroes become transforms into villain? Someone I do not remember gave a simple explanation that I find illuminating. He gave an analogy of people who overstay at their drinking club; he said being in power is like being at your club. When you decide that you have had enough and it is time to go home, many of your champions will ask you why you want to leave early as if you are sick.
Others will ask you whether you think you are the only one with a home or a wife to go back to. If you are slow you may stay and eventually find yourself alone being carried out of the club when you cannot support yourself on your feet. That is how some good people become drunkards of alcoholics, if you are wise you leave early while leaving is still a good and reasonable decision and you can walk or ride home still sober.
Power is like Alcohol or drugs, it is adductive and unless the hold of power resists addiction, it can make people behave unpredictable way like drunkard. Those in power like those in analogues club, have mates who convince them to stay in power for ulterior motives. It is said that in 1980, the late Mwalimu Nyerere of Tanzania had wanted to retired but people around him convinced to stay, arguing that the timing was not opportune as Tanzania still had troops in Uganda compare to the current situation of South Sudan where UPDF forces are in South Sudan.
Mwalimu Nyerere, stayed but in 1985, he retired and Tanzania the better and more stable for it and whatever political alignment, Mwalimu remains national hero universally accepted. But conversely, how or where would Tanzania be if Mwalimu successor- former president Mwinyi, who is still alive president now.
When regime overstay, ordinary people feel no connection to them and elections are not considered a democratic exercise but just code name for regime continuation. People can tolerate a lot if there is food on the table but if they sense that you are going on state resources as they sense that their patience will be extremely strained, this is another side to overstaying in power.
Corruption becomes a way of life in Africa and especially South Sudan and essential for regime survival, power become concentrated and unacceptable, thus also justifying efforts for regime change.
The author is the second year student from Kyambogo University, faculty of arts and social sciences Department of political science and he can be reached on majur20155@gmail.com
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