What is the root cause of African leaders’ insatiable desire for power?

By Tito Tong John, Nairobi, Kenya

Tuesday, 04 June 2024 (PW) — The principle of government of the people, by the people, and for the people has been undermined by the relentless pursuit of power by some African leaders. I write not as a prophet of doom, but out of fear and anxiety. If we persist in this attitude, history will not judge us favorably, and the realization of Africa’s potential will remain incomplete.

The African continent cried out centuries ago for freedom from the shackles of colonialism. Yet, ironically, our leaders now find ways to attribute our failures to those very colonial powers after they left us to govern ourselves. Tragically, we have become slaves in our own countries due to dictatorial leadership and the prioritization of power over the people’s well-being.

It is imperative that we speak up now, or we will all perish together. As the proverb says, “a boat does not know who the leader is when it capsizes; everyone gets wet.” Truly, you have nothing to lose by commenting on matters that concern society.

If you have the opportunity to speak out against wrongs today but choose to remain silent, you must be prepared to face the consequences. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

In South Sudan, we say that silence is golden, but I sometimes find it difficult to accept that, as some silence is too risky. I have no doubt that not everyone is outspoken, but what is more golden than speaking up in society for everyone’s benefit? Those who question the status quo and demand answers from leaders are often labeled as arrogant, disrespectful, or know-it-alls, especially if they are young. To me, this is normal, as standing for the truth is never easy.

A leader is someone who can envision improvements and rally people toward that better vision. However, some leaders in Africa have turned the definition and pragmatism of leadership upside down. They become immune to criticism as soon as they assume office, becoming demigods overnight. Yet we call ourselves democratic states? Leaders should work to make their vision a reality while putting the people first. Leaders need to be empathetic and connect with people to be successful.

To be competent, effective leaders and elevate Africa to a better level, our leaders should satisfy several prerequisites. We have mechanisms like the African Union (AU) and its subsidiary organizations, just as the European Union began with the common market project in 1957, now viewed as one of the most robust unions in the world. So why is Africa unable to make good use of its own systems? The answer still points to the current leadership crisis.

A leader is essentially a servant. Why, then, would a leader ever think of imposing themselves on their subjects if their services are no longer needed? What makes them so afraid to relinquish power? Public sector officials are unwilling to leave office even when their tenure has expired, when aging, or when ill. This sheds light on the high unemployment rates in Africa and the forced migration to the West for survival.

In other cases, leaders blatantly refuse to leave power due to their despotic and kleptocratic tendencies. They abuse state minerals, oil, and money for the benefit of their families and friends; stepping aside would cost them these benefits and potential legal consequences.

Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, and Ghana are African states where regular transfers of power have occurred. Why is it that almost all African leaders, once in power, discard their brilliant credentials and track records?

It saddens me when I see people who ought to know better and speak truth to power behaving like lapdogs, all in the name of partisan loyalty – “my party is in power, so I cannot speak against its actions.” We now live in a society where some people’s love for their political parties outweighs their love for their beloved countries. Politics in Africa, to some extent, seems to be an avenue for either personal enrichment or the endorsement of wrongs, as long as it favors one’s political party.

Some leaders in Africa have stayed in power for decades, but their citizens remain in abject poverty despite abundant natural resources. The African continent is rich, but its people are poor due to bad governance, leadership, greed, selfishness, and corruption.

The future, we always say, is bright for the upcoming generation. But how is that brightness assured if most of the youth in society are emulating these corrupt and power-drunk African leaders?

Sometimes, I do not blame the youth who cannot speak truth to power because of our societal norms. Our society believes that elders must not be disrespected or criticized, even when they are caught doing wrong. They contribute to the endangerment of many lives, to the extent that some are even killed, and all sorts of anomalies occur, but no one is supposed to speak out, especially if you are young.

Apart from the leadership crisis facing Africa, we are also unwilling to take responsibility for our own actions, preferring to blame our colonial masters instead. What do the colonial masters have to do with the creation and looting of state resources by African leaders?

In conclusion, in Africa, there is no respect for former leaders in some countries, and that could be a factor for people trying to cling to power. Some presidents do not want to leave because they fear they will be harmed by their successors. Some African leaders must learn to relinquish power and stop imposing themselves on the people.

The author, Tito Tong has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. He is pursuing a Master of Business Administration with a specialisation in Human Resources Management at the same institution. Before this, he worked with various radio institutions under the Catholic Radio Network in South Sudan. He now writes opinion pieces for the Dawn News Paper and Panluel Wel regularly. To contact him, you can reach him at his email address: tongkhamisa446@gmail.com.

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