Intersting views on Museveni and African leadership
BBC's Fergal Keane has written an intresting analysis of theUgandan President Museveni as an example of a larger African-Western dilemma. Find the complete article right here.
It describes the problem of the Western naive belief in "the new African leader", and its dissappointment everytime it goes wrong, as in Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Uganda.
Below is an extract:
"Global business associates
For many years now President Museveni has been touted as one of a new breed of African leaders.
Of course that was said once about Robert Mugabe, too.
Political leaders in the West, and many in the media, have been so desperate to believe in a new Africa, so desperate they have fallen for every leader who has talked the language of pluralism and respect for human rights.
They especially liked these men if they followed World Bank and IMF prescribed solutions to their country's economic problems.
They were - from Mugabe in the early 1980s to President Museveni and the prime minister of Ethiopia now - the kind of people one could do business with.
And so eyes and ears were closed to the nastiness practised by the security agencies of these new African leaders.
Western naivety
The West is being defeated by the politics of wishful thinking in Africa.
After the decades of blood and famine, Western leaders wanted an end to the misery and the constant tugging at the post-colonial conscience.
Many of our leaders acted from genuinely high principles.
But I also think there is a patronising expectation that these new Africans can be managed and moulded in the same way a previous Western generation had manipulated African leaders during the Cold War.
I am afraid the manipulation has worked the other way.
They have seen the West coming with a desperate will for Africa to succeed, hands wringing over past failures and abandonments, eyes blind and ears blocked.
Now that the subtle repression of such states has become more publicly brutal - the locking up of the opposition leader in Uganda, the jailing of scores of opposition supporters in Ethiopia - countries like Britain appear shocked.
They have moved to cut aid.
It is all much, much too late."
posted by Robert Egnell at 9:41 AM
5 Comments:
Uganda cannot afford the rise of yet another despot! The recent and still ongoing arbitrary process in the country is the clearest indication of why Museveni and his administration should not be allowed to overextend their stay in power. The 2006 multi-party presidential election in Uganda, is going to be a watershed moment for the country's political process.
Ugandans will for the first time have to decide whether to keep the status quo of one man rule in Uganda or vote for the long overdue change in leadership for the first time in twenty years since Museveni came to power!
There is only two ways Museveni can win: one is if the majority of Ugandans who know better acquiesce and remain subservient to his erratic and autocratic rule; the other is by bribing and cajoling gullible voters!
Museveni's shameless decision to run again in 2006 has more to do with his personal quest for power and control rather than a sincere desire to establish a peaceful transfer of power in Uganda.
If Museveni had Uganda's interest at heart he would have lived up to his manifesto promise not to run for office at the end of his current term!
If Museveni had the country's interest at heart, he would not have bribed members of parliament (with tax payer money!) to amend the constitutional two term limit rule for president.
If Museveni had Uganda's interest at heart, he would have magnanimously stepped down after twenty years in office and oversaw the foundation for a peaceful transfer of power for the first time in our country's history.
Wherever you have leaders that stay too long in power, abuse of power is more likely than not! Arbitrary rule and corruption is more likely than not!
The best campaign strategy for defeating Museveni at the polls is to present consistent and straightforward reasons why he should not be reelected president.
The most obvious and recent reason for defeating Museveni is clearly the governments heavy handed and arbitrary detention of an opposition leader that had voluntarily returned to challenge the president at the polls.
Where is the reconciliation spirit he expressed at Dr. Obote's funeral?
This was an ironic and desperate act of oppression by a government that is clearly afraid of loosing power to a popular opposition leader.
Even if Dr. Besigye is kept behind bars through the elections, his supporters can still cast a clear and overwhelming protest vote in favor of a change in leadership for our country!
Voters should be reminded that Museveni came to power by overturning a legally established government by use of force of arms.
Should the country now also look into charging Museveni and his conspirators with treason?
Museveni is also a leader that came to power fiercely critical of African leaders that stayed too long in power. Museveni is now among Africa's longest serving leaders!
The longer Museveni is allowed to stay in power the more autocratic and arbitrary his rule is going to be.
Its, therefore, absolutely necessary that the people of Uganda including members of his movement, gather the courage to vote for a new leader for our country.
Let Uganda have a peaceful transfer of power for the first time in our history!
" The leadership of any nation cannot be the work of one man or one party. It must be the effort of all capable citizens getting an equal and fair chance at leadership, through a transparent democratic process."
I can only agree with your comment! However, when it comes to the intentions of president Museveni I believe he has been in power for so long that he equates himself with the welfare of the country. In his own dillusional mind he therefore does the country a great favour by running for another term.
Thanks for your comments,
Robert
In the Novermber 26th 2005 European edition of Time Magazine, Simon Robinson writes an essay titled: "Africa's Game of Follow the Leader" in which he describes the drawbacks of one man rule vs the importance of strong institutions: ... "Good leaders can turn bad if they stay in office long enough; faults become obvious; people compromise to hold on to power; ... Its not just in Africa. There are plenty of erstwhile supportes of Tony Blair who would be happy to see the back of him. The same goes for one-time fans of Jacques Chirac and George Bush. A key difference is that the institutions in the countries those men lead - Parliament, the Judiciary, the Press - are bigger than any one person and counterbalance the worst excesses. Thats still not a given in Africa."
For all those Ugandans going to the polls next month, think about what your vote to change the current leadership might do for our country: The critical donor aid for one would be immediately restored. A new government would also restore investor confidence in our economy. These are to mention but a few of the benefits of a change in leadership. That's why it so critical and necessary that Ugandans of common sense and good judgement vote for the long overdue change in leadership for our country.
Mmm, but the problem with donor aid is that the next President might also lack the sense of responsibility and accountability towards the people, and investors will still fear that the economic reform is just a charade to please donors and something that could be changed within an instant if the leader "looses it".
I earnestly believe that if Ugandans succeed in dislodging M7 from office next month, the new government will be careful not to repeat mistakes of past regimes! Tanzania is a good tastament to that, so far!! Wouldn't you agree?
the following indepent sites could also keep the new gorvnment in check!
www.fdcuganda.org/index.html
http://uganda.blogspirit.com
http://fdcuganda.blogspot.com
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