Continuation from where we left last time:The relationship between African politics and its traditions.

Last time we highlighted that though African leaders are elected politically, at the end of the day they assume traditional power. This is seen through the way they operate once they are in the leadership seats. In the African tradition a king was succeeded only after his death,  as long as he was alive he would remain in power unless a more powerful king came into the picture and fight for that seat. So it is clear then that leadership was attained through selection, succession, or through a civil war by ambitious candidates and their followers. Lets now shift to the contemporary African politics, below is a list of longest presidents in power compiled by My Continent Africa - http://mycontinent.co/Ditactors.php

Presidents for life

These are the longest serving Presidents in power in Africa, but with President Hosni Mubarak
forced out of power and King of Kings is dead Muammar Gaddafi, Now there is a newcomer on list at number 5 and a new number one on list.

No 5: PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI of UGANDA
29 YEARS An ex-army officer Yoweri Museveni led his National Resistance Army into Kampala in January 1986 to seize power. Since then He managed to win 4 elections on his own terms of democracy. Despite, oppositions disputed the results and recently he clamped down on demonstrators that are not happy because of corruption on his government and high living costs in country.

No 4: PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA of CAMEROON

33 YEARS In November 1982, Cameroon's first post-independence leader, Ahmadou Ahidjo,formally resigned due to ill-health, and handed the presidency to his Prime Minister, Paul Biya. Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, described as running government finances “like a petty cash fund”, booked himself and his entourage a $1.2m three week holiday by chartered jet to the French resort of La Baule. They took 43 rooms in two luxury hotels costing $60,000 a night, went on shopping sprees and splashed cash on casino nights.” reported the US embassy in Cameroon. “When Biya traveled to the United Nations general assembly in September 2008, a member of his entourage was caught as he tried to escape from Biya’s Geneva hotel with a bag filled with 3.4m Swiss francs (about $6.8 million)in cash.”

No 3: PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE of ZIMBABWE

35 YEARS The world cheered when, after leading a long guerrilla war,Robert Mugabe led his Zanu party to victory at the elections in February 1980, after Zimbabwe had won its independence from Britain. But he is no longer a global favourite and the opposition parties accuse him of destroying his country in a bid to stay in power. The Mugabe administration has been criticised around the world for corruption, suppression of political opposition, mishandling of land reform , economic mismanagement, and the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

No 2: PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS of ANGOLA

36 YEARS He's nick name"quite dictator" came to power in September 1979, one month after the longest serving President in Africa came into power. President Jose Eduardo dos Santos assumed power on the death of Angola's first president, Agostinho Neto, But for much of the time after that, he ruled only over half the country, as his MPLA fought a civil war against Unita. Now, with the war over, and Unita crushed at parliamentary two years ago elections, he is being called on to hold an election for the presidency.No firm date has yet been set.Since then he has been manipulate the weak opposition.

No 1: President TEODORO OBIANG NGUEMA of EQUATORIAL GUINEA

NEARLY 36 YEARS He's now the longest serving President in Africa. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema came to power in August 3, 1979 he deposed his uncle in a violent coup d'état, supported by 600 mercenaries licensed from Hassan II of Morocco, Macias Nguema(uncle), who fled but was later captured and executed. Despite its new-found oil wealth, 60% of the people of Equatorial Guinea live on less than a dollar a day. But they clearly all love President Nguema, as he won 97% of the vote at the last election in 2002.

From the above article one can tell that the world at large is not happy with these leaders. In the case of our own Zimbabwean president, I would like to give him credit for the Land Reform program. This program secured our land and property among us away from the foreigners' hands. Yes I know that the land was not distributed equally and fairly among Zimbabweans but what I am concerned with here is that it is owned by Zimbabweans (I think so). It is then clear that some African leaders still follow their traditions concerning leadership, the above presidents might be informed by the famous African saying that says "akulalanga eliphuma elinye lingakatshoni" which generally means there is no sun that rises before the other one sets. 

Lets meet again next time and talk about the African women in politics in relation with the African tradition !!

African Rich Presidents

5 Ways African Leaders Exit from Power.