Africa's leaders for life

Found this article on the web ...thought it was interesting. Our African leaders.

If it's a duplication, Moderator please add it to similar threads.


Article By:Hadlee SImons


The fleet of luxury VIP vehicles; the fat bank accounts; and, of course, the expensive clothes — African presidents aren't exactly the poorest people on the block. Join us as we take a look at some of Africa's longest serving leaders.

Omar Bongo (Gabon)

Assumed office: April 1967

Years in power: 42 years

Political affiliation: Gabonese Democratic Party

Rapsheet/Allegations: Corruption, bribery, fraud, murder, money laundering

I bet you didn't know that: According to a 2004 NY Times report, Miss Peru Ivette Santa Maria was lured to Gabon to be a beauty pageant host, or so the official line went. Things took a turn for the worse when she was taken to Bongo's palace, allegedly to be his lover. After fleeing the palace, Santa Maria was stranded for 12 days until women's aid groups came to save her.

The recently deceased president of Gabon was one of the world's longest serving rulers. Bongo's wealth was due to Gabon's oil fields and (allegedly) corruption. Bongo preferred to bribe his opponents instead of killing them as so many other African dictators did. The diminutive dictator is survived by over 30 children, according to the BBC. Bongo was estimated to have a wealth of over $130-million according to a 1999 US Senate report.

Muammar al-Gaddafi (Libya)

Assumed office: 1969

Years in power: 40

Political affiliation: none, runs military dictatorship

Rapsheet/Allegations: sponsor of terrorism, murder, bombings, kidnapping Lebanese Shia leader Musa al-Sadr

I bet you didn't know that: Gaddafi also goes by the titles "Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" and "Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution".

Gaddafi is one of the world's most infamous leaders. Militancy was a hallmark during the early days of the Gaddafi regime, with the leader being connected to the Lockerbie bombing among other acts. In recent years, Gaddafi has adopted a moderate approach to politics as well as the West, even going so far as to pay compensation to victims of the Lockerbie bombing and inviting inspectors to observe and dismantle the country's weapons of mass destruction programme.

Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe)

Assumed office: April 1980

Years in power: 29 years

Political affiliation: Zanu-PF

Rapsheet/Allegations: land expropriation, election fraud, assault, murder, mass murder, money laundering, corruption

I bet you didn't know that: The UK once compared his policies and actions to that of Hitler. In reply, Mugabe said: "I'm still the Hitler of the times....This Hitler had only one objective: justice for his people, sovereignty for his people, recognition of the independence of his people and their rights over their resources...If that is what Hitler is right? Then let me be a Hitler tenfold."

Robert Mugabe took the reins of Zimbabwe in 1980 and set about transforming it through education. He succeeded at first, with a 90% literacy rate. And then came the landgrabs. Zimbabwe's economy started to free-fall faster than an elephant ejected from a plane.

Trillions of dollars were printed due to hyperinflation and severe shortages of all commodities and food meant that emigration was often the only option. It didn't help that Mugabe sought to quell resistance and opposition supporters by means of the military and police, with hundreds, if not thousands dead. One of the most infamous moments in Zimbabwe's history was the Matabeleland massacre — where Mugabe's military crushed armed resistance in the provinces of Matabeleland and the Midlands by killing tens of thousands.

Isaias Afewerki (Eritrea)

Assumed office: 1993

Years in power: 16 years

Political affiliation: People's Front for Democracy and Justice (the only party allowed in Eritrea, ironically)

Rapsheet/Allegations: sponsor of terrorism, human rights violations

I bet you didn't know that: Upon heading the state, Afewerki postponed the constitution, a situation which still persists to this day.

Another African struggle veteran that continues to strangle their country, Afewerki was recently ranked eighth on the list of the world's worst dictators in Parade magazine. Under Afewerki's rule, Eritrea has gained a reputation as the country with the world's worst rating of press freedom. A war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000 that claimed tens of thousands of Eritrean lives did no favours for the economy.

[MwanaFalsafa1]

Nyaralego what do you think is the solution to the problem of dictatorial and embezzling leaders of Africa? Because I think our biggest problem more then anything else is our leaders.

[Nyaralego]

	Quote:	MwanaFalsafa1
	Nyaralego what do you think is the solution to the problem of dictatorial and embezzling leaders of Africa? Because I think our biggest problem more then anything else is our leaders.

Thank you Mkuu!!

Our biggest problem is indeed our corrupt, greedy and almost senile leaders.

They are greedy, corrupt, nepotistic(?) and just full of air. They are like big baboons thumping there chests most of the time.

I am not able to come up with one exemplary leader. i have to actually think hard to come up with a name. I must say this though, that Kikwete looked very promising...but from what i read from jukwaa la siasa...i do not think so anymore.
as for Kenya...it's like a zoo...we do not even know who the head baboon is...

In UG, that M7 does not want to relinquish power...when he liberated UG he became a hero he should have "stayed his welcome" so to speak.

1)We need alot of young leaders who are willing to take chances with new ideas. Innovative.
Young, educated, visionary and brave.
Unfortunately in this 21st century we need to have our leaders well educated and not just any "johnny come lately", who has amassed wealth legitimately or not.
OR not just anyone inheriting leadership from their fathers.("Uhuru Kenyatta, Gideon Moi) these are many in Kenya and i can see that UG is also taking the same route.

Sometimes the "apple falls very far from the tree". Brilliant, powerful and Just leaders do not always have brilliant, powerful and just offsprings..eg Uhuru Kenyatta...What a joke!!


2) We need strong lobby groups...the only downside is if one is prominent and lobbies very strongly one could be signing their own death warrant. they get rid of you very fast and very publicly.


3) Educate the public on their rights as voters. Until the citizens understand how powerful their votes are, we are stuck.


The West does not help either, they make the Mobutus, Moi, Mugabes, Biya's and they perpetuate our dependency on their aid and maintain these bad corrupt leaders then turn around and point fingers and ridicule AFRICA.

We elect these derelicts and sit back and wonder why, then we re-elect them.
some of these so called legislators cannot even make or speak properly in whatever language they chose to use to addresss the public.


Hebu look at zuma...he is just a clown...i mean parading all his women in public...tell me where is SA going ? Discretion. whatever happened to it?!!

There should be a school of leadership that these so called heads of state should go to. Like a finishing school, so that they know how to conduct themselves. Basically they need to learn some serious ethics.

Most citizens do not even ask for much...
Education, healthcare, good roads, safety and good governance. This is what our leaders are not able to provide.

Ultimately, we need honest leaders. I know corruption is everywhere, but it is subtle...not too obvious and if one is caught they face the consequences.... Not so in Africa, they are arrogant and full of impunity...

Come election time they beg for votes because through out their term as MPs they do nothing meaningful. So they resort to buying votes and rigging.

Yaani, we are in for it...

[Smatta]

as for Kenya...it's like a zoo...we do not even know who the head baboon is..

This one had me dying, you hit the nail on the head with this one Nyaralego.. when I look at them, Raila, Kibaki, Kalonzo.... all these coons and excuses of leaders, pretending to be intelligent, sophisticated, important and all, trying to justify their legitimacy in power.. what a shame. sometimes I feel like throwing a brick at my telly when I see one of these coons speak, and then I realise they are not worth the energy.

[Nyaralego]

	Quote:	Smatta
	as for Kenya...it's like a zoo...we do not even know who the head baboon is.. This one had me dying, you hit the nail on the head with this one Nyaralego.. Thank you... just a whole lotta chest thumping hey!!!when I look at them, Raila, Kibaki, Kalonzo.... all these coons and excuses of leaders, pretending to be intelligent, sophisticated, important and all, trying to justify their legitimacy in power.. what a shame. sometimes I feel like throwing a brick at my telly when I see one of these coons speak, and then I realise they are not worth the energy.

Aki tena Smatta...we are in some serious dieng...
A whole country with three possible leaders and no direction.

[The Truth]

	Quote:	MwanaFalsafa1
	Nyaralego what do you think is the solution to the problem of dictatorial and embezzling leaders of Africa? Because I think our biggest problem more then anything else is our leaders.

Who elects your leaders? Or better yet how come there are no better leaders in Africa?

[Smatta]

	Quote:	Nyaralego
	Aki tena Smatta...we are in some serious dieng... A whole country with three possible leaders and no direction.

Its crazy, its like a circus.. Police forces (the AP and Kenya police) killing each other, the Somali threat, the vacuum in the civil service after Muthaura's sudden illness, kidnappings which happen like everyday in Nairobbery, dams drying (causing water rationing), its like the old geezer (Obako) is cursed.

[Ben]

	Quote:	Smatta
	as for Kenya...it's like a zoo...we do not even know who the head baboon is.. This one had me dying, you hit the nail on the head with this one Nyaralego.. when I look at them, Raila, Kibaki, Kalonzo.... all these coons and excuses of leaders, pretending to be intelligent, sophisticated, important and all, trying to justify their legitimacy in power.. what a shame. sometimes I feel like throwing a brick at my telly when I see one of these coons speak, and then I realise they are not worth the energy.

Ha haaaaaaaa,u've made my day!

[Smatta]

	Quote:	Nyaralego
	Aki tena Smatta...we are in some serious dieng... A whole country with three possible leaders and no direction.

	Quote:	The Truth
	Who elects your leaders? Or better yet how come there are no better leaders in Africa?

It is said that leaders reflect the people who voted them in, if the leader is corrupt, the voters must also in one way or the other be corrupt.. I dont know the theory behind this, but if you look at things, it maybe true. Take for an example Kenya, its a proven fact that most Kenyan voters are bribed to vote towards a certain direction, this is the main source of bad leaders, because we vote in people with no credentials at all just because he bought you alcohol or he gave you 200 bob, then we complain for five years and repeat the same mistake again.

Civil education is very important, especially at the grass roots where people are taken advantage of.

[The Truth]

	Quote:	Smatta
	It is said that leaders reflect the people who voted them in, if the leader is corrupt, the voters must also in one way or the other be corrupt.. I dont know the theory behind this, but if you look at things, it maybe true. Take for an example Kenya, its a proven fact that most Kenyan voters are bribed to vote towards a certain direction, this is the main source of bad leaders, because we vote in people with no credentials at all just because he bought you alcohol or he gave you 200 bob, then we complain for five years and repeat the same mistake again. Civil education is very important, especially at the grass roots where people are taken advantage of.

Educated Africans vote for these leaders too. So I don't think civil education is much of a factor. There is bigger issue at play.