Monday 28 November 2016

Third thermism: A potent threat to sustainable development and peaceful co-existence in Africa

A cross section of Africa's leaders
Attempts by some African leaders to circumvent constitutional terms of office- usually 2 terms- and remain in power, is put in perspective.

Dubbed by some as third-termism, this phenomenon has slowly but surely become a focus for charged debate and worse, devastating conflict.

Currently, from Burundi and Gabon, to the Democratic Republic of Congo, this matter is a cause for much instability, displacement of persons, loss of livelihood and violent loss of life.

It is perhaps worth putting a frame on what remaining in power beyond constituted terms of office means for the ordinary man woman and child in African countries where poverty is rife, systems of governance are weak, and a few in corridors of power have the latitude to dictate with near-impunity to dis-empowered populations.

The longer persons in positions of authority remain in power under such circumstances, the less tolerant of opposition they are bound to become. There is also good reason to imagine that over time, a tipping point is reached where the weak and divided population they serve evolves to become less- than- reasonable as well, and would react violently when faced with a scenario that either attempts to perpetuate the status quo or attempts to end it.

 No one person should have a monopoly over the responsibility, perks, success or indeed failure of leadership. Africa and its leaders must embrace this fact in the acceptance of constitutional terms of office, as the alternative is, over time, disastrous conflict that wastes lives and perpetuates under-development.