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Guest Feature: When will Africans leaders understand Democracy?

It seems African leaders are trying to practise something called democracy, but most of them have failed in their quest. My contention being that, whenever some of these African presidents ascend to power, they end up ruling with an iron fist and succeed in weakening the opposition parties.
Democracy on the other hand means government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. Such should see its people express their views without fear or intimidation. Unfortunately, Africa's democracy has some way to go, and the future on first sight may not appear as bright as we would expect.
Some of these leaders take political prisoners inflicting inhumane treatments on those they term as political foes. And in some of our countries, those who disagree and are upfront to make known their disagreements could well be under a welter of political repression.
Moreover, the widely practised system of winner takes all, merits a more conscientious scrutiny as it may very well have contributed to wars, ethnic cleansing, and displacement of peoples as refugees.
It is a stark disappointment that while Europe, America, Asia and other continents are booming with development and creating wealth for their citizens through good governance and democratic principles; the masses of Africa are getting poorer and more destitute year in and year out. Such should awaken us to rethink the current systems and consider changes that will inure to better systems.
Some African leaders have ruled for more than necessary. Men like Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equitorial Guinea, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Yahya Jammeh of Guinea, and not to forget the granddaddy himself, Robert Gabriel Mugabe of Zimbabwe. At 91 years, like a steam train that has long past its best, he is chugging along and still clinging to power. Shall we enquire whether Zimbabwe does not have anybody else with sense and ability to rule that country apart from him? Is that why he is bent on dying in power?
This surely smacks of an assorted concoction of a strange variant—perhaps an African variant—of what democracy is all about. However, these totalitarian leaders are up to something. They have too much at stake to hand over power and face the music for their many sins, their systemic and expansive corruption, their gruesome murders, and having to stand trial for heinous crimes committed against humanity.
Sadly, the African Union does not seem to have a potent system in place to force these overstayers of leaders to quit for better governance and rule of law to thrive. Instead these toothless AU leaders see such notorious presidents as heroes or comrades in arms, leaving them to do as they please.
The recent political turmoil in Burundi where the sitting president Pierre Nkurunziza's second term had expired and he wanted to bid for third term, which led to bloodshed and displacement of innocent people as well as an attempted coup d'état in Burundi, is rather lamentable—all because of a one man show.
The following week, the main opposition party leader was gunned down in broad daylight in the city centre. However, African Union leaders and East African governments watched unable to call this greedy Nkurunziza to order. Why? Perhaps, it's because he is not (neither will ever be) the first leader to change or manipulate the constitution for his selfish purposes. He has the audacity to treat with contempt, a document which his citizens believe enshrines the rules of governance.
At this state of affairs, the good people of Africa must stand on their feet and make their voices heard across the world. We must call an end in no uncertain terms to totalitarian rule or third term rule for any incoming or outgoing president.
It may well be that if we are united and forthright in our call, African leaders will understand what true democracy means, and how it must be adopted and practised. In all sincerity, as it stands now, African leaders are lacking behind as far as democratic rule is concerned.
In terms of good governance and human rights issues, or typical democratic principles, it is a must to ensure that opposition leaders, media and other agents of change, including traditional leaders and local citizens are well protected, and have the freedom to express their views without fear or favour.
In all, I may add that our democratic system in Africa needs a requisite upgrade to another level. And the days of one political party ruling forever in the name of African democracy, aided by election fraud, must soon come to an end. And such dreams may very well be someday realised.
After all, since Nigeria's independence about 55 years ago, it is only this year in 2015 that a ruling party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has handed over power smoothly to an opposition party, in this case, the All People's Congress (APC). Through this unprecedented gesture, the good people of Nigeria have shown that we have a right to believe change is possible, no matter how dark our night may be. Moreover, a country like Ghana must be credited for changing governments smoothly in the Fourth Republic without any violence. Even in disguise, if the previous election petition is anything to go by, if it is a test of her developing maturity in democracy and allowing the rule of law to operate and prevail; we may very well commend Ghana for going down such a path.
Our situation is dire, but we must continue to hope and believe that soon, the dawn will break where all African leaders will understand and practise the tenets of true democracy.
God Bless Africa for many years to come.
Emmanuel Mante
Republic of Korea
Email: castrodefire1971@gmail.com
NB: Submit your article for publication. Email angelinakm75@gmail.com 
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