Southern Africa
South African diplomat warns Namibia on lifetime presidency

Misanet / The Namibian / afrol News, 3 February - A senior South African diplomat in Namibia has said presidents must retire after two terms in order to preserve democracy. The diplomat criticised both Zimbabwean President Mugabe and Namibian President Sam Nujoma, who seems to plan to run for a forth term.

Phakamile Gongo, Deputy Chief of Mission at the South African High Commission in the Nambian capital, Windhoek, was speaking at an awards function of the Professional Management Review (PMR) magazine in Windhoek on Friday.

Mr Gongo made his comments as calls in some quarters for Namibian President Sam Nujoma to stand for a fourth term grow. "Democracy as we know it is in trouble in Africa," said Mr Gongo.

For the majority of Africans, presidencies for life had meant economic disaster, and was a "recipe for coups," he said. "It is thought that by the end of his second term of office, a leader is exhausted and bankrupt of ideas."

- Bill Clinton entered office with black hair, by the time he left office it was white, noted Mr Gongo, adding he refused to believe that Monica Lewinsky was solely responsible for this.

Africans generally did not seem to believe in two terms for a president, as they argued that a leader could always bring in fresh advisors. However, this did not happen, he added "African leaders tend to surround themselves with praise singers" and supporters of lifelong presidents were usually "cronies" who were in need of presidential favours, he said.

Other excuses for hanging on to power, such as completing the party's projects, were also not acceptable, he said. South Africa's ex-President Nelson Mandela had resigned knowing his dream of "a better life for all" was a long way off, Mr Gongo said.

To preserve true democracy, incumbent South African President Thabo Mbeki should do the same, he added. "Someone in Mbeki's government will surely suggest a change in the constitution - this will not be acceptable ... I believe Mbeki will scoff at this idea," Mr Gongo said.

He added that one should avoid a misleading myth that "African leaders are the souls of their countries." The US had continued to be a strong country long after great presidents such as Roosevelt and Kennedy had died, he noted. Had Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe retired at the height of his power, he would have been the toast of the continent, Mr Gongo added.

South Africa, a democratic stronhold in the region, has been critisiced for not taking a clearer stance against neighbour dictatorships. President Mbeki however is dedicated to make South Africa the principal mouthpiece of a united Africa and therefore also needs goodwill from the many undemocratic regimes of the continent. The ruling ANC, an ex-liberation movement, further is in heavy moral debts to its sister parties in neighbouring countries, such as President Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

Nonetheless, Southern Africa during the last years has been thrown into political instability by several heads of state that did not wish to leave their thrones when their time was up. Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, is the most known but not the only example. 

In poverty-ridden Malawi, President Bakhili Muluzi has thrown the country into several political crises to change the constitutional provisions prohibiting more than two presidential terms before elections are to be held next year. Mr Muluzi originally was hailed as a democrat and liberator when he took over from lifetime President and dictator Hastings Banda in 1994.

In Zambia, President Fredrick Chiluba met massive resistence when alse he tried to ament the constitution in 2001, allowing him to run for another term. Mr Chiluba only backed down after the question caused a split in his ruling party. Also in Madagascar, President Didier Ratsiraka's unwillingness to accept election defeat lead to turmoil last year. 

Mozambique and President Joaquim Chissano however constitute a decent exeption to this regional problem. The popular President last year announced he would not be a candidate in the 2004 elections "in respect of the constitution."

Based on article in 'The Namibian' (through Misanet) by Hugh Ellis and afrol archives.

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