Het kan als een slechte grap klinken, maar de droevige waarheid is dat het kortstondige experiment van Afrika met democratie harde tijden onder ogen ziet.

Van Nigeria aan Zimbabwe, Kenia aan Ivoorkust en Oeganda aan Kameroen, is het schrijven op de muur. Het experiment met democratie heeft droevig gevaarlijke nosedive genomen.

De recente politieke gebeurtenissen richten aan een crisis van eerlijke, toegewijde en democratische leiding. Dit ironisch, is ondanks de vorderingen in onderwijs en intellectualism. Het is ook ondanks de invloeden van globalisering en de nieuwe overeenkomst die over staatsmacht hebben geëvolueerde en hoe het ten voordele van de maatschappij zou moeten worden geleid.

De zogenaamde democratische leiders van het continent openlijk ontwrichten de wil van de mensen en negeren nationale grondwetten aangezien zij op de slechte manieren van wilde corruptie en unaccountable leiding verdergaan. De vieringen die democratische verandering in de jaren '90 aankondigden zijn geleidelijk aan in gedempte schreeuwen van wanhoop langzaam verdwenen. Meer en meer, vinden de gewone mensen zich verwijderd uit de centra van macht, die tot hulpeloze toeschouwers als politieke leiders wordt uitgesloten en wordt verminderd; hun vrienden en families genieten van macht.

It is simply absurd to see Zimbabwe helplessly held to ransom by Mugabe’s adamant refusal to accept an electoral verdict handed him by the people through an open and fair election process. The 84-year-old is not about to give up the reins of power even as his country sinks deeper into economic ruin.

The recent elections in Zimbabwe revealed that African politicians demonstrate little or no sense of dignity and respect for political transition. And since they bring little or no dignity to public office, they are mortally fearful of transitions.

In Kenya, the results of a presidential poll last December were manipulated. The electoral commission remains in office despite calls for them to step down and allow for thorough investigation into the vote tallying process. Recent calls by civil society groups, for Kivuitu and his team to resign have fallen on deaf ears.

In Uganda, Museveni forced himself into a third term despite the country’s constitution providing for only two terms. His close associates have since continued to campaign for a life presidency for him.

Elsewhere in Cameroon, President Biya is seeking to extend his term. He has been in power for the last 25 years, within which period he suppressed any dissenting voices.

Early this year, the country’s security forces crushed protests against his bid to stay in power. Opposition voices have been hunted down and crushed or intimidated into silence as Biya and his cronies continue to savour the trappings of power.

In Nigeria, former celebrated president Obasanjo now faces charges of abuse of office during his term. A court was recently told that he slept with his eldest son’s wife in exchange for lucrative government contracts. These and many other cases clearly illustrate the depth to which Africa’s political leadership has sunk.

In all, the recent events in Kenya, Cameroon and Zimbabwe also illustrate another baffling side of African politics. That the more we talk about change the more things remain the same or probably get worse. The signing of the power sharing accord between Raila and Kibaki last February was seen by many as heralding a new beginning. However, recent developments point to reluctance, particularly on the part of the Party of National Unity, to share power as clearly spelt out in the national peace accord.

Into the first decade of the 21 Century, contrary to expectation, Africa is reluctant to make bold steps towards strengthening democracy. Instead it is taking calamitous steps back into the Dark Age of misrule, lack of accountability, despondency and totalitarianism. Its leaders have forgotten that they preside over whole countries and communities and not just a few cronies and friends intent on eating off the state.

The fear is that the new century may be lost for Africa, if its leadership will not quickly embrace new values that are in sync with the dictates of the modern world. The 21 Century global reality has no place for visionless leadership. Africans will need to raise their voices against complacent and non-democratic leadership if any change at all is to come.

About The Author: Wilson Ugangu — is a Kenyan journalist. Wilson is a former fellow at the Consumer Union, Washington office and Coordinator of the Media Diversity Centre in Nairobi.

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