Power to the People: 3 African Leaders forced to quit office within 3 months

Within 3 months, 3 African leaders have been forced to quit office by their own people.

Africa which has often been considered as a hub of unyielding dictators and corrupt leaders, has begun to gain consciousness of the fact that power somewhat belongs to the people and that without a bloodbath, they can cause power to alternate.

The trend of the governed forcing their leaders to relinquish power has been surging in Africa since November 2017 when Zimbabwe’s longstanding dictator, Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, was ejected from office by the military and the population that joined in staging a mass protest calling on him to resign.

Mugabe had sacked his Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to pave way for his wife, Grace Mugabe, but the decision later backfired on him as the military with the backing of civilians, seized command as well as his party, including the decision of parliament to impeach him.

He then sent a letter to parliament announcing his resignation. The vice president whom he sacked thus replaced him.

After Zimbabwe, South Africa, Africa’s economic powerhouse has recorded the same form of power alternation as on Wednesday 14^th February; the President of the country, Mr Jacob Zuma was forced out of office by his own party.  

In a televised statement, he said he was quitting with immediate effect but that he disagreed with his ANC party's decision.

The ANC had told him to step down or face a vote of no confidence in parliament. The 75-year-old has been facing calls to give way to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC's new leader.

Mr Zuma, who has been in power since 2009, faces numerous allegations of corruption and sleaze.  He began his speech by laughing and joking with members of the press, asking them why they looked so serious.  After paying tribute to those whom he had worked with over the years, Mr Zuma said that violence and division within the ANC had influenced his decision to step down. "No life should be lost in my name and also the ANC should never be divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect," he said. "Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC. "As I leave, I will continue to serve the people of South Africa as well as the ANC, the organisation I have served... all of my life." He said.

Jacob Zuma was born in April 1942 and was raised by his poor widow mother. He was a member of the Military Wing of ANC during the Apartheid period in South Africa. In 1959 at the age of 21, he was imprisoned alongside Nelson Mandela in Roben Island for 10 years.

He was later freed but he went on exile and only returned to south Africa after the ban on the ANC was lifted in 1990, he was elected the chair of ANC and later became vice president of the party before rising up to become the president of south Africa after the end of the Mandate of Thabo Mbeki in 2009.

While as president, he has faced several scandals ranging from HIV, prostitution and corruption. 

Ethiopian Prime Minister also resigns    

While South Africa and the rest of Africa and the world were still graced by news of the resignation of Jacob Zuma as president of South Africa, another bombshell was dropped as another African leader announced his own resignation.

Ethiopia’s prime minister submitted a letter of resignation in a surprised move that comes amid protracted anti-government protests. The resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn, who has been in power since 2012, was first reported by the state-affiliated broadcaster Fana, on Thursday. “Unrest and a political crisis have led to the loss of lives and displacement of many,” Hailemariam said in a televised address to the nation.

“I see my resignation as vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy.” He added.

The letter was accepted by the executive committee of Hailemariam’s party, the Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement, as well as the wider ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), state-backed media said.

The Ethiopian embassy in London issued a statement saying Hailemariam’s resignation had been accepted, but he would “continue to serve in his current capacity” until a replacement is appointed at the next EPRDF congress.

Within 3 months, 3 African leaders have resigned due to pressure from their subjects. This new wind of change that is now blowing across Africa it is hoped, will reach Central Africa which many believe is still very much adrift of democratic values.

This part of Africa has dictatorship as a hallmark and its leaders look unyielding to this “malpractice” that the world is bent on crushing.

Many Africans now hope that the wind of change that is sweeping across their continent, does not spare the central African sub region.    
By FHM