Africa needs benevolent dictators for faster, meaningful progress

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OPINION

By Patrick Katagata

This article was inspired by renowned Zimbabwean Pan-African philosopher, Dr Joshua Maponga’s remarks — widely perceived as ‘controversially endorsing military dictatorships as a viable alternative for African governance’.

Speaking in Dar-es-Salaam, in an interview with Khalifa Said of The Chanzo, making reference to Burkina Faso’s Capt. Ibrahim Traoré and others in his category, he said: “Africa does not need democracy. It is a smokescreen of lies which allows imperialism and neocolonialism to continue. Africa needs military dictators: military for security; dictators in that they must dictate the right thing.” How relevant might this call be? Let’s explore it fairly deeply.

Lest I forget, Dr Maponga later softened his stance. His misgiving is about the ‘caricature nature’ of Africa’s democracy — a façade concealing distorted reality as opposed to ‘genuine democracy,’ people truly governing themselves or a more traditional African system of ‘collective democracy’ led by a council of elders, which he would support!

Likening Africa to someone who, ‘having been closed up in a dungeon for 20 days, seeing the sun, even for 20 minutes, would be worth a breath’, reasons that while building lasting institutions is crucial — though impracticable with long-term military regimes, they would be worthwhile to resuscitate Africa!

To him, dictatorships such as in Mali and Burkina Faso’s case, seemingly deliver on infrastructure projects: roads, industries, and airports; faster than failed African democracies, by purposefully reducing the bureaucracies thereof—and quickly getting things done!

Why is Dr Maponga perhaps right about democracy being a smokescreen of lies perpetuating imperialism and neocolonialism, preferring genuine democracy and the traditional African system of ‘collective democracy’? Suffice it to note that when colonialists came, they found three classes of people in Africa: Feudalists (Chiefs); Artisans, and Peasants. They deliberately destroyed the first two lest they interfere with their sinister-motivated administration. They destroyed African political systems and either assumed full control of Africa through direct rule (colonisation), or through indirect rule (imperialism)—through African puppets in Protectorates. They strategically created alienated African serfs—who, counting themselves more privileged than other natives, served excitedly, but merely as clerks, army sergeants, and interpreters.

Colonialists deliberately groomed no suitable indigenous successors upon African independence. This created a human resource vacuum in the management of African affairs. Africa was handed over to inexperienced alienated self-conceited Africans, laden with neo-colonialist ideologies and models, utterly irrelevant to Africa’s progress, only favouring neocolonialism.

Africa needs benevolent dictators—authoritarian leaders exercising firm political power, but indiscriminately beneficial to all citizens. While often criticised for suppressing civil liberties, some are acclaimed for transforming their countries from impoverished, chaotic states into stable, developed nations. An example is Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed Singapore from a colonial wretch, to an Asian economic boom! He viewed Western-style liberal democracy as unsuitable for developing Asian nations, prioritised economic development, social order, and discipline over unfettered civil liberties. He argued that effective government, not democratic procedures, bolstered prosperity. Others are: Muammar Gaddafi—Libya; Thomas Sankara—Burkina Faso; Mustafa Kemal Atatürk—Turkey; Park Chung-hee—South Korea; Deng Xiaoping—China; and here in EAC, Paul Kagame—Rwanda, etc.

Human rights’ clamours over inhuman conduct, and leaders’ populist demands anchored on superficial democracy undermine proactive national progress decisions! Let us shun irrelevant imitations of Western actors. Frantz Fanon, in ‘The Wretched of the Earth’, noted: “…the European game has finally ended; we must find something different. We today can do everything, so long as we do not imitate Europe... not obsessed by the desire to catch up with Europe... we would do well to avoid it with all possible speed.” Africa, arise!

The writer is a former MP aspirant for Buhweju County