Have road shows become the in thing for Africa’s statesmen? Perhaps. The two recent ones carried out by Col. Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, though spectacular, raised mixed reactions.

Gaddafi traversed several West African states agitating for the immediate formation of a United States of Africa. “Let those who are hesitating get out of our way!” said the head of state who considers the African Union a complete flop.

Critics interpret Gaddafi’s move as a campaign to become the first president of the United States of Africa, after failing to clinch a similar position in the Arab League. He betrayed this intention when he attempted to prevail upon the Heads of state form a united defence ministry with him being the head. Gaddafi openly says that he helped several African countries during their liberation struggles and understands them better than they do, a fact that has made his former allies develop cold feet towards him.

Exit Gaddafi, Enter Museveni., with his twenty-vehicle convoy, through Kenya and Tanzania. His tour was meant to “discuss the East Africa Federation” State House Uganda said. He awarded military honours to Kenya’s Vice President Moody Awori and Tanzania’s former president, Julius Nyerere posthumously. This he did to recognize their great role in Uganda’s liberation struggle.

Pundits say that pressure and discontent at home has made Museveni be a globe trotter and that several unpopular heads of state in Africa always resort to international affairs to save face. Others however opine that Museveni was on the same mission with Gaddafi, but this time in East Africa. They say that Museveni will never support a cause in which he is not the head.

“Museveni has all along preached against the fragmentation of African states. But come the meeting to cement Africa, he opposed it. Why? It is because Gaddafi had stolen the show. If Gaddafi had held his horses, it would be Museveni on the road show campaigning to head the United States of Africa,” observes a critic. 

Is it bad to aspire to be at the top? Not really. Human beings are born with an innate desire to improve, to climb ladders, to reach out for that which is better. Gaddafi and Museveni ought not be lambasted for their ambition.

But what ought they to do? In Museveni’s own words, “When I was fighting in the resistance, we had scarcity of food. But when we had cassava, we would make sure that the one who was on guard in the night got more cassava than the rest so that he would not fall asleep, consequently making the enemy to come and slaughter us. If you have scarce resources, you concentrate them on the one who can get you to the next stage.” 

What will get African leaders to the next stage? By empowering their people and shrinking the national cake with a view of making them concentrate on baking their own cake, by desisting from punching more holes into citizens’ pockets. Getting to the next stage will occur when policies that promote economic freedom and empower people to engage in business. They include opening borders to intra Africa trade, reducing the cost of starting and doing business, enforcing secure property rights, improving the communication infrastructure, allowing the private sector to thrive and kicking out donors that overload the system with conditionalities that impede ingenuity and innovation.  

Grandiose roadshows, while a good entertainment and exhibition of affluence, are a thing of the past. Those courting our attention ought to stage shows that demonstrate what they have done to improve our living standards. Their performance will enable us decide whether to appoint them or give them more time to prove their worth. No leader takes pride in leading a host of beggars!