It is regrettable that in the 21st century, Africa is still confusing democracy and autocracy. Most African countries still look out to China, USA and the EU for aid. African leaders shuttle across the continents and live in hotels that cost almost the yearly salary of their working force, while they fail to maintain at least 0.01% economic growth in their own countries. Many Africans have no access to safe drinking water, good healthcare and electricity. Where is Africa going after 50 years of independence?

I asked some youngsters: “what would you like to be when you grow up?”

“I want to become President,” some answered.

Becoming President is not a job; it is a choice of the population- a nation to have someone to guide them on the road to prosperity, stability, good health and much more. Becoming a President or acting as the President is like the clothes we put on in the morning and remove in the evening. Not matter the value of the clothes, if they don’t fit, they need to be changed. As a famous Congolese singer once sang: “l’homme est comme un lit d’hôpital quand tu es là c’est toi, quand je suis là c’est moi” which in English means “men are like a hospital bed; when you are there, it is yours, when I’m there, it is mine,” the Presidency chair doesn’t belong to anyone on a life time basis. It belongs temporarily to one who it fits. If we know how to climb a tree, we have to know how to climb down. Unfortunately, walking down a mountain is more difficult that climbing up. Politicians are elected by the population and the same population has the right to remove them from office if they fail to respond effectively and actively to the needs of the population.

Africa needs good leadership that will manage the continent’s resources efficiently and be called to account. Politics should not be personalized. As Francis Tawiah puts it: “Sitting in the armchair is not the same as being the pilot and holding the steering wheel.” Using the Chinese terms, many African leaders “lian pi tai hou” that is, the skin of their face is too thick. They don’t feel ashamed of the wrongs they do. Bob Marley in one of his songs exhorts fellow Africans, “Don't forget your history or your destiny…You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool some people all the time.” African leaders can’t fool Africans all the time.

The sovereignty of modern African states was largely established through a combination of colonial violence and ethnic conflicts. As a result, Africa is still undergoing unrest, a fact that is partially impeding investment.  In his article “African Consciousness Marred by Colonialism” Y. Fredua-Kwarteng observes: “When you control a man’s thinking, you do not have to worry about his actions. You don’t have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his “proper place” and will stay in it. You need not send him to the back door; he will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.”

This depicts how some African leaders govern; some govern not by law, but by the use of force. They change the constitution in their favor and make some promises on what they can’t do or get. Lack of leadership credibility consequently scares investors.Our leaders ought to read Rene Dumont’s book “l’Afrique Noire est mal partie” that is, “False Start in Africa.” True democracy allows the people to define their needs, values and way of doing things; the power to produce, control and manage their own wealth; the power to choose freely their representatives and to discard them if necessary; the power to express ideas and participate actively in the management of the city and the entire nation.Thus understood, democracy is a culture, a process, a quest. It should not be imposed from outside. It requires a change of mentality and should emerge from the 'general will.' It requires a fertile ground for its development.

Africa seems to take the opposite path as far as the democratic efforts it began in the 90s are concerned. If Africa wants to really become democratic, it should, above all, prioritize the fight against the main factors that prevent the genesis and the deployment of a genuine democracy: Tribalism that negates the nation-state; Illiteracy that keeps the vast majority of the population in total ignorance; Pauperism that promotes corruption and manipulation of the population.

Why should foreign troops come to restore order in Africa? It is a shame when Africa continues to be an arena of conflicts and instability. Our leaders need to bury their differences and come together for a better and prosperous Africa that respects the decision of the people.
 
By Celestin Oyinlola Chabi
Writing from Beijing in the People's Republic of China.