By Nathan Iron Emory

29^th Aug 2011: One of the simplest, and yet greatest lessons of history that African dictators have failed to learn, is that although the African continent suffered for a long time under very harsh colonial rule, its gallant sons got to a point when they decided that they could no longer tolerate imperial rule.  Consequently, independence struggles erupted all over the continent.

Africans died in large numbers during slavery and independence struggles.  They struggled against colonial powers so as to stop slavery and to create avenues for free autonomous societies to emerge.

The major socio-political injustices that inspired independence revolts are the same ones causing the ongoing uprisings in North Africa.  Soon, these uprisings will spread to the remaining tyrannical regimes in other parts of the continent because they have closed all legal avenues for people to agitate for change.

The uprisings being witnessed in African countries ruled by tyrants are also a result of terror being meted out upon innocent wanainchi; either for short or long periods of their lives. Human beings do possess limits of tolerance. When abused continuously, they reach dead end situations, or cul-de sac.  So how can we tell that we are under an oppressive regime?

Well, an oppressive regime favours physical force or brutality as a governance policy; it is a regime with persecution-mania, a regime that forces limitations on the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms; a regime that celebrates the humiliation of its subjects; a regime that perpetuates economic exploitation; a regime that denies its nationals elementary economic opportunities, confiscates their properties, and survives through nepotism.

Definitions cannot illustrate the immense brutality, humiliation, and deprivation that Tunisians and Egyptians suffered under dictators Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak.  Or Libyans under the ruthless and arrogant dictator Col. Muammar Gadhafi!

In Uganda, the 25 long years of terror and war under Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s tyrannical rule also defy definition.  Ethiopians are under the authoritarian Meles Zenawi.  Eriterians are under Isiaiahs Aforewki’s firm grip.  Zimbabwe is under the ageing autocrat Robert Mugabe; the list is endless.

The moral, political, and economic subordination of ordinary people by coercive measures often drives them to a point at which they feel that they can’t take anymore.  When people get to this point, then the sort of violence that we have seen in Libya becomes the only viable and adequate response.

You know that the point at which tolerance breaks has arrived when the following things become apparent within a country:  Persecution of the subjugated people; excessive brutality by security agencies; politically motivated arrests and detentions; limitations imposed on freedoms of expression, movement, and association; sham electoral processes; glaring corruption; and massive poverty.

All the dictators mentioned above have maintained power by legitimizing terror and violence.  They are all arrogant and brutal men who seized power by force and ruled over an intimidated and passive population for years.  But for how long does terror last as a systematic tactic!  If these rulers continue ruling with violence, then they ought to know that violence breeds counter-violence.

This is a tragic chain of reciprocity.  Once it is initiated, it cannot be easily stopped, since it is motivated by strong emotions. These dictators must now know that the systematic use of terror and violence for political ends debilitates the entire political fabric and erodes representative institutions.

It forces, sooner or later, a resolute action in defence of democracy.  The lessons of the past violent removal of tyrants are a strong message of warning to dictators hanging onto power.  If our ancestors managed to kick out the mighty imperial colonialists, then who are these little monsters preying on our God given freedoms?

Democracy is a political system in which governments are formed based on democratic legitimacy, free elections, respect for a dissenting minority views, and government by consent; not by force!  Countries in which citizens enjoy freedom, democracy, and relative welfare are often free from political violence.  Watch out African tyrants!  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.

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