Africa-Press – Mozambique. RETIRED Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma has told off African leaders with an appetite of clinging to power even when their time runs out.
Mr Koroma who was giving an account of his two-term reign in the West African country, reminded African leaders that changing the constitution as loophole to remain in power was tantamount to hijacking democracy.
Giving a keynote address on the first day of the Africa Drive for Democracy Conference on Wednesday , the former President observed that it was important for African leaders to analyze calls and persuasions of remaining in power when ones time come to an end.
“The work I did as president gained me considerable popularity, and there were calls for me to run for a third term, which would have meant that I had to change the constitution, to hang on to power.
I was not confused by those calls, as I knew that I had enjoyed a great privilege and blessing to have led my people for ten years, and that it was time to leave,” explained the former Sierra Leonean leader.
Mr Koroma insisted that changing a constitution to run for another term was simply undemocratic and should be discouraged across the continent.
“The current trend across Africa represents a considerable threat to peace and democracy.
Right under our watch, democracy is being hijacked, re-engineered, and re-presented in ways that the public could no longer recognize it,” he said.
The former Sierra Leonean President insisted that democracy in Africa should go beyond regular elections, noting that it should be about good governance, safeguarding human rights and the rule of law, about giving hope to the citizens through tangible deliverables particularly on the economy, in access to social infrastructure, services, or in peace consolidation.
On his part, season journalist cum advocate Jenerali Ulimwengu said efforts of building sustainable democracies on the continent were getting curtailed.
He however singled out praise to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for breathing in a fresh lease of life in Tanzania’s democratic space.
The two-day Africa Drive for Democracy conference brings together representatives of the democratic community from over 30 African countries.
Delegates exerted their focus on the struggle for democracy will have a safe space to discuss trends, exchange lessons and experiences and strengthen networks of solidarity.
The conference is expected to deliberate on the plight of democratic activists and how to regenerate their efforts in the face of growing threats from increasingly authoritarian states.
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