Presidents on Campuses

Bate Felix

IT IS February 2010, the beginning of the academic year. Politics 101 has been moved from the usual venue to the Great Hall in Senate House to accommodate the over 1000 students that have signed up for the course.

Not that the course work has been made any easier, or that there’s an assured pass. It is just that the lecturer this semester is none other than former president Thabo Mbeki.

Dreaming? Not really, if plans underway succeed. The programme is called president-in-residence. It comprises of former heads of states donning the academic robe to dispense knowledge and, most importantly, their experiences to leaders of the future generation. It has already started at Boston University, America, and Wits will soon host one.

What is the point, ask cynics? What is the point of getting lectures on politics, democracy, human rights and management from some leaders who could clearly have done a better job of it? But this is a great opportunity.

According to former Ambassador Charles Stith, director of the African Presidential Archive and Research Center in Boston University and initiator of the program, it has a dual purpose.

First of all, it will “provide an opportunity for democratically elected African leaders to transition to civilian status by providing a venue that will value and utilize the experience and expertise of these unique individuals”. It will also “provide the university and broader community with access to these leaders”.

Encouraging “democratically elected” leaders to leave when their mandate is over would be welcomed in most African countries where presidents tend to cling to power by all “democratic means necessary”. Some claim they need to remain in power because they still have something to offer future generations. Now they have the ideal vehicle to do so - out of office.

Imagine what fun it would be, discussing agrarian reforms with comrade Bob, or unpacking Machiavelli with the late Mobutu of DRC. My favourite would be the “secret of longevity in power” with Omar Bongo from Gabon who has managed to “democratically” remain in power since 1967. On the other hand, imagine discussing Nepad or unpacking the realities of policy implementation in developing economies with Mbeki and Abdoulaye Wade. I can’t wait.