Parves Musharraf

Although former Pakistan’s dictator, Parvez Musharraf was a headache to America and the world in general, he was cloned, parented and supported by George W. Bush to fight Al-Qaeda in neighbouring Afghanistan. Now he is in the process of parking.

Is it a blow to the US and a thumbs-up for Al-Qaeda and democracy all over the world? Is it the writing on the wall that at last, Bush is also exiting? Will Musharraf vacate for good or he’ll be running the country by proxy? How will Pakistan's army sink this in?

Musharraf's exit is welcome and a big lesson for all under the yolk of dictatorship and military juntas, especially in Africa. It is no secret that Africa is gasping under anarchic dictators. Africa has more dictators than all continents put together. In addition, many African empirics such as Theodore Obiang Nguema (Equatorial Guinea), Meles Zenawi (Ethiopia), Joseph Kabila (DRC), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Denis Sassou Ngwesso (Congo) take their orders direct from Washington or Belgium.

Musharraf's exit is proof that the army has realized how they goofed by being manipulated and abusively used to deter and thwart the will of the people. This, indeed, proves the fact that even if tyranny is backed by military and superpower might, it comes to an end.

Indeed, Musharraf used the army to sabotage Pakistan. Now that the army has come of age, the same should be emulated by African parliamentarians and armies. In many African countries, dictators have stayed in power for long by manipulating Parliaments and opposition. Now that Musharraf ‘impeached’ himself before being impeached, African Parliaments have a precedent to start cleansing their countries by getting rid of dictators.

Being a self made lynchpin in "the war on terror," Musharraf thought he could be a life President. He actually misunderstood the dynamics of modern politics just like Saddam Hussein and others. Now that the moment of truth has come, Musharraf has to be brought to books for the crimes he committed. What a great lesson to our goofing dictators that have turned their countries to private estates!

Africans need to start shaping their countries and destinies. Will our imps fall on their own swords after Musharraf ? For better or for worse, this is a challenge we have to face and do the right thing.

Source: The African Executive Magazine August 27, 2008.