It was a widely dominant perception until the early 1990's that African rulers do not vacate their office alive. But even in the brutal reality of African politics, transition takes place and different former presidents have dealt with how to maintain power and privilege very differently. With new case studies examining the post-presidential years of the iconic Mandela in South Africa, Daniel arap Moi in Kenya, Nyerere in Tanzania, Rawlings in Ghana, Charles Taylor in Liberia, as well as the experience of Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi, and Nigeria, this volume examines the dilemmas which demands for presidential transitions impose upon incumbent rulers and analyses the relationships which are evolving between new regimes and their predecessors. The contributors discuss the hybridal political systems that exist in post-independence Africa; the role allotted to or pursued by former African presidents; transitional politics and justice, and political stability. The book stimulates careful further observation and analyses concerning progress in this contested arena of institutionalised political power in Africa.
CONTENTS -- Introduction: about life after presidency / Henning Melber and Roger Southall -- Former presidents in African politics / Roger Southall, Neo Simutanyi and John Daniel -- Soldiering on: the post-presidential years of Nelson Mandela 1999-2005/John Daniel -- Unpacking the model: Presidential succession in Botswana / Ken Good and Ian Taylor -- The contested role of former presidents in Zambia / Neo Simutanyi -- ‘Presidential indispensability’ in Namibia: moving out of office but staying in power? / Henning Melber -- ‘When I am a century old’: why Robert Mugabe won’t go / David Moore -- Toxic mushrooms? The presidential third-term debate in Malawi/Seán Morrow -- Politics and presidential term limits in Uganda / Roger Tangri -- Immunity or accountabilty? Daniel Toroitich arap Moi: Kenya’s first retired president/Thomas P. Wolf -- Troubled visionary: Nyerere as a former president/Roger Southall -- Rawlings’ former presidency: A threat to democracy in Ghana? / Kwame Boafo-Arthur -- An army of ex-presidents: transitions, the military and democratic consolidation in Nigeria / Sola Akinrinade -- Despot deposed: Charles Taylor and the challenge of state reconstruction in Liberia / Daniel Hoffman