Through a close-knit patronage system, dictators set-up a web of institutions to support their stay in power usually through all means necessary including extrajudicial methods. As the web of institutions fears crumble, they in many cases mislead the dictator to the extent of holding him at ransom for their continued stay. When dictators unfortunately meet their fate, it is clear that their utterances point to an elite whose divorce from reality cannot be overemphasized.
In most cases, their regrets are mainly to have been surrounded by yes-men who end up plunging the nation into unending trouble. These dictators continue to show disregard for the people’s socio-economic aspiration, closing all avenues for the ordinary people’s survival but lining the pockets of elites who benefit from these corrupt schemes.
From the historical dictators in Europe, Asia and the Americas to the modern-day African strongmen, dictatorships continue to provide a source of unending pain for suffering citizens. They continue to see nationals from the afflicted nations failing to express themselves, living paupers’ lives and struggling to even interact with the outside world.
Several nations have been plunged into debt with top elites in those countries having accounts four or five times more than those of the nations they purport to serve. Former Zimbabwean finance minister Chris Kuruneri was able to lend Zimbabwe money to hold an election in 2005 after purported approaches from Gideon Gono who is the reserve bank governor.
In some cases, dictators have taken a dynastic approach to consolidation of power with Togo, Gabon and Swaziland as some of the African countries who continue to suffer under a dynastic hegemony. North Korea and Cuba provide some of the global focal points for such an approach to dictatorships.
Post published in: Zimbabwe News