ISS Briefing: The Indispensable Presidents? Leadership Change and Former Presidents in African Politics

Date: 2007-06-15 to Invalid date

ISS Briefing: The Indispensable Presidents? Leadership Change and Former Presidents in African Politics
Cape Town, 15 June 2007

 

What role should there be – if any - for democratically elected Presidents in African politics upon leaving office? While the era of ‘President for life’ may have largely passed, many African countries continue to grapple with the role of former leaders in politics. In Namibia former Pres. Njoma remains an influential leader within the ruling party. In South Africa there is a lobby for Pres. Mbeki to consider a third term presidency of the ruling ANC, while Gen. Obasanjos’ bid for a third term as Head of the Nigerian State has apparently failed.What is the legacy of Presidential power and its impact on democracy on the continent? What are the implications of this for efforts to promote responsive governance and tackling corruption? Are Presidents indispensable?

 

Speaker: Dr Henning Melber, Executive Director of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, Uppsala, Sweden

 

Dr Henning Melber is a former Research Director at the Nordic Africa Institute and previously the Director of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit in Windhoek. He was actively involved in liberation politics for many years and remains a member of SWAPO in Namibia. His book Legacies of Power – Leadership Change and Former Presidents in African Politics  (co-edited with Roger Southall) was published in 2006.

 

Date:Friday 15 June 2007
Time: 11:30 – 13:00 (refreshments served after the discussion)

 

Venue: ISS Cape Town office, 67 Roeland Square, Drury Lane, Gardens, Cape Town

 

(Please note the office is 5 minutes walk from Parliament off Roeland Street – Parking is available at the public parking at Fruit & Veg City on Roeland Street)

 

RSVP: Natashia Emmett by 14 June 2007
Tel: 021 461 7211
Fax: 021 461 7213
Email: [email protected]

 

Note: Limited seating available