South Africans Just Sacked their President @#$@%#^%#^

There are times when certain occurrences hit you in the face and others take time before you realize their magnitude,and it just occurred to me, that South Africans, just fired their president. WHAT???? They just gave him the sack, the pink slip, terminated HAKUNA KAZI HAPA. So where is the loud report, accompanied with the wailing of women and children, or the shirtless youth wielding his machete with disastrous consequences? Shouldn't some community south of the Limpopo be arming itself under the claim that one of their own has been robbed of his rightful claim. I mean, this is Mbeki, Thabo Mbeki, the same guy who by the power of his presence, brought the primal foes Mugabe and Tsvangirai together in one government, the guy who dares challenge that HIV is the cause of AIDS. His economic record has been good and would win another elections in South Africa. So why is everything so calm, it looks like Mbeki packed his things in a box, left the key with the security guard and caught the bus home. No drama.

After my initial shock I realized that this phenomenon was not unique to South Africa. Our brothers in TZ have had changes in government without the accompanying hullabaloo. That is the power of precedent. These countries have had iconic leaders who stepped down while there political careers were still viable. Madiba left his thrown and Mwalimu was humble enough to retire. Just think, what would Africa look like if Jomo Kenyatta and Moi had served one or two terms and passed the baton to the next generation. Or Mugabe left the presidency when he was still relevant and an African hero.

George Washington was a leader who was keenly aware of this role as founder and father of a nation. At the height of his popularity he forsaw the need for precedent and said in his farewell speech "I beg you at the same time to do me the justice to be assured that this resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful citizen to his country; and that in withdrawing the tender of service, which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness, but am supported by a full conviction that the step is compatible with both". Africa has had its share of good leaders who have turned bad, heros who end up villains. They were unaware of their true roles as founders of nations.The key purpose of a founding father is to lay a foundation and Thabo's exist is an example of a well laid foundation. Well done Madiba once again you make us proud.