It is not common to see an African national leader stepping down from office voluntarily. This kind of thing rarely happens in the continent.
That is why Ian Khama, the President of Botswana who stepped down from power at the weekend after serving two terms, deserves global acclaim. And really, the Black world, including Africans in the Diaspora, has taken note of his example.
Despite the pressure on him to remain in power by an overwhelming majority of his people, 65-year old Khama, insisted on leaving office last Saturday to underscore his philosophy that Africa needs true democracy via respect for the ballot box.
Khama’s exit preserves the legacy of his father, Seretse Khama, who struggled for his country’s independence from Britain and became the first president in 1966, ushering in more than 50 years of multi-party democracy.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, set up by the Sudanese billionaire to measure and reward good governance in Africa, ranks Botswana the third most democratic country in Africa, behind Mauritius and the Seychelles.
Mr. Khama had been known to castigate his African counterparts, who have committed all sorts of atrocity including the killing of their political opponents in order to cling unto power.
He is on record as supporting the International Criminal Court and its efforts to prosecute other African leaders accused of crimes against humanity. The out-gone Botswana leader also called on other African nations to enforce the court’s arrest warrant on Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and to stand with the Sudanese people against his oppressive rule.
