There is a certain stage in life when age becomes a sensitive subject. The sensitivities, and sometimes denials, are engendered by the realisation that we live in a society that favours youth.
This normally brings about a sense of rejection and irrelevance among the aging which results in subsequent gradual elimination from societal mainstreams.
But age remains a fundamental factor in planning at both personal and national level. And it indeed becomes a vital issue for discussion if it affects the welfare and development of people.
I am aware that discussing age, politics and development in Zimbabwe doesn’t sit well in our current national political discourse according to some sectors of society.
However the purpose of this piece is to argue that there is more to benefit in Zimbabwe and Africa-wide if the young and fast-growing population is allowed to express their potential in a free environment.
This potential for growth among young Africans is being stifled by an aging breed of African leadership who, in many ways, are not in sync with today’s needs.
Their reluctance to embrace good governance and implement adequate social and economic policies to allow these young people to explore their potential, for fear of losing power evokes memories of the fascist authoritarian epoch.
Their inimical attitude towards the benefits of new ideas and new technology is abhorrently stifling. Examples include the banning of social networking sites in some countries.
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We live in a society dominated by youth and their needs must dominate. The United Nations World Population Prospects states that 60% of Africa’s population is less than 25 years old which suggests a huge reserve for young development energy.
But sadly most of these will be end up frustrated looking for jobs elsewhere where young leaders make things happen.
The average age range for most African leaders falls within the 60 to above-80 years old, a range which constitutes just 5% of Africa’s population. A 2010 snap survey shows that the average age for African leaders stood at 73 years.
These include Abdulaye Wade (Senegal – age 84), Hosni Mubarak (former Egypt – 83), Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe – 87), Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia – 75), (Zambia – 74), Mwai Kibaki (Kenya – 72), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia – 76), Colonel Gaddafi (Libya – 69), Jacob Zuma (South Africa – 69), Bingu Wa Mtarika (Malawi – 77), Paul Biya (Cameroon – 78), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda – 67), Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali (former Tunisia – late 60s), Eduardo dos Santos (Angola – 67) and Denis Sassou Nguesso (Congo-Brazzaville – 67). On the contrary, the average age of Western countries’ leaders is 22 years younger than their African counterparts.
US President Barack Obama is 49 this year, David Cameron (UK – 44), Dimitri Medvedev (Russia – 46), Stephen Harper (Canada – 52), Julia Gillard (Australia – 50), Nicolas Sarkozy (France – 56), Luis Zapatero (Spain – 50), Jose Socrates (Portugal – 54), and Angela Merkel (Germany – 57).
This is an average of 51 years.
There are young African leaders who have made a difference for their countries such as Paul Kagame (53), the President of Rwanda. He has surprised many by transforming a war-torn country into a model for development. It’s now a land of promises.
Ian Khama of Botswana (58) has demonstrated that diamonds can make life better for his people. This goes to show that age, to a great extent, is a major factor in determining the delivery levels of the two groups.
This is neither impertinence towards the aged nor discounting the venerability of knowledge and wisdom that come with aging but scientific studies and biology tell us that aging causes a natural cognitive decline which results in senility, crotchety behaviour, rigidity, confusion and frailty.
The result of these is loss of control over issues. Their authority in public becomes questionable, as issues of their cognitive ability and other physical consequences start to affect the perceived quality of their judgment.
As memory starts to slowly deteriorate, they get out of touch with reality thereby falling behind fast-changing areas of life.
While many experts consider this deterioration as being normal, it is inconceivable to imagine just how this current breed of aging Africa leadership can cope with the fast-evolving demands of today’s young population.
If culture and tradition were allowed to previal over power and politics, surely we wouldn’t be seeing 72-year-olds in demanding positions of power.
Traditionally, older adults are often perceived as being experienced, knowledgeable and wise.
These qualities make them good candidates for advisory roles, not leadership positions.
It is wise to remember that a herd of a buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo.
Likewise African development may be, to a great extent, determined by the age of its leaders.
Tapiwa Gomo is a development consultant based in Pretoria, South Africa
