Power displays

Over many years in Africa one has watched with dismay that symbol of power – the Presidential motorcade – become bigger and more threatening by the year. There was a time when it used to drive at a steady speed through the streets, so that the President could give friendly waves to his happy subjects. As tyranny increased, which was the unfortunate trend, not only did the speed increase, but the number of vehicles grew exponentially. Now it was not a matter of mingling with the people, but avoiding assassination.

The most unpleasant members of these motorcades are the policemen which drive up front. They aim straight for you, and if you don’t stop immediately right at the edge of the road you’ll be pulled out of the car and roughed up. Here we’re not talking about the behaviour of mad Bob’s people in Zimbabwe – or the excesses of equatorial Guinea: it even happens in South Africa. And as the number of cars increases, the cars also become more expensive.

There was one exception to this trend: Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, who used to be driven in a Peugeot 504. He would sit in the front, next to the driver, and travel at a dignified and safe 50km an hour. One vehicle would follow him.

As these things go, the Congo’s motorcades are relatively small and not very threatening. Indeed, President Kabila enjoys being away from the pomp and circumstance of office, and sometimes drives around on a quad bike, followed, of course, by his retinue of soldiers and aides in their cars, trying hard not to look embarrassed by the antics of their boss.

His father was a different story. So obsessed with power was he that the road had to be completely cleared before he travelled anywhere. Cars were made to stop and the drivers had to to stand in front of their cars with their hands up. Apparently it used to give him a real thrill to see the once rich and powerful foreigners, especially Belgians, standing in that pathetic and subservient pose.

We’re all hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself.