“We will crush them, kill the rats, deal severely with agents of imperialism,” such rhetoric has been common, particularly in Africa including Zimbabwe.Dictators hang on to power at the cost of civilian lives, mostly fearing prosecution for genocidal atrocities committed against their own people.
1984, a dystopian novel by the English writer, George Orwell, details a story focusing on Winston Smith’s life, the writer’s vision of a totalitarian state, which wields absolute control over every action and thought of its people through propaganda, constant surveillance and harsh punishment.
What Orwell alludes to is typical of most African regimes, others in South America and the notorious North-Korea, which often bullies the American-backed South-Korea.
Adolf Hitler tried to mould Germany and a large portion of the 20th century Europe into his own twisted design, which he failed, but not before destroying the lives of 17-million innocent souls, with his death still shrouded in mystery after his fall from supremacy.
Idi Amin rose to become a brutal and utterly ruthless dictator who committed heinous atrocities against his own people, but died in exile in Saudi Arabia in 2003 following dissent in Uganda over his rule.
Joseph Stalin, one of the great tyrants of the 20th century, under whose despotic rule 23-million people perished in the then Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics, was in 1953 found in his room, lying on the carpet, unconscious, his pyjama bottoms drenched in urine after he suffered a stroke.
Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, was quoted in the Russian media, saying about her father: “He, out of the blue, opened his eyes and glared at everybody inside the room. It was an awful look, crazy or maybe furious and filled with fear of death… Then something incomprehensible and frightening occurred — he suddenly raised his left hand as though he was pointing to something above. The next instant, after a final effort, the spirit wrenched itself free of the flesh.” He died.
Former Libyan strongman, Muammar Gaddafi was dragged out of a sewer drain where he hid close to Sirte, his hometown, begging for mercy from his captors; promising them unimaginable riches in exchange for his dear life before he was murdered.
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The once feared Iraq leader, Saddam Hussein, was found groveling; hiding in a hole close to his home-village in Iraq following charges he faced after he murdered over 48 000 of his people for an alleged attempt on his life in 1982.
His capture showed him disheveled, docilely submitting to a medical examination; with a doctor running his gloved hand through his hair while sticking a tongue depressor in his mouth, — a disgusting sight.
Egypt’s ailing 82-year old former President Hosni Mubarak was in power for almost 30 years until he was toppled in a wave of mass protests.Ben Ali, former Tunisian President fled amid boiling protests against his 23-year rule and landed in Saudi Arabia.
Back home, after the 2008 March elections, President Robert Mugabe was rumoured to have fled to Malaysia after sensing defeat in the so-called first round of the plebiscite, reports of which were quashed by the state media.
Laurent Gbagbo, former Ivory Coast President, vowed not to step down, reportedly taking advice from his counterpart, Mugabe and refused to relinquish power to his foe, Alassane Quattara after he lost elections, but was shamefully captured at his residence, cornered by French-backed local forces.
This proves that people power is unconquerable. And dictators are the worst cowards ever.
BY JEFFREY MOYO CHARI
