Discuss the types of leadership styles applied in Africa's political landscape.

Dictatorial rule and leadership by Africans themselves, characterized by the injudicious plunder

of national resources, absence of the rule of law, rampant corruption and repressive legislation

against the media is the form of leadership of the day. For example the Access to Information

and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Public Order and Security Act (POSA) in Zimbabwe

which limit the freedom of association and expression and the judiciary; brutal suppression of the

opposition parties and dissenting voices retards development of individual African states and

Africa itself, Marume (1988). In Swaziland, King Mswati outlawed opposition parties, power

and authority revolves around him. Thus autocratic leadership is the daily business of African

governments.

There is another form of leadership in Africa that is categorized as neo-patrimonialism.

Controlling the state and its resources became the primary purpose of political contestation. It is

equally true that: Africa is, however, generally underdeveloped, where political violence,

intolerance, repression and dictatorships are common. The government then takes advantage of

the poverty to and create clients for themselves based on food handouts. This is equivalent to

vote buying hence they create hegemony and maintain their stay in power.

African governments also can be referred to as populist leadership. Political leaders exploit the

psychology and emotions of the people especially basing on past experiences as well as on ethnic

divide. They usually target those people who are less rational and appeal to their conscience

there by facilitating their election and stay in power without any service delivery and

development of the people.