Skaz..the machine is in motion! the african locust-swarm has descended! the wheels of dictatorship and single-party state are turning slowly, inexorably. All will be drawn in, squashed, their juices squeezed and spat out into the barren hungry wilderness beyond the rows of sullen, ill-disciplined soldiers...every party member defection, every biased SABC newscast, every corrupt deal and every new law passed adds to the momentum.
you are their feed! the difference between African dictators and Western leaders is that the Western leaders do not feel obliged to 'devour' their countries. To rule them, yes, but to improve them and make them shine, so as to feel all the prouder and be all the more powerful for ruling them. The African dictators perspective on ruling is that a) being the president is, as opposed to being a very tough job and b) to z) enrich myself and my mates as much as we can whilst keeping the hordes at bay via the expedient method of starving and killing them.
sometimes they even luck on a nice wealthy economy and are wily enough to know when to squeeze s-l-o-w-l-y as not to burst the bag and lose all the juice...