In the unforgiving landscape of politics, where power can be as elusive as the desert’s rains, what tactics would an unauthorized ruler employ to cling to their seat of authority? This precarious position becomes even more daunting in the face of economic mismanagement and a crippled state. However, the pursuit of retaining power often trumps all obstacles, even the looming specter of political ruin.

The temptation for a ruler in such a predicament might be to turn to strategies that have worked in the past – tactics that once charmed a gullible populace and created the illusion of power retention while exploiting those it claimed to protect.

One glaring example of this is the disorderly and unconstitutional usurping of land, a strategy that once tapped into populist sentiments. Despite its chaotic nature, it led to alarming food insecurity, ironically after commandeering some of the most fertile land on the continent. Land that was once the source of sustenance for an entire continent now struggles to feed its immediate population.

The irony deepens when we consider that the lack of land for the people was partly created by the very ruling party that now sought to seize it. This realization came to light with the emergence of a new opposition party in 1999, offering an alternative to the ruling party’s parasitic approach, which had pushed the economy to the brink. To counter this threat, the ruling party employed populism as a smokescreen, obscuring its failures and diverting support away from disgruntled war veterans and the burgeoning opposition.

At the heart of this political maneuvering was the desire to maintain the status quo, which rested precariously on the continuation of illicit power. The ruling party had lost the trust of the people, a development that should come as no surprise. The exploitative elite within the party feared the erosion of their capacity for unchecked corruption, and they responded by feigning concern for the public’s welfare while tightening their grip on power to prevent any potential loss that might curtail their unchecked plundering.

Grandiose visions such as “Vision 2030” and other populist strategies, including the dubious national recolonization program and the anti-transition destabilization program, bear a striking resemblance to the chaotic land seizures of the past. These tactics primarily appeal to the politically naive, serving as empty vessels of inflated promises. Their true purpose is not to bring about meaningful change but to buy time to perpetuate the cycle of illegitimate power retention, corruption, and exploitation.

In essence, these strategies are like balloons filled with hot air – momentarily captivating but fundamentally devoid of substance. They exist not to usher in a new era of prosperity but to prolong the reign of those who manipulate them. Behind the facade of grandiose plans and false pretenses lies a stark reality: a ruling party clinging to power, using every trick in the book to stave off political oblivion.

In a world where the desert’s infrequent rains serve as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of power, these rulers navigate treacherous terrain. Their strategies may be cunning, but they ultimately rest on a fragile foundation built upon deception, exploitation, and the illusion of progress. Whether they can defy the odds and extend their reign remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the desert of politics is unforgiving, and the rains of change can come at any moment.