Trump imitates Zuma as leaders play for power

● Power and the fear of losing it drove world headlines this week: from America to Zimbabwe none could resist the temptation to cling to it — or to regret its passing.

US President Donald Trump stepped up his war against the intelligence and law enforcement agencies, seemingly taking lessons from President Jacob Zuma’s longevity playbook.

Just as Zuma has played fast and loose with the NPA and the courts to weaken his accusers, Trump released an explosive Republican-authored memo which appears to show bias in the Justice Department and FBI in investigating whether he conspired with the Russians to get himself elected.

Democracy and constitutionalism also took a battering in Kenya, where last year’s disputed presidential poll split the nation. Most TV stations were ordered off-air this week after showing the mock inauguration of opposition leader Raila Odinga. The AU condemned Odinga, but ignored President Uhuru Kenyatta’s censorship.

In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe apologised to the deputy president he sacked four years ago, Joice Mujuru. Mugabe is said to feel “betrayed and abandoned” because former comrades are ignoring him after he was toppled from power last year.