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| African view: Will the Bongo dynasty continue? | African view: Will the Bongo dynasty continue? |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| In our series of weekly viewpoints from African journalists, Zimbabwean Farai Sevenzo wonders if Ali Ben Bongo, the son of Gabon's late long-serving leader Omar Bongo, is the country's guaranteed next president. | In our series of weekly viewpoints from African journalists, Zimbabwean Farai Sevenzo wonders if Ali Ben Bongo, the son of Gabon's late long-serving leader Omar Bongo, is the country's guaranteed next president. |
| As the Gabonese nation prepares to go to the polls, I've been thinking about them and the question of succession in African leadership. | As the Gabonese nation prepares to go to the polls, I've been thinking about them and the question of succession in African leadership. |
| When President Omar Bongo Ondimba entered the earthly departure lounge in a Spanish hospital back in June, his ensuing death threw into motion the need to go back to the goddess of democracy and offer the sacrifice of a vote to choose a new leader. | When President Omar Bongo Ondimba entered the earthly departure lounge in a Spanish hospital back in June, his ensuing death threw into motion the need to go back to the goddess of democracy and offer the sacrifice of a vote to choose a new leader. |
| But when it comes to these questions of years in power, we think that is not really the issue Ali Ben Bongo Confusion over Gabon candidates Having a laugh with Omar Bongo | But when it comes to these questions of years in power, we think that is not really the issue Ali Ben Bongo Confusion over Gabon candidates Having a laugh with Omar Bongo |
| We do this, every now and then, us Africans. We say goodbye to the dead leader and go and choose another one as if the process of choosing is unique and new, like picking out a new car with your insurance money when you've pranged the last one. | We do this, every now and then, us Africans. We say goodbye to the dead leader and go and choose another one as if the process of choosing is unique and new, like picking out a new car with your insurance money when you've pranged the last one. |
| But will the vote bring a new car to the Gabonese? Is it the same make of car but a newer model? | But will the vote bring a new car to the Gabonese? Is it the same make of car but a newer model? |
| I'm particularly fond of my classic Mercedes, which came off the production lines in the year I was born, and I have no wish to trade her in for one of those newer Mercedes with ridiculous names like Kompresser and shiny metal skin that attracts bimbos. | I'm particularly fond of my classic Mercedes, which came off the production lines in the year I was born, and I have no wish to trade her in for one of those newer Mercedes with ridiculous names like Kompresser and shiny metal skin that attracts bimbos. |
| But as you know, old presidents are not like old classic cars - they are not built like a tank with immortal design flair and their skins will sag and death will call on them one day as it calls on all of us - but their successors can certainly be newer models of the same make of car. | But as you know, old presidents are not like old classic cars - they are not built like a tank with immortal design flair and their skins will sag and death will call on them one day as it calls on all of us - but their successors can certainly be newer models of the same make of car. |
| Same car, new model | Same car, new model |
| This brings me back to the citizens of Gabon who are seeking a new presidential model to drive their nation and its riches of minerals timber and oil into the post-Bongo era. | This brings me back to the citizens of Gabon who are seeking a new presidential model to drive their nation and its riches of minerals timber and oil into the post-Bongo era. |
| In 2005, his father's posters adorned the city | In 2005, his father's posters adorned the city |
| For this is yet another lowly populated African country with as much oil reserves as Dubai and Gabon's future should look bright. | For this is yet another lowly populated African country with as much oil reserves as Dubai and Gabon's future should look bright. |
| So who will turn on the lights as Gabon heads to the polls? | So who will turn on the lights as Gabon heads to the polls? |
| Step forward Ali Ben Bongo - that's right, same car, newer model - for Mr Bongo is surely the man to take over his late father's responsibilities? | Step forward Ali Ben Bongo - that's right, same car, newer model - for Mr Bongo is surely the man to take over his late father's responsibilities? |
| I was in Libreville during the last election in 2005 which turned out to be the last one for the dapper old lion Omar Bongo. | I was in Libreville during the last election in 2005 which turned out to be the last one for the dapper old lion Omar Bongo. |
| His image hung from skyscrapers and a hot air balloon floated over the Libreville sky showed his face to us mere earthlings. | His image hung from skyscrapers and a hot air balloon floated over the Libreville sky showed his face to us mere earthlings. |
| Mr Ondimba was the minister of defence then and I found him totally charming. | Mr Ondimba was the minister of defence then and I found him totally charming. |
| We sat in his office and conducted a film interview in perfect English and you know how rare it is for Francophones to converse with Anglophones as if they come from the same continent. | We sat in his office and conducted a film interview in perfect English and you know how rare it is for Francophones to converse with Anglophones as if they come from the same continent. |
| Oily riches | Oily riches |
| I noticed too that his personal assistant was not some long-legged model but a no-nonsense man from China who ushered me into the Defence Ministry's air-conditioned calmness. | I noticed too that his personal assistant was not some long-legged model but a no-nonsense man from China who ushered me into the Defence Ministry's air-conditioned calmness. |
| Mr Bongo junior was all smiles with a full face that seemed comfortable in middle age. | Mr Bongo junior was all smiles with a full face that seemed comfortable in middle age. |
| So it's possible that Gabon may skip a generation and be led by an Old Etonian? Farai Sevenzo Supermodel fears over Gabon vote | So it's possible that Gabon may skip a generation and be led by an Old Etonian? Farai Sevenzo Supermodel fears over Gabon vote |
| Men in fine suits and Prada sandals stood around him - the embodiment of Gabon's ruling class. | Men in fine suits and Prada sandals stood around him - the embodiment of Gabon's ruling class. |
| I wanted to know from him if it was justifiable for his father to have been in power for 38 years. | I wanted to know from him if it was justifiable for his father to have been in power for 38 years. |
| He spoke calmly and deliberately: "We want democracy, and democracy is good for our country, and the Gabonese have returned President Bongo again and again to office in democratic elections," he said. | He spoke calmly and deliberately: "We want democracy, and democracy is good for our country, and the Gabonese have returned President Bongo again and again to office in democratic elections," he said. |
| "But when it comes to these questions you know of years in power, we think that is not really the issue." | "But when it comes to these questions you know of years in power, we think that is not really the issue." |
| I remember his calm command of the English language and he said he went to university in America. | I remember his calm command of the English language and he said he went to university in America. |
| Omar Bongo had close ties to French leaders | Omar Bongo had close ties to French leaders |
| So what about his country's traditional allegiance to France, how strong is that? | So what about his country's traditional allegiance to France, how strong is that? |
| "We are an independent nation and we are always looking for new partners," he said. | "We are an independent nation and we are always looking for new partners," he said. |
| And that perhaps explained Mr Bongo's Chinese assistant. | And that perhaps explained Mr Bongo's Chinese assistant. |
| Mr Bongo junior spoke like a man who was infinitely aware of his country's value. | Mr Bongo junior spoke like a man who was infinitely aware of his country's value. |
| After all, France the colonial power has never really left. | After all, France the colonial power has never really left. |
| Money flows from Libreville to Paris. There are 120 French firms in the country including the oil giant Total and a 10,000-strong French community. | Money flows from Libreville to Paris. There are 120 French firms in the country including the oil giant Total and a 10,000-strong French community. |
| France's 6th Marine Infantry Battalion is also stationed there. | France's 6th Marine Infantry Battalion is also stationed there. |
| It is little wonder then that President Nicolas Sarkozy and former President Jacques Chirac took time out to bury Mr Bongo senior in June. | It is little wonder then that President Nicolas Sarkozy and former President Jacques Chirac took time out to bury Mr Bongo senior in June. |
| Production line | Production line |
| We ended the interview on a personal note. "How many children have you got?" I asked. | |
| Mr Bongo has had the best-financed campaign | Mr Bongo has had the best-financed campaign |
| "We have two sons and a daughter. And I'm proud to tell you that our eldest son is currently attending Eton College in England," he replied. | |
| Eton College is an exclusive private school that has produced 19 British prime ministers. | Eton College is an exclusive private school that has produced 19 British prime ministers. |
| Hearing its name in Libreville came as a bit of a surprise. You can go anywhere with oil money. | Hearing its name in Libreville came as a bit of a surprise. You can go anywhere with oil money. |
| "Is he really?" I asked. "So it's possible that Gabon may skip a generation and be led by an Old Etonian?" | "Is he really?" I asked. "So it's possible that Gabon may skip a generation and be led by an Old Etonian?" |
| He found this very funny and wondered why I was always going back to this point of succession. | He found this very funny and wondered why I was always going back to this point of succession. |
| But here we are four years on and the presidency is within his grasp. | But here we are four years on and the presidency is within his grasp. |
| It is no easy ride no matter what car you're driving. | It is no easy ride no matter what car you're driving. |
| How will Mr Bongo deal with his late father's frozen assets in France? | How will Mr Bongo deal with his late father's frozen assets in France? |
| With the increasingly vocal opposition? Can he let the oil money trickle down to his impoverished people? | With the increasingly vocal opposition? Can he let the oil money trickle down to his impoverished people? |
| If he wins, he may find that he will not have the 42 years his father had to make his mark and it may soon be time to for the third Bongo to roll off the production line. | If he wins, he may find that he will not have the 42 years his father had to make his mark and it may soon be time to for the third Bongo to roll off the production line. |
| If you would like to comment on this column, send us your views using the postform below. | If you would like to comment on this column, send us your views using the postform below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |