Colonial Legacy and Succession Frameworks in Africa: A contextual and empirical analysis

Abstract

The paper is an examination of how colonial legacy influenced state formation and succession frameworks in post independent Africa. Succession conflicts seem to be a perennial problem in modern African states compared to traditional African states. This study was based on 18 qualitative in-depth interviews conducted with key informants using the purposive sampling technique, complemented by extensive document review.The findings ascertain howcolonial legacy influenced modern African states succession framework and the architectures of administration and governance.The paper passionately asserts that, the succession problem in Africa seem to be characteristic of the post colonial state, resulting in gradual attrition of the constitutive, regulative rules, institutional processes and mechanism for succession leading to political volatility, illegitimate governments and conflict. The findings also unequivocally isolate Zimbabwe as a victim of colonial legacy and leadership egocentrism. In its recommendations, the paper argues that the succession challenge faced by the continent will always hound succession trends and responsive administration, unless broad based reforms are instituted to dismantle the effects of colonial legacy embedded in African states political systems.