Wanted: African dictators for position at university

Long-forgotten or soon-to-be-washed-up dictators from Africa are being given the chance of renewed respectability and a year of creature comforts thanks to a novel academic project.

Boston University announced yesterday that it was establishing a fellowship programme for former heads of government from Africa that will allow them to teach and travel in the United States for a year.

The first recipient of the unlikely honour is Kenneth Kaunda, who led Zambia to independence.

The university has one of the oldest centres of African learning in the country and clearly hopes to earn prestige from the fellowship. Never mind if some of those who take advantage of it may have records that are less than distinguished. Robert Mugabe, whose stubborn hold on power in Zimbabwe has lost him many friends, is a possible candidate.

Kevin Carleton, a spokesman for the university, said: "The vision is that having a very respectable position, which honours the individual and his achievements, will be seen as an enticement to those in power, or perhaps newly out of power but contemplating a return, that there is an appropriate civil course for them to pursue."

The Bush administration has signalled that it approves and other leaders mentioned in connection with the fellowship are Yoweri Museveni, the long-time leader of Uganda, and Frederick Chiluba, who succeeded Mr Kaunda, 78, in 1990.

"Very few will not have skeletons in the closet. But if we were to look for purity in their legacies as if we were the Vatican, we would have an empty chair here," Mr Carelton said.