ASSESSING DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA

BY: VICTORSON AGBENSON

OVER THE YEARS, THE TERM DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN VARIOUSLY DESCRIBED IN DIFFERENT TERMS, WITHOUT A UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED DEFINITION; HOWEVER ALL ARE AGREED THAT THE END OF DEMOCRACY CAN BE ASCERTAINED IN TERMS OF SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE PEOPLE AND PROVISION OF DEMOCRACY DIVIDENDS. THE AFRICAN EXPERIENCE OF DEMOCRACY OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN A CHEQUERED ONE. MANY IN AFRICA HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE, WHICH MAY BE AS A RESULT OF ITS INFANCY ON THE CONTINENT.


It is interesting to know that in 1863, Americans felt hopeless BECAUSE THE civil conflict WHICH THE YOUNG NATION WAS EXPERIENCING was dragging on and President Abraham Lincoln was worried about continuing support for the war effort by the people. It was indeed a dark period in America’s democratic journey AND THE MOOD WAS DEEPLY TROUBLING. But amidst that despair President Lincoln MADE HIS THEN FAMOUS SPEECH known as the Gettysburg address. In that one speech, Lincoln gave life to a democracy then in crisis. He underlined the importance of the electorate and inspired his nation to overcome internal strife and ultimately slavery. Today democracy faces similar threats in many African nations. But the very fact that true democracy anywhere is a beauty to behold everywhere should inspire us to strive to cultivate, nurture and develop a democratic culture. The emergence of Barrack Obama, a black man as America’s President is a shining example in this regard.
Today, elections are a common fixture in the African political process. This is a significant departure from a few years ago. Reports show that between 1970 and 1989 only 15 polls took place in sub-saharan Africa, and of these, only three were broadly free and fair. What this means is that the peoples participation in the political process at the time was almost non-existent. But this has changed as projections show that between November 2009 and December 2011, there are 15 Presidential and 8 Parliamentary multi party elections scheduled to take place across Africa. On the surface this looks impressive, but the challenge is that despite the use of the electoral processes to advance democracy, the electorate in many African countries continues to be disappointed by the governments that emerge largely because of electoral fraud. In Zimbabwe, Kenya and many other African nations this has often resulted in riots.

This ugly scenario seem to make nonsense of democracy in Africa. The temptation therefore is to look towards countries which have used their undemocratic forms of government to lift a majority of their people out of poverty. But regardless of the success these nations may have recorded, there is still the absence of a people centred democracy. THESE should not HOWEVER deter us. Democracy is not a destination but rather a journey. It is not so much about the politician BUT ABOUT THE PEOPLE. In a democracy, anywhere in the world, the electorate must be ACTIVE AND CONSTANTLY PROBING. They must drive issues and political debates. The people must never surrender to politicians or a political class. Therefore Africa must now focus on how to reposition the electorate to be the kingmakers and to take the centre stage. Also, the political parties which are the factories that produce candidates for various public offices must be held accountable to their constitutional mandates.

Electoral commissions must operate autonomously AND be financially independent. They should be manned by competent citizens WITH long standing records of integrity. It is a thing of joy that many African countries have made a start along this path. But it is also important to note that while the desire for a robust democracy is universal, each country is at a different stage of institutional and societal development. One cannot however expect that the electoral processes of newly democratic African states WOULD be as developed as established democracies like America and Britain. Despite this stark reality we cannot afford to abandon the process altogether because the road is rocky, bumpy and winding. Elections in Africa are worth the trauma and pains. Africans are on a journey much like the US was centuries ago and would get there.


Source: Recorded live from FRCN daily commentary