Although African leaders and their governments for many years now have been preaching for development and growth of democracy in their countries, there has been no even one time when the democracy has been given an opportunity to grow and develop. Democracy in Africa has always been impractical and theoretical.
It has remained in words and speeches of African leaders, documents and the speeches of the Western powers spokesmen. This problem started since independence which was attained mostly in 1960's and 1970's in Africa. To many common people in Africa, democracy is still a new vocabulary or a puzzle. They know nothing about the reality of democracy and its actual operation. What they know is just the participation in every general election conducted after a certain phase of presidency. On the other hand only few African scholars have been trying to show the truth that democracy in Africa reflects no reality in people's life. Also some leaders are against this reality.
There is no doubts that Africans have no power in their hands to elect their leaders according to the their desire, willing and interest. They are usually cheated and forced either directly or indirectly to elect their leaders. At the same time those few Africans who criticize their governments are regarded as enemies of the people and development. However, this trend of creating self-hatred against human rights activists is not only common in Africa but also in the world in general.
The experience in our life in this world shows that usually those people who claim for their rights violated by those in power, are more regarded as criminals than those who practices evils which are against human rights and development. Apart from that, those people who protects the evils and fear to criticize those who are in power are regarded as innocent! This is what exist in today's Africa and the world in general.
We can take an example of Ngugi Wa Thiong'o; a famous Kenyan novelist and Playwright who was always criticizing the Kenyan government. He was once imprisoned just for claiming the rights of the poor people of Kenya who were exploited by the ruling class. We can also re-call to the incident Dr. Walter Rodney, a Guyanese activist who was killed by the government of his own country when he was fighting for the total liberation of people. These are just few examples as there are so many examples to prove my statement above.
Another main problem in relation to theoretical democracy in Africa that has emerged in some years ago; which is also expected to exist for a long time is an illegal election in some African countries. What is illegal election? It can be defined as an election which does not follow the principles of democracy and which is against the people's expectations and interests. This also proves how the democracy in Africa is theoretic as we had seen several times, elections in some African countries were dominated and accompanied with unnecessary violence due to intended violation of human rights that is caused by political propaganda
In this article, Zimbabwe and Kenya will be used as an example to show how democracy in Africa is a theoretical issue. The general election conducted in Zimbabwe in 29th March 2008, was witnessed by all of us. We saw how the election was ambiguous. During the election campaign, President Mugabel refused to let the opposition party M.D.C; under its chairmanship of Morgan Tsvangirai to take over the control of Zimbabwe claiming that Tsvangirai is a Western Power's puppet. Mugabe rejected the leaders from opposition political parties like Tsvangirai to lead Zimbabwe because he believed that they could promote neo-colonialism in his country. Mugabe further claimed that no one from opposition party would be allowed to come into power until his death!
During that election, the election results delayed more than extent to which people expected and latter when the results were announced neither Mugabe nor Tsvangirai got the percentage required for a presidential candidate to become a president. The delay of the results can be regarded as the strategy to try to modify or change the votes. The decision was then made that the election was to be conducted in the second round on 27th June 2008. However, the second round election did not involve the opposition presidential candidate Tsvangirai because he withdraw himself from it saying that election was against human rights. Eventually, the second round election results enabled Mugabe to become president.
That election in Zambabwe was a great challenge to other African leaders. After the election, they had no collective and independent decision and stand on how to solve the conflicts between Mugabe and Tsvangirai. They failed to intervene the Mugabe's decision of ruling Zimbabwe until his death! Then it was decided that the transitional government should be formed which is also known as power sharing system and it was blessed by many African leaders!
The lesson to learn through that election is that African leaders are not ready to accept true and real democracy in their countries because it can be a threat to their interest especially for those who are not faithful and accountable.
The same problem of illegal election was also justified in Kenya during general election held on 27th December 2007 whereby Kibaki become president although the votes which enabled him to win the election was claimed to have been stolen after the Kenyan electoral commission chairman, Samwel Kivuitu had beenn pressurized to accept the vote stealing trick!
There is no doubt that without true and practical democracy it difficult for African countries to develop! This is sad story in Africa because true and practical democracy is not observed. The opposition political parties that in one way or another can promote democracy in Africa are neglected, undermined and devalued by the ruling parties. The ruling parties use every possible trick which enables them to maintain their positions.
One of the trick used by the ruling parties is misleading the people especially poor by telling them that if they elect the leaders from opposition political parties; there will be a civil war! This fallacy is aimed at frightening the voters so that they continue supporting the ruling parties.
The power sharing system in Africa is also accepted by Western imperialist countries although they always advocate for the human rights and democracy! This shows how they are hypocrite. The Western countries in some cases preach and advocate for human rights only if their economic interests are jeopardized or threatened!
Thus African leaders should unite together to promote true democracy in their countries. They should help each other in financial and economic affairs so as to be free from neo-colonialism.
BY BARNABA BUKHU.
