REBRANDING THE SYSTEM: DEMOCRACY VERSUS AFRICAN REALITIES
By Shebora Samba KamaraExploring the Past and Contemporary Realities
It is suggestive by all indication that Africa desires a paradigm shift if not a holistic overhauling of governance system/s and processes. This is affirmed by the visible stagnation of many African countries when development is put in the perspective of the influence it has on the lives of ordinary citizens, and a necessary alignment to certain countries of the peripheral world. Autocracy or any other form of dictatorial governance system is not by any means an option in this case, as such regimes in Africa have proven nothing different but brutish and tyrannical leadership.
Africa as a continent doesnt lack the human resources to build its Nations, neither does it lack the necessary Natural and Mineral resources. In fact, a United Nations report on Youth Population trends and sustainable development suggests as at 2015 Africa has an estimated Youthful population of 226 Million just youth aged 15-24, accounting for 19% of global Youth Population. “…By, 2030, It is projected that the number of youth population in Africa will have increased by 42%”. Africa also happens to be the richest continent in terms of Natural resources, as the continent is believed to supply not less than 31% of the Worlds demand for Bauxite, cobalt, gold, Manganese, phosphate, Uranium and some of the purest reserves of Diamond, Gold and Iron ore. But getting the similar outcomes repeatedly in most of the countries under different leaders, calls for a necessary redirection or adjustment of the system to fit into the realities and needs of Africans, tailored in the governance system which will eventually be cascade in all other spheres.
Perhaps amongst the very urgent needs of Africa, one that stands out is, the question of Leadership which is questionable altogether with the nonfunctioning institutions and machinery of governance that are either misused or are inefficient/inappropriate with special consideration to the needs of the African continent. If credence is to be given to the statement of the 44th President of The United States, Barrack Obama who once said “Africa does not need strong men but strong Institutions” perhaps one could justify or qualify such a statement by specifically referring to processes in institutions of governance and in this case the process of democracy that best suit the condition and needs of Africa must be considered significantly.
Contextualizing democracy with the basic understanding that, it is about respect and following of procedures, as Ham Muyungsik a Jilin University Public Diplomacy Professors, will always suggest in his lectures, if the established rules that gives people power but hence executed, must periodically follow established standards no matter the eventual or foreseen outcomes, such is simply the meaning of democracy as the peoples power guided by documents and procedures. But when framed as a basic notion underlined by western prescriptions just to affirm the triumph of liberal democracy in the world we live, it makes it adaptation in different countries difficult and will not create the impact it ought to, needs of countries vary so should governance systems and processes. If self-determination is prime for individual nation states, then a rethink of democracy in Africa is ideal. Rebranding African Democracy simply requires a shift or adjustment of priorities; Focusing on addressing the actual needs of Africans or continuing pretending to protect and instill democratic values to attract more aid.
The fact that Nations states and sometimes regions seek to realize certain objectives that varies from state to state vividly suggest that, paths towards realization must not always be the same or exactly the same. This is true for Nation States in Africa, Africa need to shape it focus, assess it realities adjust it understanding of democracy, clear out the barriers to achieving what the continent needs. The fact is in many African countries, the realities are still surrounded by just the basics of life (Food, Shelter, health, education, jobs for young people etc) In this 21st century many Africans desires development that will help people of the continent live a decent and happy life that is free from extreme poverty and the prevention of hugely impactful social problems, or the ability to secure its population from social injustices and external security threats, but not to aspire to a Super/great power status in International Politics. It is no hidden secret that Africa have been and is still fighting to be elevated in the international geopolitical and economic system prominent of which is the inclusion of at least two African states in the United Nations Security Council but that is a secondary issue for many Africans, in reality it even seems Africa is conflicting with in itself, because there are no seeming prospect of Africa uniting as one big country. It seems practically impossible and in fact there has not been a unanimous agreement on which African country should be included in the UN security council in case the proposal is accepted, these are few realistic challenges that the continent is faced with, out of the many that are vivid but deliberately unrecognized or ignored.
Even though there are certain Leaders in Africa who in the past have made considerable efforts to respond to the actual needs of their African states as the examples of Thomas Sankara of Bukina Faso ought to have taught African Leaders today a lesson. Even though a then military Leader, Sankara understood that his people need the basics of life in actuality not in a form of praise singing the values of democracy in theory. Contemporary leaders such as Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the recent admirable phenomenon John Magafuli of Tanzania amongst few others are probably making the most considerable efforts to do the needy in Africa.
It is but true that Globalization has and is still positively impacting Africa as it is impacting countries around the world, even though many Great and Middle Power Countries are benefiting more, so is it in the case of democracy.
The fact that certain countries around the world but most significantly Countries in Asia such as China, Singapore etc have experience exponential growth for a number of decades now under systems that are referred to as non-democratic, and as such have not been strictly making attempts to incorporate into their systems western liberal ideology for development to be realized. This in itself is a clear justification that Francis Fukuyamas notion in the end of History” needs readjustment, not necessarily proclaiming a new development ideological path for Africa, which could be “A System of Economic and Political Liberalism aligned to the circumstances and self-determination of African states”
After the end of The Cold War, Francis Fukuyama famously proclaimed that “…but the century that began full of self confidence in the Ultimate triumph of Western Liberal democracy seems as its close to be returning full circle to where it started: not to an end of ideology or a convergence between capitalism and Socialism, as earlier Predicted, but to an unabashed Victory of Economic and Political Liberalism”.
If one is to agree that the triumph of Liberal economic and political ideology over Communist/socialist ideology, and as such it is The end of history, where the future will not see any new effective new paradigm that could influence world international affairs more positively, that credit should be given to many Africa Countries who probably blindly or immaturely succumbed to such a system. The fact that African Leaders have been able to effectively transcend the values of democracy to enhance development, it suggests that the system of economic and political governance does not transcends domestic development which should be prime focus of many African countries. As such, if the system is in direct contrast to development results, then it has not been corresponding well to realities of the African Societies and its prime targets.
Considering realities of The African Society, one may be tempted to specifically question; Is democracy ideal for Africa? Well as an Africa who believes in a free society where everyone has the opportunity to realize their dreams, I will say democracy is the most ideal. But maybe the questions should be; “is the western practiced democracy applicable in Africa considering our situation and targets? Or Do our Democracy need a readjustment tailored towards African Realities?
It is obvious that Western type democracy is ideal for developed countries or countries seeking great power status in International Politics, as it is out rightly a great soft power tool. But in Africa democracy hasnt proven much of a guarantee for development. It is true that based on bitter experiences, Africans dont trust their leaders, but if there are those with clear vision and determination to uproot their Countries from the bottom rocked situation of Extreme poverty, such leaders need many years that goes beyond normally democratically stipulated years. Many Africans participate in elections with no iota of confidence of a free and fair process, to many it is a continually waste of Resources and periodic stagnation to the course of development.
There are tough choices and decisions that need to be taken for countries to realize economic transformation, very many of such choices are difficult to take in democracies that are marred with a lot of mediocrity in the name of rights and freedoms. As in the case of opposition leaders and opposition parties in African, they have limited their role to strictly condemn and blame the government of the day on virtually every action.
Some crucial decisions that brings forth development and advancement of states, you dont need the opinion or approval of certain mediocre politicians or undeserving people of higher status “by chance leaders”. Democracy just seem like an upgrade in status of opposition parties, civil societies, the media or any other stakeholder position, who could not even mean good for the country.
Many African Leaders do not even have a clear vision for their countries which normally is an advantage for democratic process of periodic election to oust out such leaders peacefully, but in the negative sense it is because of the very processes, such leaders ascend such Power. Many of these leaders are in fact not good examples to young aspiring leaders, the message they send is, politics is about making money, living an extravagant life etc. Democracy in Africa creates space for a vicious circle where in if you are out of power today, your only role is to be opposing the practices of the ruling class or you praise sing them, and when youre in the system you focus on enriching yourself and close associates as you prepare to exit and wait for a number of years. such leaders cant teach people right no wonder they cant treat them right as Elijah Muhammad Said “Those who do not treat you right cannot be expected to teach you right.”
There are few Fortunate African Countries that are currently under the Leadership of framed hard handed Leaders but leaders with clear targets and willing to let their countries sacrifice now for the future, one of such Leaders is President of the United Republic of Tanzania, John Magufuli who assumed the Presidency through Democratic elections, but one will not imagine some people bitterly antagonizing his moves and policies even when it is clear that such moves are practically ideal for the African Country. Leaders like Paul Kagame who have transformed a onetime destabilized Rwanda after a debilitating conflict and an unprecedented genocide, Yoweri kaguta Museveni of Uganda among others are such leaders one may not imagine loosing because of democracy and eventually get a mediocre to take over power and drag such countries to square one.
Why is democracy ideal for Africa?
The underlining importance why democracy is ideal in Africa is because there have been few if at all any trust worthy Leaders, and the lack of Leaders with a definite purpose and vision for their Nations. Almost all Ordinary Africans will never opt for a President for life, they will think its even suicidal to think of such due to the continues failed Leadership and tendencies of autocracy the continent has endured even under democratic regimes. In short “Many Africans dont trust their Leaders”
Even though it varies from state to state and there are not specific numbers to account for it, but the average African due to enduring experiences do not trust the intentions of his/her leaders. This justifies the fact that Honesty or being true to purpose has been a serious concern for African electorates. Many times Leaders aspiring for important state positions will present beautiful and you would imagine workable and achievable plans in the form of a manifesto for him or her to be elected but after which its a different story all together.
The power of institution if clearly understood, Africa would have made considerable growth in all aspects because many African democracies have established such powerful institutions that can shape every sphere of society, whether its the Senate or Parliament, or Courts, Civil society and human rights Organizations, Media Institutions, Anti-graft/corruption institutions etc could have help the process, but most of such institutions have either been scope less or deliberately porous with the approval of the political Leadership. However, if such institutions take their right positions then its a guarantee that democracy will yield results for Africa even through some of them needs elimination to match African realities.
In Africa most of the past Leaders are best remembered for their mean tendencies to the general populace especially those that have dissenting views about their leadership, so democratic values ought to be upheld in Africa because of the uncertain nature of the intentions of succeeding Leaders. Since Democracy guarantees human Rights, Free Press, freedom of Speech and Association, among many other liberties which guarantees the dignity of the Human person, such values must standstill.
Another reason is, shift of power and rationalizing corruption in a continent that it is seemingly becoming impossible for it to be eliminated, so the resolution is for everyone close to power to have their own share. Relating to such, a Nigerian Comedian stage named as Acapella once funnily but true to circumstance crafted a phrase that “They use to say the Officials are corrupt, but now it is clear that corruption is official”. PLO Lumumbas notion of the African justifying corruption by rationalizing or trivializing it because his/her tribesmen or associates is/are involved saying “yes he is a thief, but he is our thief”
Even though the reason why Leaders are changed sometimes in Africa is for the wrong reasons, but because democracy through periodic elections guarantees a change of regime either good or bad, will make way for people who one shares interest with to take over someday, popularly known in Sierra Leone as “Man dem, man dem mentality”, meaning a long chain connecting one with his/her tribesmen, political sympathizers and supporters among others for most times the wrong reasons.
However, despite such wrong reasons why Leaders are changed in Africa, a constant change of Leadership might eventually offer certain states the right Political Leadership with a courages mindset to understand and align African realities with Political reforms and will work with such in mind that, it is not about us but the succeeding generations. As in the case of China, its exponential growth was trigged by their founding father Mao Zedong who laid the foundation and made the not so pleasant decisions then that they must work hard and suffer for the succeeding generations, but the transfer of Leadership is what really shape what China is today, when in 1979 Deng Xioping decided that China needs Openness and reform, even though still mindfully upholding their Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, since then the country has experienced a steady growth. As Clem Tisdell wrote in a working paper titled Economic Reform and Openness in China: Chinas Development Policies in the Last 30 years he noted that, “credit for the change in direction goes primarily to Den Xioping and subsequent Chinese Leaders who have followed in his footsteps and have continued to develop, modify and apply his approach. In retrospect Den Xioping was a wise and courageous Leader. He was courageous in that several CCP members at the time would have viewed his approach as radical. He was wise in the sense that he could foresee the advantages to china of the reforms and opening up…”
Why should Africas democracy be rationalized to African Circumstances?
The situation in Africa is that Countries are rich but its people are poor, some in abject poverty, the overriding reason is that of poor leadership, but many of such countries are democracies. Rebranding such a system simple requires a shift in priority, the constant misplacement of priorities in addressing the African problems is a bigger problem itself. Focusing on alleviating the people from abject poverty with less favorable western approaches or continue to wholly adopting every single western attribute or prescription of democracy.
The western styled or whichever form of democracy African Leaders are pretending to follow is in fact not followed by actions but probably pretending to, so it is hypocritical for such Leaders to continue to indirectly kill their citizens (depriving them of what they actually need) and pretend to the world that they are protecting and preserving democratic values. Let it be clear that, African Countries are practicing democracy but such that we focus on addressing the continents felt needs with probably little deviance from the sort of obligation they owe to the world especially the west.
There is a distinct way of juxtaposing the values of democracy and addressing the needs of Africans, but when one imagines and the two are separate and cant work together at the same time then one has to make that choice of that which is the priority. Either keeping intact every single western prescribed or projected value of democracy, or ignoring or violating some of which and address the pressing needs of citizens, then the latter in a hypocritical freeway ought to be the preferable choice, because it seems obvious that democracy works very well in developed Nations and there are instances where countries that were non democracies whilst developing eventually inculcated democracy into their system soon as they were developed enough. Africa cant afford going back by adopting a whole system of governance opposite to democracy but it is ideal that an African style of democracy that is unique to it circumstances is adopted it.
The reality of the African situation is, many citizens of nation states are still struggling day by day to meet the basic needs of life Food, Shelter, clothing, good health, education, jobs for young people etc” there is still extreme hunger in certain places, poor infrastructure, no jobs for young people to realize their full potentials, no guarantee of a decent pension after work etc, in fact that is more the reason why almost every African wants to have their share of the African resources through acclimatizing themselves to politics because these basics are not readily available and they need to survive, but I can guarantee that if a country have strategic political leadership with a clear vision and can guarantee such basic needs many Africans will care less about politics hence their survival is guaranteed.
Democracy guarantees human Rights, Free Press, freedom of Speech and Association, among many other liberties. These guarantees the dignity of the Human person but when a state is said to be hypocritically democratic with a pretense of enhancing all such values when in actuality those very values are not even respected by the very Leaders then it calls for one to question what really is democracy?
Education has been and is still a major problem in many African Countries, it does not mean there are few schools, but it means the quality of education is still questionable in the continent, so if democracy give everyone the right to participate even if they are not rational or have no knowledge of how political systems works is and has been threating for Africas democracy. So it is but necessary that Africas democracy especially its political institutions are left to be managed by professionals who will strategically work for the enhancement of programs of mass education that will get more professionals into politics not Armatures or a mediocre who participate just because democracy guarantees that.
A lot of mediocrity in African Politics, this is justified by the bleak nature or sense of direction of certain aspiring politicians most times many of such people just woke up overnight and think I should ascend myself to a certain political position when in essence they are fully aware they could not make no positive impact at all, but just to create an upset to destabilize the leadership of an opposing candidate/s as guaranteed by the democratic feature of periodic elections ,externally sponsored oppositions party politicians, media , civil societies and even some of the normal citizens.
The Band wagon challenge.
Blind followership mentality has stagnated Africa in many aspects, let me start with non-strategic leadership and unemployment. Democracy in Africa through the consciousness of non-strategic result oriented political leadership and strategies, have created the platform for people to be idle and all they discuss on a daily basis is politics. Unemployment has therefor made many young people blind followers. In fact, even those who are employed most are not earning decently to let them eventually decide to invest in businesses that will provide employment for others, or at least make them less burden to the state. But here is puzzle or if you like you call it the narrow mindedness of African Leaders both Political, Cooperate and Social leaders, they deliberately make the system less favorable for many young people who have a mind of their own to make a decent life for themselves difficult, basically just because some of these leaders have a mentality that if they (the young people) who I need to use for the wrong reasons, get enough money they can either challenge me or will not have time to support me any longer or will not depend on me and eventually subdue to me and my dictates, is that not narrowmindedness? When in fact they should be using it as an advantage to keep a lot of people off mainstream politics thereby concentrating in developing different professional sectors if they are gainfully employed. African Leaders in such a system are known for partly fixing problems and not entirely solving them. So democracy with a special consideration to the African realities in this sense should be able to sanitize leaders mentality towards this path, who is even giving them an orientation in the opposite direction?
If one takes the case of western aid in promoting democracy in Africa, one says it sometimes indirectly violates the self determination of states as guaranteed by International Law in the region, as these aids are in most cases given with many strings attached all in the name of upholding western defined values of democracy. There have been such instances where aid is given to Africa Nations to fight against Female genital mutilation (fgm) instead of using such resources to fight against hunger and poverty which is costing more African lives than FGM.
Secondly, it must be noted that following good examples is good, but Africa should shift from completely copying or following every bit of what countries of the peripheral world are doing, but rather create their own unique path towards the achievement of the necessities of development and growth for Africa which are the realities on ground, not what others from the outside want you to feel that it is the problem when in fact it is not.
A visible challenge that blind followership in the adaptation of democratic processes poses is multi-party democracy and how it has created the way for everyone to be a politician in Africa by any means. Many African countries have adopted a multi-party system that gives virtually every jack and Jill the liberty to contests for every serious political office even the Presidency with little or inefficient criteria. In such a system if youre lucky to have hailed from the largest Tribe of your country and cleared to contest, then just prepare to serve in that office. It is therefore by no mistake that Kenyas Prof.P.L.O Lumumba once said “Elections in Africa is a form of ethnic census to show which ethnic group are in the majority” Those considered to be educated, that the majority rely on to shape country friendly policies that are tailored towards the actual needs in terms of development, leadership etc do so with the greatest of contempt as they willfully kept ridiculing the system by continually creating room for likeminded individuals and closing the door on the real deal of African leaders, who have the necessary knowledge and skills with clear visions to up root their nations from poverty and the very many social problems the people are faced with. Policy makers and few lucky statesmen have created a phenomenon of incorporation into the political class in many African Countries either by inheritance or “connectokrasy” as disgruntle Sierra Leonean Youth will call it. Why not call such system Monarchy instead of Democracy?
Ideal Approaches in Rebranding the System Visionary long term National Agendas
Politics free, well-structured National Agendas, with well-established Achievable short and long term goals and targets should be in place in ideally all African Countries. In such that, these processes are all-inclusive through different effective needs assessment mechanisms, such goals will be Nationally binding and goes beyond Political party attachment. The process of drafting a National agenda will involve every hegemonic group, political party and every citizen hence making its adoption easier.
In this process Academics and Universities should play a leading role. In many Countries in Africa either Academics dissociate themselves with their Countrys Politics, or are isolated by Politicians with popularity but little or no idea about governance, management and administration. Which is why, it is so weird in Africa that, those who analyze about governance outside the system seem to understand the issues more than those in charge, this is why Plato once said “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber”. If smart people are involved in such processes, it will not seem they are governed by dumb people.
It is true for many democracies across the world that when forming a government, the party that happens to win has an agenda presented as “Manifestos” which ought to be the premise upon which they are voted into governance and their development framework. But it is no secret that such an agenda is not practically binding especially to all political parties or individuals in society. So in essence it means, if one party starts executing its partys agenda and in the following elections they are voted out, ushering a new party into governance, which ever plans either good or bad can be ignored by the incoming party for an implementation of their own plans. This suggests no continuity in governance and a proof of a country with no vision or target, this is true for almost every African Country except very few. Addressing such a problem calls for drafting of a “National agenda”. African Leaders should start thinking of creating platforms through which they will bring all parties and sects together in finding out the most important needs and issues that needs to be addressed and assess how urgent each need is, and draft long but diversified in Need time frame National Agenda, that is accepted and eventually binding and implemented by everybody in a structured and continued manner. This approached is better explained by Bishop Ducan Williams of Ghana who suggested that with Political parties and their campaigns it is basically pulling down the other so they will be elected based on the woes of the other which they themselves have no plan of addressing. So the target is not to see the Country develop but rather a fight the party in governance to fail, and they can score political goes, thats basically the role of Opposition parties in Africa. But with an established and binding National Agenda, Parties will campaign on the approaches they wish to use in achieving the already well established goals, voters will now assess the realistic and result oriented approaches and vote based on that.
References
Acapella. 2016. Lord of the Ribs, Standup Comedy show. Lagos, Nigeria
Bishop Ducan Williams. Good Evening Ghana talk show; Paul Adoms Otchere Live stream. Accra, Ghana.
Clem Tisdell. Economic Reform and Openness in China: Chinas Development Policies in the Last 30 years.
Elijah Muhammad, see Truths My Teacher Never told me: Minister (Dr) Gyasi A. Foluke. www.tuesdayforumcharlotte.org.
Fukuyama, Francis. 1989.End of History. University of Chicago. USA.
Ham Muyungsik. 2018. Global issues and Public Diplomacy Lecturers. 2018. Jilin University Lecture. Changchun, China.
Ibid
Lumumba, Patrice. L.O. 2014. Public Lecture, University of Da ar saalam, The United Republic of Tanzania.
Obama, Barack. African Union Address. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Plato. England, United Kingdom. See Goodreads, quotes. 575351
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. May, 2015. Population Facts; Youth Population trends and sustainable development. See www.unpopulation.org
