Why Mao, DP should not join party coalition
Feb 25, 2010
THERE have been repeated calls by the different sections of the opposition mainly from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for political parties to unite and present a single candidate in the 2011 elections. Parties have argued that this is the only way they can defeat President Yoweri Museveni in
By Enock Kiyaga
THERE have been repeated calls by the different sections of the opposition mainly from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for political parties to unite and present a single candidate in the 2011 elections. Parties have argued that this is the only way they can defeat President Yoweri Museveni in the 2011 elections.
To this effect, four political parties including FDC, Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Justice Forum (Jeema) and Conservative Party (CP) have already resolved to field a joint candidate in the next elections under the Inter-Party Co-operation.
However, the Democratic Party (DP) delegates who overwhelmingly elected Norbert Mao as their flag bearer in Mbale over the weekend opposed joining the inter-party cooperation, a decision I submit should be applauded.
According to the new secretary general, Mathias Nsubuga, DP delegates opposed the whole idea of joining the party co-operation, but pledged to work with them.
Background
The idea of the Inter-Party Cooperation was spearheaded by FDC under their president, retired col Dr. Kizza Besigye. During the signing of the first memorandum at Kololo, FDC’s vice president for eastern Uganda, Saalamu Musumba, was quoted saying: “You either join us or we swallow you.â€
This message was construed by many to have been targeting DP, whose leaders were reported to have developed cold feet and decided not to turn up for the signing as earlier anticipated.
The idea of opposition parties coming together to form a joint political platform is first and foremost against the spirit of a functioning multi-party system and negates the idea of broadening the spectrum of variety and choice which Ugandans have for so long yearned for.
Secondly, let us not forget this fact: Besigye, the brain child of this idea, formerly served as the national political commissar in the NRM and many people believe that he used the same method to kill political parties and by extension multi-party democracy.
Most of the traditional parties like DP, UPC and CP are still struggling with the effects of the movement system.
To bring the same “movement system†of arrangement in the opposition, one could argue that Besigye would have been inspired by its effects to the would-be opponents when he was still in the Government. This is the bitter truth, but it helps to go beyond the rhetoric of politicians, to look back at their track record.
A critical look at the current inter-party co-operation reveals the footmarks the same “movement system†being brought in the opposition politics of Uganda. Most of the parties in this coalition like Jeema, CP, UPC and DP are, at the moment, doing nothing to rejuvenate their party structures, hold grassroots elections and probably hold their delegates’ conferences.
They are simply seated comfortably under the illusion of having a joint candidate come 2011. They have sat hoping to reap where they are not sowing. This is dangerous.
The same issue of joining or not joining the party co-operation has been at the centre of DP internal wrangles with the group propagating the idea of DP joining the coalition totally opposed to renewing leadership in the party through holding a delegates’ conference.
This leaves one to wonder: what would happen to these parties if, for instance, Besigye wins or loses the elections. Would these parties, still exist on their identity and core values? Wouldn’t this be replacing a dictator with another one?
To make matters worse, there would be no structures for them to re-organise and create a possibility of change. I do not think this is what Ugandans deserve. Ugandans need a functioning multi-party democracy which can give them alternative choices.
Way forward
What the parties would do is to use this time to mobilise and recruit members in a bid to strengthen their structures and support base ahead of the 2011 elections. Each party would then field a candidate in the race to compete with Mao, President Museveni, Besigye and others.
The people who argue that this would divide the opposition vote should know that historically, Uganda has always had a two-horse race. The voters have always united behind the two strongest candidates and this trend will continue.
The alliance would only come in the most likely event that no single party raises the required 50% to win the presidency. This is quite feasible considering that President Museveni got 59% of the votes in 2006.
In that case the two or more leading parties would ally to form a government. That is what happens in most of the mainland European countries like France, Germany, Italy and others.
By creating several fronts, different interests would be brought into the equation and this would stretch the movement to the limit and eventually lose the centre point. It is China’s chairman Mao who, in 1957, said: “Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting progress.â€
The point chairman Mao made was that it is important to encourage many ideas from many sources. In our case, it is important to let all the political party flowers grow and present their case to the electorate and compete. DP is, therefore, doing the right thing to reject the coalition and other parties should follow suit.
The writer is a PhD student in media studies at the University of Huddersfield UK
THERE have been repeated calls by the different sections of the opposition mainly from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for political parties to unite and present a single candidate in the 2011 elections. Parties have argued that this is the only way they can defeat President Yoweri Museveni in the 2011 elections.
To this effect, four political parties including FDC, Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Justice Forum (Jeema) and Conservative Party (CP) have already resolved to field a joint candidate in the next elections under the Inter-Party Co-operation.
However, the Democratic Party (DP) delegates who overwhelmingly elected Norbert Mao as their flag bearer in Mbale over the weekend opposed joining the inter-party cooperation, a decision I submit should be applauded.
According to the new secretary general, Mathias Nsubuga, DP delegates opposed the whole idea of joining the party co-operation, but pledged to work with them.
Background
The idea of the Inter-Party Cooperation was spearheaded by FDC under their president, retired col Dr. Kizza Besigye. During the signing of the first memorandum at Kololo, FDC’s vice president for eastern Uganda, Saalamu Musumba, was quoted saying: “You either join us or we swallow you.â€
This message was construed by many to have been targeting DP, whose leaders were reported to have developed cold feet and decided not to turn up for the signing as earlier anticipated.
The idea of opposition parties coming together to form a joint political platform is first and foremost against the spirit of a functioning multi-party system and negates the idea of broadening the spectrum of variety and choice which Ugandans have for so long yearned for.
Secondly, let us not forget this fact: Besigye, the brain child of this idea, formerly served as the national political commissar in the NRM and many people believe that he used the same method to kill political parties and by extension multi-party democracy.
Most of the traditional parties like DP, UPC and CP are still struggling with the effects of the movement system.
To bring the same “movement system†of arrangement in the opposition, one could argue that Besigye would have been inspired by its effects to the would-be opponents when he was still in the Government. This is the bitter truth, but it helps to go beyond the rhetoric of politicians, to look back at their track record.
A critical look at the current inter-party co-operation reveals the footmarks the same “movement system†being brought in the opposition politics of Uganda. Most of the parties in this coalition like Jeema, CP, UPC and DP are, at the moment, doing nothing to rejuvenate their party structures, hold grassroots elections and probably hold their delegates’ conferences.
They are simply seated comfortably under the illusion of having a joint candidate come 2011. They have sat hoping to reap where they are not sowing. This is dangerous.
The same issue of joining or not joining the party co-operation has been at the centre of DP internal wrangles with the group propagating the idea of DP joining the coalition totally opposed to renewing leadership in the party through holding a delegates’ conference.
This leaves one to wonder: what would happen to these parties if, for instance, Besigye wins or loses the elections. Would these parties, still exist on their identity and core values? Wouldn’t this be replacing a dictator with another one?
To make matters worse, there would be no structures for them to re-organise and create a possibility of change. I do not think this is what Ugandans deserve. Ugandans need a functioning multi-party democracy which can give them alternative choices.
Way forward
What the parties would do is to use this time to mobilise and recruit members in a bid to strengthen their structures and support base ahead of the 2011 elections. Each party would then field a candidate in the race to compete with Mao, President Museveni, Besigye and others.
The people who argue that this would divide the opposition vote should know that historically, Uganda has always had a two-horse race. The voters have always united behind the two strongest candidates and this trend will continue.
The alliance would only come in the most likely event that no single party raises the required 50% to win the presidency. This is quite feasible considering that President Museveni got 59% of the votes in 2006.
In that case the two or more leading parties would ally to form a government. That is what happens in most of the mainland European countries like France, Germany, Italy and others.
By creating several fronts, different interests would be brought into the equation and this would stretch the movement to the limit and eventually lose the centre point. It is China’s chairman Mao who, in 1957, said: “Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting progress.â€
The point chairman Mao made was that it is important to encourage many ideas from many sources. In our case, it is important to let all the political party flowers grow and present their case to the electorate and compete. DP is, therefore, doing the right thing to reject the coalition and other parties should follow suit.
The writer is a PhD student in media studies at the University of Huddersfield UK