A new form of ‘democracy’ has evolved!
Sep 24, 2008
EDITOR—For long Africans have argued that there is not a single form of democracy and that Africa could be democratic without copying the West in every detail of their ‘democratic’ processes.
EDITOR—For long Africans have argued that there is not a single form of democracy and that Africa could be democratic without copying the West in every detail of their ‘democratic’ processes.
In Uganda, President Museveni argued for his movement type of democracy to no avail and eventually even he, persuasive as he can be, was made to “see the light†and conform to multi-partyism.
Soon it was realised that for Africa, this was no panacea. Now, an African brand of democracy has been invented, and apparently the paragons of liberal democracy have accepted that Africans should have their own. This is how it works.
Elections are held, a few people are roughed up in the run-up to the elections. The results are announced (either too soon as in Kenya; or too late as in Zimbabwe).
The ‘winner’ says he won; and the ‘loser’ says it is he who won. A Kofi Annan or a Thabo Mbeki enters the scene with Condoleezza Rice or some other Western busybody hovering in the background and lo and behold there is a power-sharing agreement and government!
In reality two governments exist side by side and both our ‘winners’ are governing— no one loses out.
As this form of democracy evolves, we will do away with elections. Let us wait for our own elections in 2011 and see what happens.
H.G.K Nyakoojo
Buziga, Kampala
In Uganda, President Museveni argued for his movement type of democracy to no avail and eventually even he, persuasive as he can be, was made to “see the light†and conform to multi-partyism.
Soon it was realised that for Africa, this was no panacea. Now, an African brand of democracy has been invented, and apparently the paragons of liberal democracy have accepted that Africans should have their own. This is how it works.
Elections are held, a few people are roughed up in the run-up to the elections. The results are announced (either too soon as in Kenya; or too late as in Zimbabwe).
The ‘winner’ says he won; and the ‘loser’ says it is he who won. A Kofi Annan or a Thabo Mbeki enters the scene with Condoleezza Rice or some other Western busybody hovering in the background and lo and behold there is a power-sharing agreement and government!
In reality two governments exist side by side and both our ‘winners’ are governing— no one loses out.
As this form of democracy evolves, we will do away with elections. Let us wait for our own elections in 2011 and see what happens.
H.G.K Nyakoojo
Buziga, Kampala