Address party factionalism
THE internal squabbles sweeping across the main political parties is likely to result into more intrigue and factionalism ahead of the general elections next year if nothing is done to address them.<br>
THE internal squabbles sweeping across the main political parties is likely to result into more intrigue and factionalism ahead of the general elections next year if nothing is done to address them.
Since the embracing of multi-party politics in 2005, almost all parties — from the Forum for Democratic Change to the Democratic Party, the Uganda People’s Congress and the Conservative Party — have had internal strives. The Mbale municipality elections have shown that the ruling National Resistance Movement, too, has problems reigning in its members and convincing them to put the interest of the party above the individual.
In his farewell address to the American people in 1796, George Washington warned against the dangers of factionalism. Factions, he said, do not only strive to pull down each other by fomenting animosity, but the domination of one faction over the other simply sharpens the spirit of revenge which leads to despotic tendencies. In the end, it is the general public that loses.
The challenge for the political party leadership is to build institutions and put in place mechanisms to ensure transparency and discipline among their members.
Party members should also know that their interests are subordinate to those of their parties. Parties are there fundamentally to identify and recruit persons who can be elected to leadership positions at all levels, including the presidency.
It is, therefore, wrong for a party member to run as an independent after losing in the primaries. An individual who has no discipline within the party cannot be expected to respect the rule of law when he or she assumes a leadership position.
What is happening shows that parties have not been able to inculcate the democratic culture among their members. Accepting defeat is honourable and the biggest challenge is for the parties to ensure their flag bearers are selected in a transparent manner.
Therefore, the parties should check their internal democracies now, lest we witness a plethora of independents, manipulation, intrigue, revenge, more factionalism and corruption in our electoral process.
Since the embracing of multi-party politics in 2005, almost all parties — from the Forum for Democratic Change to the Democratic Party, the Uganda People’s Congress and the Conservative Party — have had internal strives. The Mbale municipality elections have shown that the ruling National Resistance Movement, too, has problems reigning in its members and convincing them to put the interest of the party above the individual.
In his farewell address to the American people in 1796, George Washington warned against the dangers of factionalism. Factions, he said, do not only strive to pull down each other by fomenting animosity, but the domination of one faction over the other simply sharpens the spirit of revenge which leads to despotic tendencies. In the end, it is the general public that loses.
The challenge for the political party leadership is to build institutions and put in place mechanisms to ensure transparency and discipline among their members.
Party members should also know that their interests are subordinate to those of their parties. Parties are there fundamentally to identify and recruit persons who can be elected to leadership positions at all levels, including the presidency.
It is, therefore, wrong for a party member to run as an independent after losing in the primaries. An individual who has no discipline within the party cannot be expected to respect the rule of law when he or she assumes a leadership position.
What is happening shows that parties have not been able to inculcate the democratic culture among their members. Accepting defeat is honourable and the biggest challenge is for the parties to ensure their flag bearers are selected in a transparent manner.
Therefore, the parties should check their internal democracies now, lest we witness a plethora of independents, manipulation, intrigue, revenge, more factionalism and corruption in our electoral process.