The metamorphism of Political Parties in Africa: From Freedom Parties to Coalition Building

Political parties are an important vehicle for attaining political power. They are a crucial pillar for engineering democratic ideals and social progress in any polity. Historically, political parties have been associated with community mobilization with the aim of either advancing policy issues or addressing forms of inequality and to seek for inclusivity through popular will and representation. Political parties have echoed the voices of the voiceless, the poor, and the marginalized and more so, political parties have been used as avenues for social and political inclusion of the suppressed. Political science as a field has the discourse of political parties and association as one of its core areas of studies. Political parties have been used to pool together, to drive agendas, to call for respect of human rights, and as a form of a centralized platform to discuss national issues.

If there was anyone who was a student of political parties and wrote extensively about them, it was Lenin. Vladimir Lenin, the one-time ruler of the now defunct USSR dissected the theories and discourse of political parties many from the standpoint of class systems. As the great Kenyan scholar Anyang’ Nyong’o posits in his analysis of political parties: you cannot be a student of political parties without studying Lenin. A critical look at political parties, properly so called is the outcome or the offshoots of the Industrial Revolution. It was as a result of the decline of feudalism and the division of society into social classes under capitalism, that political parties emerged as major proponents in the political spheres. The dynamics of their formation cuts across many political systems from Germany, France, China and to the post-colonial societies.

My focus is the conceptualization of political parties in Africa. The evolution of political parties in Africa was an aggregation of social forces for the struggle for political independence. Though the formation of parties can be traced deeper than the aggregate demands for social inclusiveness, it should be noted that parties in Africa were mainly formed under the auspices for advancing community interest first. this notwithstanding, the parties later gained national outlook driven by the common denominator for political independence. They became avenues for seeking political freedoms. However, after the attainment of political kingdom as Kwame Nkrumah once put it, the freedom parties were used as mechanism for solidification of power. Multi partism was discouraged on grounds that it could polarize the society. 

The fall of the Berlin wall and the end to the Cold War witnessed the triumph of western democracy. A new world order as conceived by George Bush Sr. arose. Not to be left behind, Africa had to adapt to the new order and multi-party democracy sprang up. 

Multi-party democracy in fragile states can prove to be catastrophic. African countries have not yet matured to become democratic nations that respect the dictates and tenets of democracy that include aspects such as good governance, rule of law, human rights protection and promotion, inclusivity. It is still at a very elementary stage. Political parties are a crucial pillar for upholding these tenets. Africa is now witnessing a new conceptualization of political parties. Parties in Africa are now undergoing a political metamorphisis where parties are forming coalitions either before or after election. Post-election coalitions are as a result of competitive elections that hit an impasse and coalitions become necessary. We are now seeing a new dynamic of coalitions. Political parties are forming pre-election pacts so as to consolidate their strengths by pooling together. 

Despite all this, political parties should make sure they are driven by a vision and mission. This has to do with the ideology or what the party stands for in terms of substantial beliefs, methods of propelling the country to economic prosperity, provision of social services and so on. The parties should also adhere to globally accepted norms of representation in terms of gender, youth, agenda and policy formulation.             

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Fifty One Years of Political Independence in Tanzania, Economic Independence remains elusive

Tanzania mainland marks 51 years since it attained independence on 9th December 2012.  At the down of 1960s, many African nations were emerging as sovereign entities in the international system. Others had undergone a protracted struggle under colonial imperialism while others had peacefully negotiated for their independence with their colonial masters. For the first time in modern history, African states had gained global recognition and impetus in world politics and economics.

The African story has been written and authored by a myriad of scholars predominantly Western ones. Tales are told of a ragged and frayed continent, a wrecked continent, a continent of despair, a lost continent, and even the fate of the African continent ravaged by war, disease, ethnicity and underdevelopment has been told. But, despite this hopelessness and despair, apathy and cynicism in the African continent, Africa will forever remain our motherland.

Although independence had come, it had come only in political terms. The most essential element of independence is not political freedom or what we term ‘flag independence’. The continent of Africa was deprived the most precious form of independence; economic independence. As Tanzania mainland marks fifty one years of independence, we should ask ourselves what type of independence we are marking today. It is quite blatant that we are only politically independent and not economically liberated.

Building great nations require selfless leaders who will out of the desire and love for their people mold a nation that will aspire for economic independence and not those who blame their misfortunes on others. The concept of economic independence has elicited sharp academic and political debate. I shall try and contribute to this debate by contextualizing Tanzania. It is quite clear that Tanzania, just like many other African nations, is not economically independent.

As we celebrate this 51^st  anniversary of our independence, we should pose and reflect on the past, present and what lies ahead in terms of economic liberation. As Jenerali Ulimwengu (political commentator) says in one of his recent commentaries that ‘birthdays are a time to give thanks to Providence for having survived the vagaries of a cruel world,’ it is also a time to take stock and reflect.

Reflections should be made towards propelling our nation towards economic independence. In doing so, we should reflect on how we can achieve economic liberation. Dambisa Moyo one of Africa’s contemporary scholars in the field of international economics posits that economic independence can only be attained through debunking the western models which promote economic aid.

Her thesis describes the state of postwar development policy in Africa today and she confronts one of the greatest myths of our time: that billions of dollars in aid sent from wealthy countries to developing African nations has helped to reduce poverty and increase growth. She asserts that, contrary to the opinion that aid benefits the recipients, it actually traps developing nations in a vicious circle of aid dependency, corruption, market distortion, and further poverty, leaving them with nothing but the “need” for more aid. This cycle deprives the countries their economic independence. Tanzania is still regarded as one of the poorest nations on earth. We are still dependent on economic aid for many developmental initiatives in our country. Our budget is still to a large extent financed by external donors. This is not the economic independence we aspired when we gained independence.

Towards Economic Independence

Economic blueprints in many countries are built with the purpose of liberating countries from poverty and stagnation. One of the best blueprints which has yielded immense success is the Singapore story. Under the close guidance of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore was transformed from third world to first within a generation. Singapore’s extraordinary achievement has transformed the country into an Asian economic giant. Economic independence comes from doing the small things right, with great love and vision. It comes through identifying your strengths and working on your weaknesses. Tanzania can do just this.

Tanzania is a land of great potential, a land of great people, a country blessed with massive wealth and a country of great diversity. We can harness our potential through identifying what we can do best, this way we shall be in a position to strengthen our economy and thus becoming economically independent. 

As we mark this day, fellow Tanzanians, let’s take a moment to reflect on our path forward. Let us rekindle the desire of progress our fore fathers envisioned, let us pursue a better Tanzania in the next fifty years when we shall be celebrating an anniversary of economic independence, let us aspire for greatness because Tanzania is a nation destined for greatness. God bless Tanzania. 

A reflection: Nico Minde, Nairobi.  

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Kenyan Electorate Shouldn’t be Duped Again

By J. Mghanga Malasi, Nairobi

Kenyan optimism has grown to a less extent and so are their expectations towards the fulfillment of the promises made in the new constitution. It’s fresh in the minds of many when Kenyans voted in a landslide to usher in a new government after decades of dictatorial rule. They in their large numbers flock into the polling stations to vote for change, “Yote yawezekana” where several politicians led by the then leader of the official opposition who is the incumbent President Mwai Kibaki formed a formidable coalition that handed a resounding defeat to the Kanu Government that had been in power for four decades.

Kenyans ecstatically celebrated the victory that promised to bring changes they had yearned for many years. Indeed, they were reported to be the most optimistic people on the face of the earth by international media in early 2003. They were hopeful that their livelihoods will change under the new leadership. Given the promise given by the coalition partners, Kenyans were optimistic that their lives would change for the better. Little after the formation of National Rainbow Coalition government things changed after the memorandum between the two parts that come together to form the government was not followed to the letter and the leading president went against it making the Liberal Democratic Party cry foul to its main partner National Alliance of Kenya party. Before long, corruption and other malpractices slowly started crept back. The power struggles that ensued eventually saw the Coalition disintegrate and by 2007, Kenyans had realised they had been duped into voting for a regime that was not entirely forthright.

Having said that Kenyans an optimistic people and in August fourth this year they did the same went out and voted in large numbers to usher in a new dispensation. They voted yes for the new Laws to govern them; providing a facilitating framework to heal the ills of the past and make amendments where they went wrong. From this we clearly saw the expectation from those congregations and their expressions at the promulgation day at Uhuru Park. Though, as Kenyans we seemed to have turned a new leaf after the passing of the new Constitution, this has been clawed back by the watering down of laws meant to entrench integrity in the country’s top leadership.

It’s time that Kenyans called on their leaders and those entrusted with responsibility of implementation of the new constitution that they must trade carefully and guard the optimism of Kenyans by all means. They must act and work within their mandate given to them and should be people of integrity and uphold high moral values.  They must bear in mind that the intention of the constitution is to foster unity among Kenyans. They must stay away from sectarian politics and draft laws that will guide this country as whole into prosperity; achieving the middle income status as stipulated in the vision twenty thirty.

The recent public debate by politicians on gender one third rule achievement come the next election march fourth and the call by the chiefs to know their fate in the devolution of the provincial administration in the new constitution is a healthy debate and should be encouraged. Remember the new constitution is the most widely read document in the country and public debate helps the citizenry understand the stick issues and get involved. However we should cautious and discuss with an open mind the most contentious issues that can easily divide us especially as Kenyans have to ponder as we prepare to cast our ballots in the General Election due in March next year. Looking forward there is wide appreciation of the understanding of political freedoms by Kenyans and this is expected to enhance their decision making come election time. With the maturity, the questions Kenyans should be asking are: why should they continue voting for anti-reform leaders? Why should they glorify corrupt politicians and vote them for public office while they still suffering? Many of the politicians on the campaign trail wear different hats in the eyes of public, thus may not suit the list of those to be elected for office come the election date.