From: michael seium (michael.seium@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Aug 12 2009 - 22:51:19 EDT
Just as I sent the article about the state dept.I found a great follow up
article written by Shaebia.org's Kalekristos Zerisenay which clearly
indicates that Eritrea and Eritreans are not
only a great source of political education when it comes to Africa but a
people and nation practicing what they have preached since their struggle
times. The fact remains that Eritrea has proven that by building and
creating it's own democratic style from the grass roots up,it will one day
become a symbol of hope to other nations in Africa and elsewhere. Read this
great article written by an Eritrean.
Pseudo Democracy or Good Governance?*
*Kalekristos Zerisenay , Aug 11, 2009
It has been said that democracy is the best form of government. I don’t
oppose this argument so long as it serves the interest of the people. But
Africa seems to understand democracy the other way round - democracy is the
best form of government so long as it serves the interest of the elites.
Most of us in Africa equate democracy with election. But democracy is not
all about election. Rather it is about establishing strong institutions that
make, execute and check laws which are the corner stones of good governance.
Ironically, the democracy that we assume to know doesn’t even guarantee
peaceful transfer of power. More often than not, elections in Africa end up
in the victory (mostly through vote rigging) of incumbent governments and
subsequent political turmoil.
The very tenet of democracy is serving the people the way it preferred to be
served. Yet the institutions that guarantee good governance are either weak
or non existent in Africa. Most of the time it is the executive body that
dominates national politics. Sadly almost none of “democratic” governments
in Africa are serious about strengthening state institutions because they
don’t want to see genuine democracy which eventually brings them down from
power. Paying attention to the state of democratic institution in Africa
proves this.
The parliament - the main pillar of democracy is not more than a rubber
stump in Africa. In many “democratic” African countries Houses of
Representatives have given away their law making power, and
unconstitutionally turned themselves to arbitrary ratifying bodies for they
pass even bills that threaten the very security of citizens. Citing
Ethiopia’s recently ratified so called “anti-terrorism” bill proves this. I
don’t think the parliament does not have a clue why the ruling party is
proposing the ratification of such a bill at a time of preparation for the
2010 national election. It is an open secret that the ruling party is paving
the way to “legally” curb potential competitors by labeling them as
terrorists.
The judiciary is the worst hit by the ongoing pseudo democracy in Africa.
Far from being neutral, justice institutions are staffed with people
affiliated to ruling governments. If judges, by chance, try to question the
deeds of the executive or legislative body, they are automatically
intimidated to resign.
Conversely, the executive body is almost an omnipotent body as neither the
law makers nor the law checkers have the power to limit its authority. If
members of constitutional bodies dare to say the government is by passing
the law, the people in the executive body know how to react. Thus
“democratic leaders” in Africa under the blessing of gods of democracy
(Western governments) have managed to institute an elected monarchical
rule!
We have seen these elected monarchs relentlessly struggling to transform
their power to absolutism. For the last few years a good number of sit-tight
leaders have blatantly violated the Constitution (the sacred book) in an
effort to prolong their stay in power. Nigeria is again a case in point. The
renowned Olesegun Obasanjo who has capitalized his name by ending military
rule in 1999 unsuccessfully attempted to amend Nigerian Constitution so that
he can serve a third term. Similarly, President of Burkina Faso, Blaise
Campaore has been able to rule his country since 1987 by just abusing the
law and Uganda’s president yuweri Musevini is still in power as he was able
to engineer the amendment of the Constitution By 2005. In the same token
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister is tilting towards serving a third or more terms
as the country’s constitution never puts limit on the terms of a prime
minister’s service.
By all parameters an elected monarchical rule is not a welcomed alternative
for Africa. We want a political system that eradicates poverty and promotes
good governance. If good governance is not the ultimate goal of democracy,
what differs it from the post independence military and autocratic rule that
Africa experienced? Perhaps many African countries under these rules were
economically better and more united.
We are told so many times that Nigerians, Kenyans, South Africans and so
many others are living under democratic leadership. But independent reports
and citizens of these countries witness the opposite. Kenyan democracy
encouraged corruption and failed to transform power peacefully last year
which ended up in ethnic conflict. South African democracy neglected the
poor as if they are destined to remain poor. Last week’s poor South African
riots verify that its precious resources and democratic government
contributed nothing to the betterment of their life. In Nigeria Olesegun
Absanjo’s democracy brought nothing good. Despite the country’s $14 billon
annual revenue from oil only, Nigerians still lack access to basic needs and
security. You know why? It is because Nigerian “democracy” institutionalized
corruption instead of law and order.
Therefore, it is high time to put aside pseudo democracy and grab its
genuine version where the principle is good governance - a political end
that puts transparency, accountability, equality, justice and respect for
human rights at the fore front. Because it is only through good governance
as an end goal can democracy prevail.
I did not forget that democracy is a process. Of course it is a gradual
process. But democracy is not a regressive process that drags a once
relatively peaceful, prosperous and united country into a chaotic, misery
and fragmented state.
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