Third term an issue in African politics
By Mading Abraham Majur, Kampala, Uganda
October 15, 2015 (SSB) —- The problem is weak institutions in Africa, there seems to be a disease called third term. Changing of constitutions to prolong one’s stay in power tends to attract the condemnations from civil society and international community (a euphemism for Western Europe)
I don’t recall the international community condemning North Africa president’s running for a third term. This is not surprising because the practice politics based on practical considerations and double standards. I sometimes wonder if they are naïve when they deal with sub- Saharan Africa.
Back to the issues at hand, two interesting events happened in may in Africa in Burundi, the president disregarded the constitution and peace accord by stating he will run for a third term; he justified this by reminding people he had 90 percent supporters of the rural population. This has led to protest, an attempted coup and deaths.
It should be noted that countries such as Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia and Burkinafaso rejected third term, these countries have economic, social and political problems such as corruption because of weak institutions. I think this is fair to say that third terms parse do not inhibit a country’s development.
In Africa, we tend to copy western liberal democracies without understanding the meaning of democracy. Many leaders justify third terms because some European leaders (prime ministers and chancellors have run for third terms).
This is partly true, but the same leaders ignore the fact that these European countries have a parliamentary system as opposed to a presidential system where a head of government is also head of state) strong institutions and their leaders can easily be ousted once the electorate or party members are fed up with them. Remember Europe is industrialized with high civic awareness and with an electorate which is almost incorruptible, it is almost the opposite in African countries where leaders agitate for a third term.
It is a fallacy to suggest democracy is a panacea to Africa’s problems and term limits can solve them even the greatest “ democracy in the world’ the united states of America, has many problem because of a political system which marginalizes people and favors corporation of course, it is equally fallacious to suggest that totalitarianism can sort out Africa’s problems. We all know that totalitarianism can sort out Africa’s problems; we all know that totalitarianism has destroyed lives and economies.
The begs question, does third term affect the level of development of Africa? I do not think so but third term is not a bad idea if institutions are truly independent and competent, corruption is low, elections are free and fair and the electorate and politicians are incorruptible. Namibia’s fathers of the nation, Mr. Sam Nujoma was given another term of office after two terms with changing the constitution and I think the population request it.
Let us first stop pretending that many African countries are liberal democracies, we should also recognized that society can dictate how corrupt a country is, which can determine the quality of democracy and the quality life of the population. Third term I feel should not be an issue if institutions are weak, corruption is rampant and there are alarming levels of poverty excepted poor quality of live whether there is third term or not.
The issue should be democracy which suits local conditions where there is free and equal representation of people with checks and balances and delivery of social services, one people are empowered they can rein in prolonged rule, especially if the elected leaders have done a bad job.
The author is the second year student from Kyambogo University, faculty of arts and social sciences Department of political science and he can be reached on Abrahammajurm@yahoo.co.uk
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