Africa News blog
African business, politics and lifestyle
100 years and going strong; But has the ANC-led government done enough for its people?
By Isaac Esipisu
Although the role of political parties in Africa has changed dramatically since the sweeping reintroduction of multi-party politics in the early 1990s, Africa’s political parties remain deficient in many ways, particularly their organizational capacity, programmatic profiles and inner-party democracy.
The third wave of democratization that hit the shores of Africa 20 years ago has undoubtedly produced mixed results as regards to the democratic quality of the over 48 countries south of the Sahara. However, one finding can hardly be denied: the role of political parties has evidently changed dramatically.
Notwithstanding few exceptions such as Eritrea , Swaziland and Somalia , in almost all sub-Saharan countries, governments legally allow multi-party politics. This is in stark contrast to the single-party regimes and military oligarchies that prevailed before 1990.
After years of marginalization during autocratic rule, many African political parties have regained their key role in democratic politics by mediating between politics and society. Multi-partyism paved the way for genuine parliamentary opposition and the strengthening of parliaments in decision-making. However, several shortcomings still remain: many African political parties suffer from low organizational capacity and a lack of internal democracy.
Dominated by individual leaders, often times lifelong chairpersons and “Big Men”, youth and women remain marginalized within party structures.
Can Africa sustain its economic growth momentum?
Forget the days when the image of Africa in the developed world was one of rolling vistas of unspoilt safari parks, natural disasters and war.
In the last 10 years, western firms and investors have been showing much greater interest, ploughing increasing investment flows into the continent of 1 billion people.
In its World Economic Outlook, the IMF predicts sub-Saharan Africa will grow by an average of 4.7 percent this year, a rate that is second only to Asia.
Africa offers a higher rate of return on investment than any other region in the world, Razia Khan, regional head of research for Africa at Standard Chartered Bank in London, told a Thomson Reuters Newsmaker event this week.
Foreign direct investment has shown strong growth over the last few years, with more than half coming friom Asia in the second quarter of this year alone.
But some investors wonder whether the continent can sustain this kind of growth rate, especially since crises elsewhere in the world, such as the sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone, have prompted a flight of capital to safe havens.
Lack of affordable sources of long-term funds for businesses and corruption can also compound the problems.
There is no doubt that Africa offers the highest rate of return on investment than anywhere in the world at the moment and in years to come, but if this growth is not translated into employment, basic amenities and infrastructure for the common man, then it wouldn’t be sustained. The people have to feel part of the growth, also with the current crop of leaders we have now, I doubt it, a lot needs to change for African growth to be sustained and attract more foreign investment.
We celebrate the 1 billionth African.
I have seen 17 African countries so far and many are doing better than when I first visited them 5 years ago.
The last thing Africa needs is more Westerners imposing population control on them.
Is Obama Snubbing Kenya on Africa trip?
President Barack Obama’s choice of Ghana for his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office has stirred debate in his father’s homeland Kenya.
Some Kenyans believe Obama ought to have come “home” first. Others, especially among critics of President Mwai Kibaki’s government, say he has deliberately shunned the country to show U.S. disapproval of rampant corruption and nepotism in political circles here.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who comes from the Luo ethnic group like Obama’s father, said it was wrong to read too much into Obama’s itinerary, given that neither was he visiting other influential nations in the region like South Africa and Nigeria.
“Ghana is symbolic. It was the first African country to gain independence from Britain in 1957. Ghana is very advanced in its transition to democratic form of governance. So it is perfectly logical,” he told Reuters.
“If Obama were to come to Kenya as the first country in Africa, it would send some very wrong signals that he is coming here merely because of some organic relationship that he has with this country. So in fact it is good.”
Obama has been to Kenya several times, most recently as a senator in mid-2006. In a speech then, he took a strong line against corruption, which has plagued East Africa’s largest economy for decades. “If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists – to protect them and promote their common welfare – then all else is lost. That is why the struggle of corruption is one of the great struggles of our time,” he said.
That speech drew a sharp response from the government. Spokesman Alfred Mutua called Obama a young man who was “very poorly informed” and chided him for “lecturing” Kenyans. When Obama took power, however, the Kibaki government was so happy it announced a national holiday in his honour. The U.S. leader is wildly popular among all sectors of Kenyan society.
Clinton did not visit Gabon, though it is on the cusp of the most important election of it\’s historyGoverned by a doggedly autocratic ruler for over four decades, theCentral West African country of Gabon has finally been given a fragileand fleeting opportunity for democratic leadership by the death ofOmar Bongo, 72. However despite international investigations thatturned up evidence of a $200 million plus personal family fortune clearingpointing to gross corruption and substantial embezzlement of thecountry\’s significant oil revenues and questionable foreign investments, the dynastic political manoeuvring of a Bongo into power remains a distinct possibility.Bongo\’s son, Ali-Ben Bongo, is currently poised to assume thePresidential position as the electoral candidate for the powerfulruling party, PDG. Long known for his ability to silence critics andwoo political rivals into the fold, Bongo\’s legacy includes governmentcontrol of all telecoms and media virtually guaranteeing thatthe opposition get no air time or platform. Regardless of thesedifficulties, 8 candidates are participating in the August 30th elections at a moment in history where Gabon desperately needs transparent, independent and regulatedgovernment.Though rich oil and mineral reserves combined with a smallpopulation mean that Gabon is one of the richest nations inSub-Saharan Africa, with a per capita income 4 times the average and aGDP of over $20billion, most of the country languishes in poverty.Away from from the cool air conditioned government buildings and theopulent presidential palaces, at least 30% of the populationsurvive on less than $1 a day and living without food, water,electricity and basic sanitation.One independent nominee looking toalleviate the crippling poverty and harsh life of the Gabonese peopleis Bruno Ben Moubamba. Born the year Omar Bongo first came to power in1967, Moubamba has a powerful vision of a post-Bongo Gabon which he isworking hard to communicate across an information-restricted Gabon byharnessing the power of new technology http://moubamba.com/. Hopefulthat the democratic process will result in a more passionate,inclusive and citizen-centric government, Moubamba is determined todevelop and diversify Gabon\’s economy so that one day it is thepeople, not simply the leaders of this beautiful country, thatbenefit.
Well, I must admit that although the ANC has not done what most ruling parties in africa do when they assume power. However I feel that if a country is ruled by the same political party for over a decade, especially such a “young” country in the republic of south africa. The leaders will grow complacent and corruption will fester, allowing the inevitable change of ruling party that will ensue to be greeted with upheaval and the weakening of the nation of south africa.. take the British style of politics, and how they deal with runners up to elections for example, the country has survived for so long in the sense that once the ruling party wins the non winning parties don’t throw their toys out of the cot. They united together with the ruling party for the greater good of country. think about it..power is not absolute and when the oppression of power sharing in the political sense its evident, a country will never reach its full potential.
When competition is diminished, rest on ones laurels.
You need an opposition that wins and a country needs the breathe of fresh air that a stable competitive multi party system that can prove that its belongs in the Developed world. The only way of proving this is by having The ANC, DA, COPE and IFP bring about a change that will challenge dominance and once this is achieved have the foresight to not undermine the previous ruling parties policies, just for the sake that they won. However build on the principles that the previous party succeeded and tweak the parts that weren’t as successful, injecting new blood and ideas into the political landscape!
just saying..