- Multiparty democracy has only nurtured hate and divisions, and building economy is no longer a priority
We continue to cherish the Father of the Nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, because of his wisdom and love to his people. Now 15 years after his death, the nation still cries as they remember the leader who assured peace and protection for the poor and disadvantaged majority.
Today national interests and values which Mwalimu
upheld are vanishing. Mwalimu didn’t believe in multipartyism, for he
knew it would divide Tanzanians.
When asked about single and multiparty democracy,
he had this to say: “...Democracy is not a bottle of Coca-Cola which you
can import. Democracy should develop according to that particular
country. I never went to a country, saw many parties and assumed that it
is democratic. You cannot define democracy purely in terms of
multi-partist parties...”
Many scholars also agree that it is not proper to
simply take Western models of democracy and paste them over African
countries. Africa needs some type of democracy that will encourage unity
so that as the economic level of Africa grows, democracy grows too to
propel people to a brighter future. Democracy must gradually develop, it
must not be imposed.
Indeed as the Indian historian Ramachandra Guha
wrote in his book “Makers of Modern India” a democratic revolution
should be a staggered process that must be preceded by nationalism where
nationhood and unity of a nation are built and strengthened, followed
by economic revolution where industrialisation and urbanisation must
take place.
Guha cites US which proclaimed its national
independence in the 18th Century, urbanised and industrialised in the
nineteenth century, and became democratic only in the 20th century,
after women and African Americans were allowed to vote, and on the other
hand, Europe that was a continent broken up into many different
nationalities, the pace of these different revolutions towards democracy
varied greatly across countries.
Crucially in every European country the
nationalism and economic revolution preceded the democratic revolution
by several decades or more.
On democratisation of Tanzania and Africa in
general; and without a strong economy and nationhood Mwalimu commented:
“...Multiparty democracy is alien, it is a Western thing, a luxury
Africa could not afford and it will create opposition among us, this is
an imperialist dogma...”
Yes, Mwalimu was right. Building multiparty
democracy in a poor country is synonymous to nurturing division and hate
between the opposition and the ruling parties; between different
communities with different cultural origins such as tribes and clans who
in most cases create political parties to secure their interests.
The fulfilment of Mwalimu Nyerere’s vision on the
danger of multiparty democracy in Africa and Tanzania is today unveiling
before our eyes when democracy becomes a source of conflict among the
people of nations in Africa.
This situation creates a political imbalance that
destabilises most African countries trying to build a democracy.
Practising Western democracy in Africa is now a fragile endeavour.
Africa has witnessed the West trying to forcefully institute democracy
in relatively peaceful countries.
Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia are countries that
looked economically better and harmonious under their limited democracy
and sometimes dictatorship; today hate and division and fragmentation
are a real threat to these once tranquil countries. In the name of
democracy these nations are falling apart.
Countries south of the Sahara like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania
are also not spared either, where we see the effects of Western
democracy at work in a poor country, creating hate and division among
its citizenry.
According to Mwalimu Nyerere: “... Tanzania,
divided up into 112 distinct ethnic groups, is not a fertile ground for
multiparty democracy. Tanzania is not ready for multiparty democracy as
would descend the country into tribal and regional infighting...”
Although Mwalimu did not believe in multiparty democracy but the power
and grip of imperialism forced him and the ruling party to embrace
multiparty system against the public views that rejected the system by
80 per cent. The global political wind of change was too much for
Mwalimu and he surrendered.
Even though Tanzania embraced (against its will)
Western-type multiparty democracy in developing nations, I believe,
after two decades of practice; if Mwalimu was alive, he would have
continued believing that Africa wasn’t yet ready for this type of
democracy.
Look at Tanzania today: multiparty democracy has only nurtured hate and divisions, and building economy is no longer a priority.
Capitalistic freedom promoted by secular ideology
in which individuals became free to experiment whatever they want as
long as it is a fundamental human right is very dangerous. Free
democracy, free press, free everything, so free in a poor country only
erodes community and national unity and brings division and tension.
Mwalimu believed in the kind of democracy that
gives space to citizens to develop their nation. He wanted Africa to
embrace democracy in single-party systems or multiparty systems that
ensure governments of national unity, in which after any election
parties would bury their differences and take national interests to a
sweeter height. Keep the people together and work hard.
The kind of democracy practiced in China, Russia
and the Arab countries that forces people to build the economy by
instilling in the citizens the sense of nationhood, pride and upholding
taboos of that nation could build national unity and tranquillity.
As we continue to remember and cherish the Father
of the Nation Mwalimu Nyerere, let us uphold his good vision, hopes and
optimism on democracy to inspire us once again, nurture and keep our
unity as a nation and as a people.
Dr Dalaly Peter Kafumu, MP (Igunga-CCM), is a former commissioner for minerals
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