Looking at the opposition political parties as hindrances in the Afrikan governance system enhanced by multiparty system and capitalism economy
Eng.Tom Isingoma Mwesiga
In 2018, I wrote an article showing how multiparty system is a CANCER to Afrikan governance system. In my book *The Pan Afrikan Youth* published April 2021, I detailed more about this subject matter.
In this article, I wish to keep highlighting about it so that we don’t forget about the problems we face in Afrika.
Today, these opposition people in political parties have taken it as their MANDATE TO OPPOSE whatever is tabled on the floor of Parliament. The only thing I know that the opposition supports which is brought by the incumbent (ruling) party is increase in salaries of Members of Parliament or receiving millions of money for their cars and other benefits.
We are in a generation where we are meant to fight each other, just tied by the colonial system of governance. A country with the so called multi-party system, is always struggling to pass laws and policies, just because of the so called opposition.
In Afrika, we have around 2,000 political parties in the 55 Afrikan countries under the Afrikan Union. With a population of around 1.2 billion people of which around 50% are under voting age.
This means that around 600 million adults are divided into 2000 parties. Such a continent where per 300,000 people are allocated for 1 political party, then we shall never unite. In many countries, 300,000 people is just a constituency or sub county.
I observe that when we stopped colonialism, it just changed shape but remained. I usually see Members of Parliament fighting over a decision, it takes years to pass in the Parliament. After passing it into law, they never follow up to see its application or sensitization of the public about it.
I observe that the main reason why capitalism is taking deepest roots in Afrika, up to the family level, is because of the multi-party system of governance, where money is the determining factor in decision making. This means that morals and social values are not considered.
Look at the electing system. One pays millions of money to the hungry poor population, goes to Parliament, then uses taxes from the poor Afrikan to get money for paying back the money spent.
The opposition has not come to identify such chains dragging Afrikan countries down. They instead raise their flags high to be seen on TV to win popularity on local and international scene.
The opposition which is meant to identify weaknesses of the government and advise accordingly or table their views for alternative leadership to win votes and be incumbents, they just OPPOSE.
The media has been used as a battle ground for politicians. That’s why when it’s not a political news, then it’s not relevant.
One looking at the anger the so called opposition uses, you may think they have vibrant solutions. You may think they will give solutions to terrorism which is engulfing Afrikan countries. You may think they will advocate for stopping or gun violence or protecting the Afrikan countries from GMOs.
I see that we are just in a rotation chasing each other in a circle. We are not giving solutions to the bottlenecks of Afrika. We are just victims of a colonial governance system.
The worst of all the chains which have tied Afrika into captivity of poor life is failure to develop relevant POLICIES. The policies we use today are not for Afrika, but rather what the West would say. If the West supports the policy, it’s one the passes in Parliament. If the West finances implementation of the policy, then it will slightly perform on ground.
It’s high time Afrika wakes up to DESIGN POLICIES which are pro-Afrika. The policies that will give solutions to Afrikan challenges or needs and priorities. Why should Afrika have minerals taken in raw form and products sold to us at higher price? Where are the opposition political parties in guiding the incumbents?
Why do we have Afrikan Union that we can’t support by even 40% of the budget? Shall a union of Afrikan countries that is funded by West to 75% front vital matters of Afrika on the world level?
What’s the Afrika’s position on the intentional level? What have the opposition parties done to guide on strengthening Afrika’s FOREIGN POLICY? What’s our bargaining power we are based on despite being a basket of minerals?
How shall we attain one Afrika when we are divided into 2000 political parties, if I ignore other divisions like religious and tribal sects?
I therefore call up Afrikan politicians to think outside the box and we put differences aside towards making Afrika a great Continent since we have all it takes.
The author of this article Eng. Tom Isingoma Mwesiga , has published a compelling book on Pan Afrikanism titled “The Pan Afrikan Youth”. It’s a book with a chapter which has exclusive messages to each of the 55 Afrikan countries under Afrikan Union.
