Over the past couple of weeks, a new president has been elected in Zambia with under 30% of the popular vote to cries of “foul” from the opposition which now commands parliament; there have been protests in Madagascar where the opposition candidate defeated the incumbent president but has not yet been appointed president; and the election in the Congo Republic which entrenched the ruling party.
To be competitive in the global economy, African countries can’t just do things as well as first world countries, they have to do them better. Fortunately, when it comes to elections, the standards aren’t very high.
To be competitive in the global economy, African countries can’t just do things as well as first world countries, they have to do them better. Fortunately, when it comes to elections, the standards aren’t very high.
The USA is governed by a president elected in controversial circumstances and voted for by less of the electorate than his closest contender.
North America, Europe and Japan have all been plagued by campaign funding irregularities, with corporate funders able to ensure their candidate gets into power and uses that power to further their ends.
The only difference from Zimbabwe, where the government takes land from opponents and gives it to loyal lackeys, is the sheen of legitimacy African leaders haven’t yet learned to apply.
North America, Europe and Japan have all been plagued by campaign funding irregularities, with corporate funders able to ensure their candidate gets into power and uses that power to further their ends.
The only difference from Zimbabwe, where the government takes land from opponents and gives it to loyal lackeys, is the sheen of legitimacy African leaders haven’t yet learned to apply.
So it’s deeply ironic that it should be observers from North America and Europe that are calling the shots on whether African elections are fair or not. The people who should be calling the shots are Africa’s democratically elected leaders.
This week South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki made several excellent speeches in which the revival of the African economy was a recurrent theme. Alas, his speeches did not spell out that African elections involving voter disenfranchisement, intimidation, denial of access to the media, restrictions on the press, edicts against presidential criticism or ballot box fraud would be declared null and void and must be rerun.
This week South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki made several excellent speeches in which the revival of the African economy was a recurrent theme. Alas, his speeches did not spell out that African elections involving voter disenfranchisement, intimidation, denial of access to the media, restrictions on the press, edicts against presidential criticism or ballot box fraud would be declared null and void and must be rerun.