Democracy and Multiparty Politics in Africa Recent Elections in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho
Denis
Venter
Abstract:
The
shift from one-party to multiparty politics in many African countries has made
the issue of democratisation a crucial equally important part of the development
agenda. Efforts to create an economically enabling environment and build
administrative and other capacities will be wasted if the political context is
not favourable. This article focuses on political development in Zambia to
illustrate how a government elected on a 'democratic ticket' can become
corrupted by the conscious development of a personality cult, and how the hunger
for power can lead to the erosion of democratic values, electoral fraud, and the
near breakdown of a relatively well-functioning multiparty system. A brief note
on Zimbabwe is presented to amplify the Zambian case, and reform of the
electoral system in Lesotho is outlined to suggest that the successful
completion of elections on 25 May 2002 may serve as an excellent example
how, and under what conditions, 'free and fair', multiparty elections can be
conducted in an African country.