Moeketsi Kali and Mammo Muchie – Democracy in Africa: The pitfalls and the last resort

Abstract

Democracy and corruption indices demonstrate that Africa’s democracy is blemished. The severity and frequency at which the inconsistencies are encountered in the implementation of democracy raises a lot of concerns. The authors employ content analysis to maintain that African governments are not adequately prepared to embrace democracy. They take for granted the need to domesticate it. As a result, its implementation aggravates the deleterious effects of the colonial legacy by creating fragmentations and divisions between ethnic groups. By its very nature, democracy creates the losers and the winners. The bifurcation and lack of unity among citizens render them vulnerable to political influence. These divisions in turn continue to complicate the implementation of democracy and tarnishes its desirability. In spite of the repercussions, most of the constitutions fail to recognize the existence of ethnic and political differences that undermine democracy. Due to this omission, the authors propose a review of the constitutions. Last but not least, we propose to the former colonial powers to facilitate the initiation and implementation of these reforms.