POLITICS: Legislators Debate Whether Democracy Fits the Bill in Africa

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Joyce Mulama

NAIROBI, May 11 2006 (IPS) - A meeting of parliamentarians may seem an odd place to hear the virtues of regular elections questioned. But discussion on this, and a variety of other issues, has taken place with IPS over the past few days at a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Kenya’s capital – Nairobi.

According to Ugandan Member of Parliament (MP) David Gumisiriza, periodic elections do not necessarily lead to sustainable development in Africa.

“If the so-called ‘dictatorship’ in the Western eyes is yielding good results and promoting human-centred development, is it not better than the democracy of periodic elections which leads to hunger and deaths?” he asked.

“This therefore means that labels like ‘dictatorship’ and ‘democracy’ should be re-defined,” Gumisiriza told IPS on the margins of the meeting.

His words come amidst concerns that democracy in Uganda has been weakened as a result of last year’s decision by parliament to lift presidential term limits. This allowed head of state Yoweri Museveni to stand for a third term in office during elections in March: 2006 marks his twentieth year in power.

The end to term limits drew criticism from donors and rights organisations, which see limits as key to curbing government corruption – and allowing for a peaceful transition from one administration to the next.

Museveni is credited with restoring political and economic stability to Uganda after the turmoil experienced under Idi Ami and Milton Obote, helping reduce HIV prevalence, and improving human rights in the East African country.

However, groups such as the New York-based Human Rights Watch fear these hard-won gains now risk being lost. In an overview of the 2005 rights situation in Uganda available on the Human Rights Watch website, the organisation notes that “A leaked unpublished World Bank consultancy report described widespread corruption, nepotism, and cronyism that permeate Uganda’s institutions, and urged the Bank to cut its aid to Uganda.”

The March 2006 general elections were also plagued with irregularities.

Gumisiriza’s views did not strike a chord with all MPs interviewed by IPS, however.

“If a leader is good, why should they not be subjected to elections? Besides, elections…serve as a wake-up call,” said Omingo Magara, a Kenyan legislator.

“One can easily…slumber without a wake-up call. Periodic elections to review a leader’s governance system are such call.”

Another topic of discussion related to the abuse of parliamentary powers by legislators, such as efforts by MPs to award themselves lavish salary increases and benefits.

This issue has been hotly debated in Kenya of late, following a decision by legislators to give themselves substantially larger travel allowances. MPs are now set to receive a monthly allowance of about 4,800 dollars each, up from 3,500 dollars – with the difference being backdated to last year.

Considering that there are 222 parliamentarians, this change in policy will necessitate a large outlay of public funds – even as many struggle under crushing poverty. According to government figures, 56 percent of Kenyans live on less than a dollar a day.

Since being voted into office at the end of 2002, the MPs have also awarded themselves salary increases, raising their monthly pay from about 5,600 dollars to some 7,000 dollars – excluding allowances.

In Uganda, legislators also have their sights set on a salary increase.

“MPs are craving for an increment in their salaries. We are yet to discuss with the government,” said Gumisiriza, noting that parliamentarians currently receive about 2,240 dollars per month, with allowances totaling about 3,400 dollars.

According to official statistics, about two-thirds of Ugandans live below the poverty threshold.

However, Tanzania has legislation to prevent parliamentarians having the final say on their earnings.

“There is a regulation prohibiting MPs to decide what salaries they want. Unless this law is changed, we cannot do it,” Kilontsi Mporogomyi, a Tanzanian law maker, told IPS.

The IPU, which groups over 140 national parliaments from around the world, is currently holding its 114th Assembly in Nairobi – an event that has attracted about 1,500 delegates.

Legislators and parliamentary speakers are amongst those attending the conference, which opened May 7, and ends May 12. Goals of the IPU include strengthening democracy in member countries.