Political journeymen on the rise in East Africa

In October Tanzanians go to the polls to elect a new president and parliament. Uganda will follow in February next year. Already, there is a great deal of jostling and repositioning in preparation for the polls. Sometimes that means individuals shuffling between political parties regardless of ideology. What has happened to ideology? This is not an idle question. Anyone observing the political scene in East Africa is bound to conclude that ideology is dead. By convention, the organisation of society (politics) is based on ideas or programmes about how best to manage a given society – moving it from point A to point B. Political parties are, therefore, built on a shared core of beliefs and programmes by members about how to transform society, provide public goods and attain a higher standard of living for the people. And because, ideally, there should be different programmes there should also be many choices. The availability of different programmes to choose from and the ability to exercise that choice is what is commonly called democracy. Now, I will be excused if I say I don’t see much of that choice in the politics of most African countries – even those hailed as democratic. I don’t see much of that, either in ideology or programmes. My lack of faith is not for want of trying to believe. There is nothing to believe in. Even the leaders of political parties don’t have that much faith either. Notice how, at the slightest excuse – be it personal differences with some members, rejection by members or simply spite - they jump from one party to another, ditch one for another only to abandon that and form or join yet another. For many of our politicians a political party is not a vehicle of ideas and programmes for the transformation of society. It is rather a platform for ascending to power for personal reasons. Look at what is happening in Uganda and Tanzania today and you can’t help but confirm the death of the ideological party. In the latter country dissatisfied individuals have broken away from the dominant political party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) – not for ideological reasons, but to further their personal ambitions. The most recent example is that of Mr Edward Lowassa, former prime minister, and until a little over a week ago, considered the front runner to clinch the CCM nomination to vie for the country’s top job. When his party passed him and picked the less known John Pombe Magufuli, Lowassa left in a huff and joined Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA). It is not the first time this is happening in Tanzania. In 1995, Augustine Mrema who had held various cabinet posts left CCM when he felt his presidential ambitions were being thwarted. He joined the National Convention for Construction and Reform – Mageuzi. He is now the Chairman of the Tanzania Labour Party. These are the more famous ones. There are many other politicians who have switched parties to boost their electoral fortunes. A similar situation can be observed in Uganda. Former prime minister and ex-secretary general of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Amama Mbabazi is seeking election to the country’s top political post outside his party. It should not surprise anyone if he joins another political party or an alliance of parties in order to realise his ambition. Former Vice President Gilbert Bukenya is in a similar situation. His presidential ambitions have led him out of the NRM. H e is also looking for a new political home. These two are following in the footsteps of Kiiza Besigye and Mugisha Muntu and a host of many other politicians. Since the return of multi-party politics in Kenya in the 1990s, there have been many shifting formations and reconfigurations that are mind-boggling even to historians and seasoned commentators. For instance, if it suits him, Raila Odinga will join KANU. If that does not work, he will not hesitate to leave and form an alliance with other politicians whom he did not see eye to eye previously. Should that alliance not deliver power, another political arrangement will be formed. Over the years, his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has seen the departure of influential members, including William Ruto who is now Kenya’s deputy president and Musalia Mudavadi, who heads his own Amani political alliance. Even Uhuru Kenyatta ditched KANU, which is like throwing away a priceless family heirloom. If the historically prized party stands in his way to power, why, he would jump and start or join another one. In many instances some of these individuals have moved from party to party – like some political journeymen – looking for one which will serve their interests. In all these cases individual interests of party leaders take precedence over ideology. Actually ideology is non-existent. Individual interests pass for party programmes. And as long as this situation obtains we shall see more political journeymen and a much longer transition to real democracy jorwagatare@yahoo.co.uk

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Political journeymen on the rise in East Africa