The practice of democracy in Western societies has a history that has evolved over time. It started with feudalism, through monarchy, and finally ended with democracy. Direct democracy, then representative democracy, which is practiced in the West by the vast majority of States, requires the combination of certain elements essential to its success. These are:
A moderately high standard of living, which would allow citizens to take an interest in the affairs of their country and not be limited to the struggle for survival.
In addition, there must be a sufficient level of education among the population. This allows them to know their rights well enough to be able to claim or defend them and, moreover, to be able to read the information in the press and to assess the actions of political leaders. Like a referee in a football match, the people, having mastered the rules of the democratic game, will know how to whistle appropriately and thus punish political actors; without complacency or complicity in a yellow card or a red card. By this, understand that the red card must not come from the opposing team but from the referee and the people.
Finally, impeccable ethics are required in order to safeguard the common heritage and always seek the greater good of the populations.
However, in Africa, almost all of these elements or factors of democracy are generally lacking. This is why the cloning of democracy in Africa today, as applied in Western societies, seems to us to be utopian.
The obstacles to the development of democracy or social justice in Africa are challenges to be met such as the very low standard of living of the populations, their literacy (here is the table of an African education budget 3%, army budget 15%), the selfishness of the political class mean that the cloning of democracy in Africa is not feasible today and does not promise to be so in the immediate future. This observation is based on realism
Wanting to impose democracy at all costs is an error that ignores the law of maturation and that which proclaims that no one can develop in another's mold .
Faced with this realistic observation, where are the African intellectuals?
Exceptional situation requires exceptional means!
It is noted that in Roman times, when Rome was faced with a difficult and unusual situation, a providential man was designated or called to the head of the Republic, to whom an exceptional dictatorship was consecrated, controlled, limited in time and linked to specific events. This is what also brought Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte to the supreme magistracy in France.
Is this not already seen in our traditional African societies which designated the leader by a college of Electors composed of the principal dignitaries. On the other hand, without the tyranny.
The worrying and alarming situation of African States, determines to advocate the advent of a providential man to hold the reins of the State. Like the one that the Romans once called the paterfamilias. To avoid the risks of skidding, it will have to be a wise man and moreover filled with love for his homeland and his people. This supreme leader will have to be surrounded by political collaborators who are also wise, upright and just. This concern resembles that of Moses, a man raised up and inspired by the creator himself. Thus knowledge will guide the people to the light.
In Ancient Greece, to claim the management of the city, one had to be a philosopher. It was the same in Sparta. These people had understood well that the management of the State should not be entrusted to just anyone. To claim to lead others and be their guide, one had to be Elite in the true sense of the term. It would be desirable to definitively put an end to the return to Business of men who have distinguished themselves by their inefficiency. No one should access a function without meeting the requirements of the profile specific to this function from the point of view of ethics and personal technical competence.
So this system is based more on the choice of men than on the form of government.
The advent of democracy in Africa as the inhabitants of the North desire it is not achievable in the immediate future. It could be achieved in the distant future. Wanting to cling to it too much at all costs risks becoming a trap for those interested who would believe that democracy is a panacea.
With great tribulation comes great reward. And it is by serendipity that Africans will arrive at an enlightened and just system, democracy having reached its twilight.
Nzio MAFUTA BOOTO
Comments