Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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The New Vision (Uganda) - August 10, 2001
David Bizimana
Corruption and bribery was the measure of an effective candidate for electing into the House. soap, salt, hoes, roofing iron sheets, local beers, hard currency were exchanged for votes and not competency. Allegations of vote rigging have been reported. Some of the votes had to be recounted (like in America)and in other places voting had to be repeated afresh. Some members of parliament seeking extra time (injury time) in Parliament used the gun to silence opponents.
Abject poverty levels in Africa cannot be the best environment for practicing real democracy. The very low literacy levels also exacerbate the transparency of the election processes. The choice of the right and representative candidate to parliament is influenced by these parameters. As a result it is not always the best candidate who finally goes to represent the people.
The question is: ôWhere is democracy practiced in the world?ö will the elected people do what they are supposed to do in Parliament or they will go to recover what they used to bribe their way into the house? Who will champion the debate about corruption if the policy makers are themselves corrupt. Is it ôdemonö racy or ôdemon-crazyö or ôdemocracyö being practiced in Africa?
Let me finally advise the first World Leaders in developed countries. Stop pegging donor support on democracy in Africa or the Third World as it is yet immature. The democracy you hear of and see currently is like using the sun goggles to see during the daylight. What you see is coloured and not white light.
Democracy will come true, come the end of poverty. For democracy is like HIV/AIDS for us in Africa!
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