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DIV4/6: PARTISM IN POLITICAL SYSTEMS

This Unit is about Partism

PARTISM IN POLITICAL SYSTEMS

There are three party systems that exist in the world namely; single party system, two party system like in USA and multi-party system common in many African states.

However our main discussion will centred on single party and multi-party system

SINGLE PARTY SYSTEM (MOVEMENTISM)

This is a kind of political system whereby only one party is legally accepted to operate within a country following the constitution. Other parties are tightly restricted from operations but members can cross to the ruling party.

Advantages of a single party system

The proponents of this kind of leadership argue that;

  • As single party system easily promotes broad basedness. It embraced all tribes and villages under the system of transferring the politics to the village level to all people irrespective of religions, tribes or social status are made to participate in politics freely.
  • Single party system promotes genuine independence since the system fights new-colonialism in most cases in an attempt to promote African culture, therefore genuine independence can easily be achieved people tend to be more united in struggling for self rule.
  • Single party system can also promote democracy because it allows all people right from village level to participate in government. However to Jomo Kenyatta a former president of Kenya once observed/ said that “All two party states are not democratic and so, to him parties are good depending on the nature and charisma of the leaders.
  • It promotes development easily. The system may be used as a mechanism to mobilize the masses for political and economic development.  This argument was also supported by legendary African nationalists like Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Sekou Toure (Ivory Coast) Julius Nyerere (Tanzania).
  • Single party system is advantageous because it promotes unity easier than multiparty system that many times are formed on tribal and religious lines like democratic party (DP) was formed by catholic and UPC formed by protestants in Uganda. Such divisions are avoided in single party system.
  • In relation to the above, the system promotes ethnic unity. Single party system tends to curb down micro-nationalism which is common in multi party system which even leads to out break of civil wars like ones that occurred in Buganda, Kasai in Zaire in Congo.   A single party system tends to unite all tribes for a common goal.  This was highly experienced in Tanzania under president Mwalimu Julius Kambalage Nyerere through his single party system called chama chama under socialism.
  • A single party system promotes African culture where such system operated there where no rulers and opposition and it was characterized with “under” ib ree democracy”. Most of the social problem were discussed and solved through the spirit of consensus.
  • Single party system is advantageous because there is limited wastage of money as compared to a multi party state. Much of the funds that would have other political parties can be saved to promote social services like health, education infrastructures and industries.
  • The system promotes good relationship within the government. The fact that all representatives of the people like the parliamentarians belong to the same party (umbrella organization), its because quite easy to coordinate or promote the government programmes and also work upon the people’s needs like renovations of roads schools or hospitals.
  • The fulfillment of the party agenda is easy since there is no opposition pressure imparted to the leaders. They have ample time to prepare or organize funds to work meeting their set targets.  However still because of limited opportunities, many African leaders turn a deaf ear to the demands of people who voted them in such seAfrican traditional society.  So they become despotic corrupt or tribalistic as it is commonly noted in multi party political system.
  • There is limited opposition in one party system which becomes an advantage, decision making becomes easy since all people belong to the same ruling party can compromise each other new policies designed by the government.
  • Its also liked by many people because it promotes good leadership based on the fact that voting is carried out on the emphasis of merit. In a country like Uganda where the constitution provides for all posts to be contested for, it gives those who are elected to be responsible to the electorate right from the grass root levels.

WHY SINGLE PARTY SYSTEM MAY BE A DISADVANTAGE

The system of having only one party constitutionally permitted to operate in the country has the following demerits;

  • The system so oftenly creates political power vacuum. The leader on top tend to fear grooming their successors thinking they will be leaders for life (life presidency).  In situations where such a president dies accidentally, the country is bound to experience political chaos just even within its party members and other parties aside.  For instance when former president of Congo Zaire became sick, Mubuto Sseseseko the country experienced civil strife.  In the same away Yoweri kaguta Museveni as put n dilemma of who will succed him at his retirement or sudden death.
  • The tendency of promoting single party system is bad because it is the main promoter of coup detat in Africa in the past and even today. For instance the 1971 coup in Uganda, 1966 coup in Ghana, 1969 coup Libya plus the recent coups in Africa like in Zimbabwe in 2017 against Robert Mugabe and in Tunisia and Egypt coups have just taken place.  All these are attributed to single party leadership which ends up grooming dictators.
  • The single system is highly disecreted for promoting dictators. Such leaders don’t want to leave power amicably but want to sta until death wishing to be worshipped likes semi-gods on earth.  They do not welcome any advise and on several arrest and torture and jail without trial their political opponents.  For instance Daniel Arap Moi eliminated Dr. Ouko a very popular man in western Kenya, Kenyatta also eliminated Tom Mboya who was almost popular than him.  Kamuzu Banda of Malawi warned anyone opposing single partism that he would become “meat” of the crocodiles”.
  • One party system is disadvantageous because it neglects the importance of democracy since people aren’t allowed to their freedom of press, freedom to criticize the government as the case is in multi party governance. In Uganda for example between 1986 – 1999 it was illegal to hold a party assembly without permission granted by police.
  • It is asserted that most of the politically displaced people commonly known as refugees are a result of dictatorial regimes where civil wars take place due to absence of a multi-party political voice. In Congo, Joseph Kabila has turned out to be a dictator through his party and this has caused many people being displaced as refugees.
  • The system promotes underdevelopment. The government in power tends to stick to their manifesto even if it lacks ideas developmental.  This usually happens because the president thinks he is a Hero and God sent to rule others for instance the parliament opposed the selling of UCB but the government insisted which led to loss of 62 billion shillings.  Many Ugandans have kept on criticizing the NRMO government for selling other resourceful businesses or land moreover to foreigners for example Shimon demonstration school land and some parts of Mabira forest land sold to Lugazi factory a foreign own factory.
  • It is a very expensive system. The government spends a lot of money to pay spies of the president in order to reduce opposition and consolidate himself in power. In Uganda such spies are the ISO, DISO, ESO, CID and RDS.
  • Its advocated that a one party political system leads to no party at all meaning denial of people’s rights. In many cases even elections are abolished, the political opponents suppressed and the press censored.  This was well noted during Sekou Toure of Guinea’s regime who eliminated all political oppositions leading to no party.
  • The single party system is discredited because it fails to recognize the pluralistic nature of Africans. It forces people from different tribes and religions to have a similar understanding of things yet this is impossible.  Different people from different tribes have different interests and understanding of things for which they should be left to think their own way.
  • On the other way round, it promotes neo-colonialism. The system is believed to have originated from the socialist block during the cold war politics. For instance Tanzania was inclined to China, Angola and Ghana inclined to USSR and these were African states practicing single partism.  Thus meaning neo-colonialism was being perpetuated in Africa.
  • Many African leaders have used it to as a strategy to destroy opposition and then consolidate themselves into power. For instance the dominancy of NRMO members of parliament made them pass an affair constitutional amendment age limit which was mainly targeting opening up doors for president Y.K.Museveni who was reaching 75 years. Before the  constitution limited a president to exceed 75 years ruling but now it was made open even to nay other one to come.

MULTI PARTISM

This is a form of political organization where several parties are allowed to operate within a country.  In Africa the system had not taken much root due before 1990s due to the absence of class divisions which was common in Europe.

ARGUMENTS FOR MULTI PARTY POLITICAL SYSTEM

Generally speaking multi partism is considered beneficial to the nation due to the following reasons;

  • The system helps to check on nepotism and cronyism in public offices because the leaders have the public to account to. Therefore the leaders always try their level best to do what the masses desire to see and hear.
  • Multi partism promotes democracy. Usually under this system, people have freedom of association, freedom of assembly, experience and generally people have rights to participate freely in politics. However still in many African states the political system is not balanced because the incumbent tend to influence a lot and cheat the elections.
  • The system allows open criticism. The political opponents (other parties) tend to act as watch dogs checking on the management of state affairs especially concerning financial expenditure. This is why in the parliament of Uganda the public accounts committee is full of members of the opposition side who can easily check on public expenditure without favour.
  • In this form of governance, there is greater freedom of Franchise. People are free to choose their own leaders as opposed to a monolistic (movement) government which may deny people their voting rights.  For instance in U.S.A a person contesting for presidency is normally compelled to run for preliminaries at party level in every state before running for open nation wide campaigns.
  • This form of government tends to create a balanced regional development because parties solicit for votes country wide. So the ruling government tries to establish food roads, schools, hospitals and supply of other necessities like water and electricity equally.
  • It is argued that multipartism provide job opportunities to more people including non party members which avails them with some income to do other businesses. For instance at the time of preparing and during the actual time of elections, there are many people employed as display register officials and electoral commission officials paid by the electoral commission.
  • In this form of governance, there is freedom of association as people are not compelled to follow a given line of thought. Political parties constitutionally in Uganda are allowed to hold political parties rallies without fear just like what happens prior to congressional elections prior to the United States.
  • The government in power tends o serve the society to its expectation so as to secure re-election. In this case the leader avoids engaging into corruption or mismanagement of public offices because under multi partism there is giving accountability.
  • Multi party system is advocated for because it eliminates rampant coups. As there are periodical change of elections democratically it tends to keep people humble or assured of change of leadership at the time of the term of office expires.  This greatly reduces coups that commonly happen in movement system where sometimes leaders do not want to leave power peacefully.
  • Dictatorship is highly eliminated in multi party system. This is possible since people are given chance to vote on who should rule them.  The periodic elections are a mechanism that bar those who are dictators from coming back to power.  So even those in power tend to work hard so as to be re-elected for the same or better post in the new term of office.
  • The system is advocated for by many Africans because it satisfies the pluralistic nature of African societies. Generally Africans desire to be ruled in a pluralistic political system which caters for the interests of everybody along tribal and religious lines. The policy of divide and rule employed by many colonialists had caused divisionism among Africans making it hard for them to join hand and fight colonialists.  So many times Africans were defeated.
  • Multi party system ably organizes elections to presidency or Member of Parliament every after 5 years. This ensures peaceful transfer of power.
  • The system . That is to say, internally recognized the minimum standards of democracy are always built along the paradigm (framework) of multi partism and organized election process. In such a situation, various candidates from different political parties come up to contest for a given post like presidency.
  • Under the multi party system chances of economic development in the country are high. As there is likely to be relative peace, then the prevailing conditions can favour investments and even outside investors can be attracted to carryout various business in the country.
  • The spirit of patriotism (nationalism) tends to be felt mostly in a multi party political system. People are generally to become political leaders and engaging in politics so as to determine the political destiny of their country so the sense of voter apathy common in a single party system is killed.
  • The common people (public) at large benefits a lot from a multi party system compared to a single party dispensation. During campaigns competitors for various posts like municipal out a lot of money to the masses to convince them to be voted for a given post.  In this way people benefit from such money to meet their needs like buying sugar, paraffin and salt at home.

WEAKNESSES OF MULTI PARTISM

Despite the various merits observed from a pluralistic political system, it is observed the system was imported and so was very destructive to African societies.  Therefore the following points tend to unearth its unrealistic features;

  • The system highly promotes neo-colonialism. Most of the political parties existing in various parts of Africa were and are still funded by foreign countries (European states). Consequently the donor countries are bound to influence the political decisions of such a country through the leaders of the party supported.
  • There is a lot of time wasted in politicking and many politicians give up their jobs in favour of a career in politics. For example Dr. Kiiza Besigye former president of FDC has devoted his entire life struggling to become president of Uganda which he has hither to failed to secure and may never become.
  • The system is very costly in monetary terms. Many African states are poor yet the system requires organizing free and fair elections periodically.  Even more money is needed to maintain the big team of parliamentarians who come from different political parties.  This on many occasions forces the government to resort to foreign borrowing that brings about neo-colonialism.
  • Multi partism is argued against by some politicians because it promotes vote rigging especially by the incumbent party. For example in 1980 DP won elections but Paul Muwanga announced later that DP lost to UPC that was in power and even he prohibited anyone discussing about election results.  Similarly recently the ruling NRMO party has been reported several times in courts for vote rigging in both parliamentary and presidential elections like 2011 and 2016 presidential elections Colonel Dr. Kiiza Besigye proved to courts of law how president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had rigged elections in conjunction with the electoral commission by then headed by Hajji Badiru Kiggundu.  But unfortunately Besigye’s case was dismissed.
  • There is a lot of chaos associated with political party pluralism which some times results in social mayhem. For instance during the 1980 elections in Uganda, there were lots of irregularities and many supporters of UPC would go to DP rallies to disrupt them and vice versa.  Even recently in the 2016 presidential elections, some members of NRMO disrupted rallies of FDC presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza besigye and even disrupted rallies of Amama John Patrick Mbabazi.
  • Some politicians dislike multi partism because politicians often insult each other and spill each other’s secrets in public. For instance Tamale Mirundi, Betty Nambooze and Ofwono Opondo are often invited on TV or radio programme but tend to speak foul against each other’s party.
  • At times there is a lot of manipulation of the electoral process. Some incumbent organize biased information that would deny one from competing with him/her. They may do this by raising initial funds required.  For example in Uganda the presidential funds required was raised from 8m – 20 millions in the 2016 presidential elections.
  • In this system of governance changing people at the top of the party is difficult and in most cases, you do not agree with them, you are free to quit. For example other political parties have not had a change of leadership and continue to be governed by NRMO.
  • Under multi partism a person in the party is not at liberty to disagree with the official party stand. If he does, he may be dismissed.  This is why all NRMO members who voted No on 20th 12 2017 to remove the presidential age limit were called in the party disciplinary committee on 16/01/2018 to explain why they voted against the party stand majority which was YES supporting the amendment of the bill.
  • There is a lot of sectarianism and divisionism in this form of governance usually basing on ethnicity, region and religion. For instance DP is predominantly for Catholics, UPC for Anglican such division is uncalled for.
  • The system promotes political prostitution. Some candidates tend to cross to the winning/ruling party so as to benefit selfishly.  This is because many Africans look at politics as a job that can earn on quick money.  During the recent years of NRMO leadership, DP has lost many of its good leaders to either NRMO or FDC. Recently in 2016 the minister for youth in Uganda now madam Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi crossed from Democratic Party to NRMO government.
  • The system of continuo’s and periodic elections does not give enough time for the government in power to fulfill its agenda (manifesto) for development. If the incumbent government looses elections, the incoming regime may abandon such projects though could be good and the new party in power takes on a new agenda.
  • The involvement of the army in politics which is common in multi partism causes many up evils. For instance in Uganda president Obote used the army to fight Kabaka in the famous Mengo crisis of 1966 that led to rise of Amin in 1971.  Even today the NRMO government uses the army to suppress the opposition campaigns.  Recently soldiers were found misusing the parliamentary chapel where they staged wrongly as they guarded the NRMO parliamentarians debating on the lifting of the presidential age limit.
  • Multi partism is too discriminative. The ruling part in most cases tend to give jobs to its members.  Even developments are extended mostly to constituencies where the government is highly supported.  Hence leading to regional imbalances and neglect of talented people in leadership.
  • At times when the political space is opened too many political parties are formed with makes the entire process lose flavor/ meaning. This may give the party already in power to consolidate themselves in leadership.
  • There are a lot of unnecessary bureaucracies and huddles to cross in this form of governance and the ideas of individual merit doesn’t really seem to matter. For instance in FDC there misunderstanding over who to stand or the presidential elections.  Is it Kiiza Besigye the retired president or the current president Patrick Amuriat.
 

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