WHY YOU MUST VOTE IN AN AFRICAN DEMOCRACY

 

The period preceding, and after, general elections in African countries is accompanied by a heightened sense of political excitement, social tension, personal insecurity and depressed economic activity. During these times citizens anxiously wonder, “What will happen this time round?”. While the voting season presents an opportunity to register a vote for social change, many people would wish that the season passes quickly so that they can get back to “normal” life. The big concerns are for peace, security, civility and hopefully the emergence of competent leadership after the ordeal. Curiously, not many citizens anticipate or even look forward to any real change in their lifestyle, yet the power to determine these very outcomes is given to each registered voter. Some people become so disappointed with previous election experiences that they vow never to vote again. Nonetheless, global statistics show that up to 25% of all eligible voters fail to cast their vote at the ballot box in a general election. Unfortunately, voter apathy in Africa casts a long, dark shadow of political uncertainty, social insecurity, civil unrest, poor governance and corrupt resource management in the aftermath of election outcomes. This post, summarized from the journal article WHY YOU MUST VOTE IN AN AFRICAN DEMOCRACY, outlines eight reasons why every eligible voter in Africa must cast their ballot in a general election. 

First, Your vote is not your own. It does not belong to you. It is held in trust. It is your ethical duty to vote for the wellbeing of your family, under age children, the sick, dying, ill-treated, uneducated and the disenfranchised in society as well as for those who, for one reason or another, will not vote. Those with interests in the country, but cannot vote, depend on you to vote wisely. The generations that established the nation before you prayed that you would realize the dreams they had for you. Similarly, they hoped that you too would help shape the dreams of the generations that come after you. It is your ethical responsibility to honor the trust bestowed upon you and pass on a blessing to the next generation.

Second, Democracy does not work by itself, it needs your vote to direct it. In 1948 The National Party of South Africa was voted into government by a slim 31 seat majority in a 150-member house. Before the election, the National Party’s apartheid agenda was derided in the press locally and around the world. Everyone knew it was a bad idea and "could not possibly work" in government. But that year the electorate did not come out to vote for the good idea. So the National Party took power and apartheid took root for nearly fifty years until Nelson Mandela was released from prison. Democracy does not work by itself. It can pass bad ideas into law. It needs your vote to make sure that good choices are made. Democracy is not perfect, it needs your vote to perfect it.

Third, Voter apathy leads to contested elections. The post-election violence in the 2007 general election in Kenya resulted in the loss of over 1000 lives, the displacement of thousands of others and the loss of property worth millions of dollars. The contested vote was 0.16% of the ballots cast for the presidency. However, what is not always fully appreciated is that 30% of the registered voters in that election did not vote!  The voice of the people would have been much clearer if the apathetic 30% had cast their ballot and saved the country immeasurable loss!

Fourth, The vote gives voice to the minority and the marginalized. In 2006 the people of Liberia voted in Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the first woman president in Africa in modern times. Four years earlier, Leymah Gbowee and others, tired of years of civil war in their country, mobilized the women vote in the markets, churches, mosques and homes to put an end to the violence. They added their voice to the national debate in the name of peace for their nation and prosperity for their children. If you do not vote, your voice is irrelevant in national affairs.

Fifth, In a democracy, the people hold political leaders and government officials to account for their actions. This privilege is not offered in dictatorships, autocratic forms of government and military rule.  A 100% voter turnout gives full voice to the mosaic expression of the will of the people, their needs, their representation and what they expect of government. If you don't vote, elected leaders are free to make assumptions about what you want and how you want to be ruled. If you don’t vote, you still come under the same rule, but do not really have anything to complain about.

Sixth, There is a lie that is pedaled by well-meaning unschooled leaders and sly politicians alike that says, “politics does not put food on your table”. The consumers of this lie see no need to vote or engage in the democratic process of selecting suitable leadership for society. However, politics determines whether 1) you have the opportunity to look for food, 2) enjoy the security to eat it, and 3) have the freedom to own a table. Ignorance of the power a vote places in the hands of voters to determine their future has led to the loss of personal freedoms in weak democracies. It behooves each of us to use our votes wisely to choose leaders who will guard our democratic freedoms?

Seven, Religion in Africa is big! There is a myth that religion and politics are separate. However, both have an important role in the welfare and maintenance of the state and accountability of government. While some might argue that religion is a personal and private affair, members of religious communities have a critical role to play in the identification, selection and election of values oriented leaders for society. Denying society the vote of your virtuous wisdom, is to endure the trials of pedestrian deception.

Eight, If the world is ruled by mankind, should not men and women determine who should rule? In this matter there are only two options; the vote or violence. Much violence and civil disorder addressed by the United Nations in African countries, has been resolved by the restoration of the vote. There is no need to lose something to know the pain of retrieving it. If that be so, then it is both urgent and important that you vote to improve the state of your nation and shape the development of democracy in Africa for the benefit of generations to come.

Allan Bukusi is an adjunct lecturer teaching leadership at Ashesi University in Ghana.