Samia’s democracy task force indicts terribly most political parties

If there is an area that Samia’s democracy task force shone the spotlight in a manner that can make a difference to our political life, is the deplorable state of many of our political parties. This part of the report was barely even mentioned in the media but stood out for me in what I repeat was generally a superfluous task force.

I thought it necessary though to reproduce the exact words of that part of the report and hopefully the readers can take it upon themselves to contribute thereafter on what can be done to ameliorate this desperate situation.

Section 4.3.

One area that stakeholders have given many views is regarding intra-party democracy. Despite Tanzania having thirty years experience since the restoration of being a multi-party democracy, still a large number of political parties with permanent registration are not run as institutions and on the basis of democracy. This situation is confirmed by the many complaints and crises within the political parties, as a result of going against the political parties act, constitution and principles of the parties.

Internal party democracy is an important means of nurturing and maintaining democracy. Research shows in that a large number of political parties that are not driven as institutions and considering the foundations of democracy, this situation is caused by a number of things including:

a) mind deficiency of the founders of the parties that their thinking be adhered to;

b) a large number of political parties not having adequate funds to run themselves, as a result some of the leaders use their own money for party expenses that gives them big decision power in the party.

c) a large number of political parties not having a system that gives a voice the members and a result many decisions made by leaders.

d) a large number of political parties lacking robust principles on the running of internal processes, including financial and electoral principles;

e) a large number of political parties not catering for gender equality, special groups and controlling acts of gender discrimination;

f) the existence of corrupt acts in the political parties especially during elections; and

g) a large number of political parties lacking completely a system or a good system of preventing and resolving internal conflicts.

4.3.1 Views of stakeholders

In this area, stakeholders gave the following views:

a) there be at least one third of women in every decision-making body of a political party;

b) in the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, there be formed a special mechanism to resolve internal party conflicts;

c) The Registrar be given legal authority to preside over elections within the parties and to ensure that the parties fulfill the legal mandate of gender equity and special groups;

d) The Office of Registrar be given greater freedom in the implementation of its work of registering and presiding over internal democracy;

e) let it be spelled out a procedure for the Office of Registrar to safeguard the electronic records of members of political parties.

f) The Political Parties Council be strengthened financially and in its executive scope.

It is only apt here that I refer to an old book titled ‘Multiparty Democracy in Transition’, edited by Professor Samuel Mushi and Professor Rwekaza Mukandala, of the University of Dar es Salaam, in which Mushi in his conclusion and recommendations said the following:

Political Parties Generally

12. Political parties must take deliberate measures to build internal democracy. No democratic general elections will be possible unless the participating parties are themselves democratic internally. Undemocratic elements were seen in the nomination process, especially in regard to the new opposition parties.

13. Political parties must learn to observe political ethics, for example, by avoiding the kind of abusive language used in the election campaigns, including unwarranted character assassination. The political parties should agree on a Code of Conduct which promotes a civilised political culture- Siasa ya Kiungwana.

14. Political parties should respect election rules. The data provided by TEMCO poll-watchers give evidence that parties violated the regulation against campaigns at polling stations- and with virtually no action taken by the election managers; and

15. The new parties should do more grassroots mobilisation work. The study has shown that their presence in the rural areas is still very thin.