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Dar es Salaamhttp://in2eastafrica.net/dar-es-salaam-largest-city-of-tanzania/. The win by the Opposition in Zambia's General Election on Thursday has been described as carrying vital lessons that Tanzanian authorities could learn from to enhance democracy and strengthen the rule of law.
Zambia's President Michael Sata chats (left) with his predecessor, Mr Rupiah Banda (right), and the southern African country's first president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, shortly after the new head of state had taken the oath of office in Lusaka yesterday. Photo | ELIAS MBAO
Local leaders from the political divide and independent analysts were unanimous yesterday that the defeat of President Rupia Banda of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) was a sign that voters are increasingly demanding for better service delivery from the ruling class.
Mr Banda was defeated by Mr Michael Sata, 74, of the Patriotic Front (PF) in a closely fought race that largely mirrored the competence and impartiality of the electoral organs that have won praise for the manner in which they conducted the poll.
The fact that a candidate from the Opposition triumphed over the incumbent without a major crisis was a sign of deepening democracy in Zambia that ought to be emulated, they said.
Additionally, they said, ruling parties in Africa must do their homework appropriately if they are to survive the current wave of changes sweeping across several countries and fuelled by the largely unemployed youth and millions of other people afflicted by poverty in their respective nations.
The Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament, Mr Freeman Mbowe, who is also the national chairman of Chadema said Zambia's election confirms that there was an irresistible wave of change in all countries that could not spare weak governments. Mr Mbowe said the current trend in the country where many young people are unemployed and where needs of the higher learning institutions are neglected could cost CCM its stranglehold on power. "People are no longer afraid of change," he said.
The Chadema leader also reserved some praise for Zambia's former president for conceding defeat. He said Mr Banda spared Zambia spillage of blood as tension was already high in the country when the electoral commission delayed announcing the winner.
Dr Benson Bana, head of the Political Science department at the University of Dar es Salaam, said what happened in Zambia was good for democracy. He added that political parties in power should know that the only thing that mattered to wananchi was their performance.
Dr Bana added that the Opposition in the country should learn that only a clear agenda could win them public support and elections. He said Mr Sata campaigned all through on account of equal distribution of resources to benefit the poor and unemployed.
CUF deputy secretary Julius Mtatiro and NCCR-Mageuzi secretary general Sam Ruhuza as well as CCM publicity secretary Mr Nape Nnauye also aired their views.
Mr Nnauye, while acknowledging the Opposition's strides in Zambia, said the election outcome was nothing new and could therefore not be of comparison to what the ruling party here in Tanzania was doing. "History shows that PF is the third party to rule Zambia since its independence, so there is nothing new…as CCM we are always aware of what is happening and we are strong," he said.
Mr Mtatiro echoed Dr Bana's sentiments and added that organs that are in charge of elections inTanzania and some other countries in Africa should learn from their counterparts in Zambia.
He argued that in most countries in Africa election management bodies "have been owned" by the ruling parties, something that made it impossible for wananchi to enforce desired changes willingly.
Mr Ruhuza attributed Mr Sata's victory to Parliament. He said in early 2000 the Zambian parliament amended election laws to introduce three independent bodies which regulate elections.
"There is the Zambia electoral commission led by the chief justice, another body that is formed by NGOs and observers…for someone to be declared winner the three bodies must agree on the result… it is very difficult to cheat; Tanzania should also adopt the system," he said.
By Frank Kimboy, The Citizen
Zambia's President Michael Sata chats (left) with his predecessor, Mr Rupiah Banda (right), and the southern African country's first president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, shortly after the new head of state had taken the oath of office in Lusaka yesterday. Photo | ELIAS MBAO
Local leaders from the political divide and independent analysts were unanimous yesterday that the defeat of President Rupia Banda of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) was a sign that voters are increasingly demanding for better service delivery from the ruling class.
Mr Banda was defeated by Mr Michael Sata, 74, of the Patriotic Front (PF) in a closely fought race that largely mirrored the competence and impartiality of the electoral organs that have won praise for the manner in which they conducted the poll.
The fact that a candidate from the Opposition triumphed over the incumbent without a major crisis was a sign of deepening democracy in Zambia that ought to be emulated, they said.
Additionally, they said, ruling parties in Africa must do their homework appropriately if they are to survive the current wave of changes sweeping across several countries and fuelled by the largely unemployed youth and millions of other people afflicted by poverty in their respective nations.
The Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament, Mr Freeman Mbowe, who is also the national chairman of Chadema said Zambia's election confirms that there was an irresistible wave of change in all countries that could not spare weak governments. Mr Mbowe said the current trend in the country where many young people are unemployed and where needs of the higher learning institutions are neglected could cost CCM its stranglehold on power. "People are no longer afraid of change," he said.
The Chadema leader also reserved some praise for Zambia's former president for conceding defeat. He said Mr Banda spared Zambia spillage of blood as tension was already high in the country when the electoral commission delayed announcing the winner.
Dr Benson Bana, head of the Political Science department at the University of Dar es Salaam, said what happened in Zambia was good for democracy. He added that political parties in power should know that the only thing that mattered to wananchi was their performance.
Dr Bana added that the Opposition in the country should learn that only a clear agenda could win them public support and elections. He said Mr Sata campaigned all through on account of equal distribution of resources to benefit the poor and unemployed.
CUF deputy secretary Julius Mtatiro and NCCR-Mageuzi secretary general Sam Ruhuza as well as CCM publicity secretary Mr Nape Nnauye also aired their views.
Mr Nnauye, while acknowledging the Opposition's strides in Zambia, said the election outcome was nothing new and could therefore not be of comparison to what the ruling party here in Tanzania was doing. "History shows that PF is the third party to rule Zambia since its independence, so there is nothing new…as CCM we are always aware of what is happening and we are strong," he said.
Mr Mtatiro echoed Dr Bana's sentiments and added that organs that are in charge of elections inTanzania and some other countries in Africa should learn from their counterparts in Zambia.
He argued that in most countries in Africa election management bodies "have been owned" by the ruling parties, something that made it impossible for wananchi to enforce desired changes willingly.
Mr Ruhuza attributed Mr Sata's victory to Parliament. He said in early 2000 the Zambian parliament amended election laws to introduce three independent bodies which regulate elections.
"There is the Zambia electoral commission led by the chief justice, another body that is formed by NGOs and observers…for someone to be declared winner the three bodies must agree on the result… it is very difficult to cheat; Tanzania should also adopt the system," he said.
By Frank Kimboy, The Citizen
