Why can't African leaders learn from America?

Monday, 15th December, 2008
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/664693
EDITOR—Just like in Uganda, Kenyans are also demanding a change of Electoral Commission (EC) officials, but the real question is, is it the officials who are to blame or is it the electorate and the government at large.

These officials are not strangers to us. They are our brothers, fathers or mothers. The people we ant to replace them with are also amidst us and it is not a guarantee that they are not going to be corrupt like their predecessors, if not more.

It is also important to note that it is becoming an African phenomenon to complain, refuse and protest against the system if the opposition loses. Countries like Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya have one thing in common—dissatisfaction with election results.

As much as there might be irregularities in the electoral system, the leaders and their supporters should accept that this is a weakness in African countries. Instead of fighting or causing chaos, they should unite and come up with a solution to the problem.

After all, even if the opposition was to win in an election, members of the ruling party would also complain about the same irregularities, existent or not! Why can’t African leaders buy the American example?

In America, the elections were fair, with no race conflict, corruption or bias. When Barack Obama won the election, his opponent, John McCain conceded defeat, congratulated him and encouraged his supporters to embrace Obama as their new president.

Once there is a weakness in the EC or if the society is dissatisfied with an election, this exposes the weakness of a government, and not exactly the EC. When there is war, disagreement or discrimination in a nation, all the blame is always pointed to the government.

It is the role of the government to protect and unite its people otherwise it betrays a loophole in its system.
Susan Wamuyu.