The masses have demonstrated a short memory and it has become evident that their views and opinions are shaped by what happens during the election campaign period

Have you ever imagined that a majority can be wrong? That despite democracy and the right to vote for millions of formerly disenfranchised masses, they can still be wrong in their judgment of what needs to be in place in order for them to escape poverty and lead a better quality life. History has shown that some leaders who get into power are not necessarily good for those that clamour for their rise to power.

Our African democracies, if you want to call them that, are littered with unmet expectations and the deteriorating economic conditions of the poor and a political leadership continually seeking a new mandate to rule from the masses despite their failure to meet past promises. Clearly something is wrong with our democracies.

The winner rules voting system is not delivering the economic development we seek but creating African political elite who have become career politicians. This in turn has resulted in what I call developmental paralysis because being in power has become an end in itself and not a means to an end.

Where freedoms exist, it has become the responsibility of the press and analysts to continually watch government performance while the rest of the country sleeps and waits for the next political campaign trails. During this time, the masses come out in their droves once more to attend the endless political rallies. One truly wonders where they have been all this time. This process unfortunately repeats itself ad infinitum and we call that democracy.

I am personally convinced that there must be a better way. There must be a better system that can allow continuous debate and dialogue about the future in which those most affected by politics can participate as architects of a new Africa. Waiting for five years to express one's satisfaction or the lack thereof is just too long.

The masses have demonstrated a short memory and it has become evident that their views and opinions are shaped by what happens during the election campaign period. The likelihood of repeating past mistakes is very high and in my opinion, the majority is most likely wrong in the manner they measure good leadership.

The masses here in South Africa are likely to be wrong at their expectations with regard to nationalisation. Come the next election I can bet my last dollar that nationalisation will be used as a hook or bait to get the masses to once more vote under a misguided expectations of the arrival of their economic freedom.

In my books, Mugabe has done that very well year after year for 30 years despite his dismal performance. Political parties here seem to have learnt the trick. It works all the time.

Vince Musewe is an economist and you can contact him on [email protected]

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