After what happened and even during the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya
everyone kept and still asks, will it happen in other parts of Africa especially the sub-Saharan. Are we real going to see the same thing? As food and oil prices keep on rising, and the cost of living continue rising to new heights, everyone kept and still asks, will it happen.
From my view, its far from happening, and if it happens it will be triggered by post-elections problems. In most of Sub-Saharan Africa the situation is a bit different. Still there is no a platform that may unite more people for such a cause, plus due to large percent of sub-Saharan being illiterate or even ending up in very low level of education tree we find there is no such an understanding and belief for a change.
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| Tanzanian's Voting in 2010 Elections |
Also in most of these nations with exception of few such as Uganda and Zimbabwe there is a frequent timed change in presidency through voting (though the question of transparency in elections may still be in question). There is low usage of tools such as social media as a platform for discussion on issues relating to core problems and difficulties experienced by the people. But I believe as time goes on with the wide adoption rate of internet enabled devices by youths mainly in high schools and high learning institutions a lot is going to change in terms of platforms.
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2011 Zambia Elections Brought About
A First Major Loss of A Long Time Political Party |
I believe change is coming to sub-Saharan Africa, but I believe it will take a while..and if it comes, it will mostly be through elections. But here is where the problem might rise from. As we see in several elections in sub-Saharan Africa, it is the time when a lot of tensions arise, and I believe if the trend of elections ridging continue then through elections is when we might see a rise and overthrow of governments that keep forcing to remain in power through cheating in ballots.
Long time political parties in sub-Saharan Africa such as CCM in Tanzania, continue to see rise in opposition strength and either we like it or not this is seen as largely due to loss of support by majority of educated mass, especially young people. There is only one thing that may still help these parties to win back the confidence of the voters, and that is better policies addressing the problem of employments, food prices and the issues of management of natural resources. Without these issues being addressed no one will be surprised to see the same wave of change through unethical means sweeping sub-Saharan Africa.
Change in any ways, but I hope sub-Sahara region will choose a peaceful way and without any foreign power influence or bloodshed.
Those are few lines from former Zambia's president, Rupiah Banda, in his formal speech in accepting the election results few days ago. The few words in here are the hardest words for many African presidents across Africa, especially in countries where one party has been in power for too long.