Former president Jakaya Kikwete has called upon political parties in power in Africa not view opposition parties as opponents, but rather as partners in fostering democratic principles based on the rule of law.
Discussing a paper presented
here on Thursday by former Vice Chancellor of the University of South
Africa Professor Barney Pityana on Good Governance and Rule of Law at
the Leadership Forum meeting, Kikwete called upon political parties in
Africa to co-exist amicably.
Mr Kikwete, who has in recent days played a key role in restoring peace in Libya, reminded delegates attending the African Leadership Forum 2017 that most political parties in Africa were still growing.
Citing
the example of his home country Tanzania Mr Kikwete said the multiparty
system was restored in 1992 and political parties are currently still
establishing themselves by creating their grassroots base and selling
their policies to the people.
He called upon Members of
Parliament from ruling parties in the Continent to take to task the
government when the cabinet ministers are not functioning as per the
election manifesto of their political parties.
“MPs
from the ruling parties should question the government when there is
crisis in a particular party in Africa. And this can go a long way
towards encouraging the rule of law that perpetuates good governance,”
Mr Kikwete, flanked by former President Benjamin Mkapa and other retired
African leaders who attended the forum, said.
This year’s African Leadership Forum was being hosted by Thabo Mbeki Foundation, along with President Mkapa.
Five
former heads of states, including Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo,
Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete, and Malawian’s Bakili Muluzi, are also in
attendance at the leadership forum, which is being hosted for the first
time in South Africa.
But Mr Kikwete also called upon opposition parties in Africa to concede defeat after an election has been held fairly and freely.
The Kikwete administration
has been considered by political commentators to have provided much
more political space for the opposition politicians to operate.
According
to Kikwete, good governance without strong government is not possible,
so the need to have a bold parliament which should offer checks and
balances whenever needs arise.
To steer peace and
security in Africa, retired president Benjamin Mkapa called upon the
media in Africa to be patriotic and Africans while rendering their
services for the betterment of the continent. Former President Thabo
Mbeki called on African leaders to improve the lives of the people by
ensuring that they are protected and taken care of.
Mbeki
lamented that most African nations are facing the problems of political
crisis and insecurity, which, he said, are responsible for the deaths
of many citizens on daily basis.
“The issue of peace
and security is an important topic on our continent because of the
challenges that we continue to face. Obviously, they are with us. They
are visible, every day…..” he said.
The veteran
politician also told delegates at the conference that the need to
address insecurity in African countries can never be overemphasized
because “many of us will sense that some of our country where there is
no conflict yet, of the violent-kind, which it may break out some
point”.
Mbeki expressed confidence that participants at
the meeting have come out with positive ideas and also proffer
solutions to the numerous challenges in the continent, not to just
address and describe these challenges.
In his speech, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said: “Politics is always at the heart of the conflict in Africa”.
He
called on African leaders to ensure “we have less of politics and more
altruistic governance.” “If it is true that we all desire peace on the
continent then why do we continuously get into the cycle of war. I
believe if African leaders had been more decisive, we would have gotten
an African solution in Libya?” Obasanjo added.
The Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) is Africa’s premier civil society and not-for-profit organization.
The forum sought to improve the capacity and competency of African leaders and to confront development challenges.
