No Power to the People Yet! Failed Liberation and Democratization Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa By Voice of Micah
Concepts of liberation and democracy especially in African politics, have over the last half a century now, conveniently mutated, crystallized and embraced political under and overtones, depending on circumstances. It is not uncommon in regular political rhetoric to hear about democrats and liberation fighters, democratization struggles and wars of liberation.
In southern Africa, in particular, the language of liberation is almost synonymous to political formations such as the Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO), the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa, the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) in Namibia, the Movimento Popular de Libertaҫᾶo de Angola (MPLA), and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU).
There is something unique and subtle in the way these terms are used especially in official circles and in relation to the citizenry. Somehow, memories of sacrifice are invoked with indelible references to the people’s pursuit of freedom from the alien minority settlers’ rule. These are bitter and painful memories of protracted political and armed struggles, suffering and torture; and in many instances, terrible loss of life. Fallen men and women, old and young alike, fighting fearlessly for freedom and independence remain unaccounted for in unmarked graves, deep in the jungles and trenches in many parts of southern Africa and even beyond.
Again, this typical application of the terms carries nuances of overarching political legitimization, especially for the military and political forces that previously spearheaded either struggles for independence or liberal democracy, and are now firmly in power as new rulers and masters in place of the colonizers whether British, the Boers or Portuguese. Not long ago, perhaps more revealing was the Zimbabwe Defense Forces’ unwavering pledge never to salute anybody who did not share a place with them in battle frontlines and trenches during the struggle.
On 9 January 2002, two months before the presidential elections, Zimbabwe’s military and security chiefs issued a statement announcing that they would not tolerate any president who did not observe the objectives of the liberation struggle. Their argument was that the highest office in the land was a straightjacket whose occupant was expected to observe the objectives of the liberation struggle. Regardless of whatever that statement meant, it is clear that sentiments like these carry suggestions of citizens’ indebtedness to the military and political establishments for their particular role and contribution in the struggle for independence. This dispels any practical suggestion, at least for now, that political legitimacy is something deriving from popular trust.
Instead the defeat of the colonial forces by the military and political compatriots on behalf of the people, this is considered to be the real and singular source and foundation of legitimacy, notwithstanding whatever liberal constitutions may say or allude to. It’s this historic struggle, often held as sacrosanct, and nothing else, that is supreme. It’s this struggle that conceived and gave birth to liberal constitutions in the first place, and not the other way round.
In return, it is expected of the people, almost as a matter of obligation, or as a token of gratitude, to render unwavering loyalty to the political and military establishments that claim such irreplaceable space in the history of liberation or democracy. Undoubtedly, circumstances like these make remote any thought of typical civil leadership democratically replacing parties with liberation credentials at least for now and possibly in the foreseeable future.
However, there is quandary in the sense that, somehow, this phenomenon is not restricted to political parties or regimes that have historical roots in the jungles and trenches, as it were. The feeling of legitimacy as deriving from the conquering of either the colonial state, or the one man, one party dictatorship, other than something rooted and springing forth from the popular will of citizens is, surprisingly, equally evident in political parties with civilian foundations like Malawi.
In this part of the world, it is not unusual, for instance, to hear claims, “we brought you independence”, “we brought you democracy, or “we have given you development.” Thus whether it’s about the quasi military or typical civilian political formations; both share a single premise where the majority of citizens are pushed aside, conveniently left out of the margins of power, and never seriously considered as the basis of political power and legitimacy.
Despite its popularity and entrenchment in liberal constitutions, the principle of power to the people remains just a slogan on the lips of the civil and political elite, and nothing beyond that for the ordinary women and men. Any attempt by citizens to claim their space in the name of power to the people, political establishments quickly move in often with assistance of either the police or military to intimidate and even to shoot and kill. Thus, a pervasive feeling exists of a citizenry beaten flat out and defeated by their own governments leading to the state of powerlessness. We consider this phenomenon to be the most serious problem in African politics today.
In these series we would like to investigate the experience of this state of defeat of the citizenry, a defeat that culminates into disconnection and dispossession by citizens despite independence and the reintroduction of liberal democracy in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Further, we would like to interrogate the common political miscalculation and subsequent projection of either race or autocracy, as the basis of the struggle for independence or liberal democracy, in contrast to the nature of the colonial state itself, as a problem and therefore, the real basis of the struggle for independence and liberal democracy. Stated differently, the question of race or autocracy has often been posited as the locus of the struggle against colonization or for liberal democracy, and not the modern state itself.
We argue, in this article, that the colonial state, or what could preferably be called the state problem, other than race or autocracy, is fundamental to the failure of the liberation and democratization projects in sub-Saharan Africa including Malawi. We consider Ernest Wamba-Dia-Wamba right when he concludes his critique by attributing this state of affairs to the wide spread failure of what he calls, emancipatory politics.
For Dia-Wamba, the analysis of African politics in terms of historical modes of politics remains to be done. This is necessary, he argues, in order to make it possible to differentiate the African creative political modernity, among other things, from the mere adoption or adaptation whether by African politicians, scholars and even civil society actors, of alien political modes or formulas in the name of modernization.
To be continued!
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you. https://www.binance.com/it/join?ref=S5H7X3LP
Your enticle helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
mail order pharmacies: online pharmacy coupon – pharmacy online degrees
buy viagra 50mg: VGR Sources – generic viagra online pharmacy canada
100mg viagra price in india cheap sildenafil tablets sildenafil soft tablets
how to buy viagra in us: VGR Sources – ordering viagra from india
https://vgrsources.com/# generic viagra for daily use
buy viagra with mastercard: VGR Sources – order generic viagra from india
viagra 150 VGR Sources viagra generic soft tab
viagra tablet price online: VGR Sources – buy real viagra online usa
female viagra sildenafil: buy viagra over the counter australia – cheap viagra overnight delivery
order viagra india VGR Sources buy viagra discount
https://vgrsources.com/# order viagra on line
price viagra generic: best otc viagra – sildenafil generic cheap
viagra over the counter nz: order sildenafil uk – sildenafil otc canada
female viagra canadian pharmacy VGR Sources viagra 100mg price in usa
canada brand viagra: online sildenafil citrate – how to order viagra online in india
sildenafil 10 mg daily: sildenafil cost 100mg – cheap viagra pills
https://vgrsources.com/# viagra black
how to get viagra united states VGR Sources buy generic viagra soft tabs
sildenafil canada: VGR Sources – viagra for female for sale
viagra sale: sildenafil otc uk – buy cheap generic viagra uk
sildenafil 25 mg mexico viagra buy in usa sildenafil citrate online
viagra generic price canada: viagra mexico online – sildenafil 100mg price
viagra for ladies: viagra 100mg price – can you buy viagra in europe
where to buy sildenafil over the counter: generic viagra from usa – where to buy generic viagra online safely
viagra generic 100mg female viagra where to buy sildenafil 2
https://vgrsources.com/# usa viagra
viagra online canada mastercard: mexico viagra prices – viagra without a prescription
cheap price sildenafil 100 mg: sildenafil 100mg canadian pharmacy – sildenafil citrate tablets ip 100 mg
real viagra for sale canada VGR Sources genuine viagra uk
best canadian pharmacy generic viagra: viagra woman – sildenafil 20 mg brand name
how much is sildenafil 20 mg: VGR Sources – viagra cost
order sildenafil india real viagra uk viagra online no prescription
https://vgrsources.com/# viagra without rx
viagra store: viagra fast delivery usa – buy viagra 50mg
viagra 100mg price in usa: viagra 100 mg price canada – sildenafil 6mg
how to buy viagra online in canada canadian rx viagra viagra tablet cost in india
how much is viagra online: where can i find viagra – where to get viagra without prescription
how to order viagra without a prescription: VGR Sources – viagra usa prescription
viagra generic over the counter viagra online rx where can i purchase viagra
where can you buy viagra without a prescription: canadian pharmacy viagra online – buy viagra pills online in india
100g viagra: VGR Sources – where to buy viagra pills
https://vgrsources.com/# how much is sildenafil
sildenafil from india cheapest price for generic viagra where to get viagra without prescription
sildenafil 50 mg best price: VGR Sources – sildenafil 50 mg buy online
viagra boys: how much is a 100mg viagra – viagra 25mg
purchase viagra without prescription how to get viagra over the counter viagra pharmacy prices
where can you buy viagra over the counter: VGR Sources – can i buy genuine viagra online
where can i find viagra: viagra 200mg tablets – viagra canadian pharmacy no prescription
https://vgrsources.com/# where to buy female viagra uk
viagra canada online pharmacy: VGR Sources – buy generic viagra 50mg
buying viagra.nz viagra online best price where can i buy viagra online without a prescription
viagra gel in india: VGR Sources – generic viagra sales
Crestor mail order USA: CrestorPharm – Crestor Pharm
prednisone 250 mg prednisone 20 mg in india prednisone 20 mg
SemagluPharm: Rybelsus side effects and dosage – SemagluPharm
http://crestorpharm.com/# CrestorPharm
Semaglu Pharm: semaglutide and diarrhea – can you take rybelsus every other day
Semaglu Pharm SemagluPharm Rybelsus 3mg 7mg 14mg
CrestorPharm: rosuvastatin recall 2025 – can you drink alcohol with crestor
CrestorPharm: crestor and joint pain – crestor logo
https://lipipharm.shop/# lipitor image
Predni Pharm PredniPharm cost of prednisone
prednisone without prescription medication: prednisone otc uk – prednisone canada prices
prednisone generic brand name: prednisone coupon – PredniPharm
PredniPharm Predni Pharm purchase prednisone 10mg
https://lipipharm.shop/# LipiPharm
Buy cholesterol medicine online cheap: Crestor Pharm – Crestor Pharm
rybelsus 3mg Semaglu Pharm Safe delivery in the US
rosuvastatin副作用: Crestor Pharm – CrestorPharm
SemagluPharm SemagluPharm Semaglu Pharm
why does semaglutide cause nausea: SemagluPharm – diabetes med rybelsus
LipiPharm: Generic Lipitor fast delivery – Lipi Pharm
Crestor Pharm: CrestorPharm – CrestorPharm
https://crestorpharm.shop/# CrestorPharm
rosuvastatin calcium price CrestorPharm Crestor Pharm
Semaglutide tablets without prescription: rybelsus farmacia guadalajara – Semaglutide tablets without prescription
LipiPharm: Generic Lipitor fast delivery – lipitor drugs.com
what is a compounded semaglutide does semaglutide expire after 28 days Safe delivery in the US
how to administer semaglutide: Semaglu Pharm – Buy Rybelsus online USA
https://prednipharm.shop/# buy prednisone without rx
Safe atorvastatin purchase without RX: Cheap Lipitor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg – Generic Lipitor fast delivery
LipiPharm Lipi Pharm difference between atorvastatin and simvastatin
crestor every other day: Crestor Pharm – rosuvastatin or atorvastatin
Crestor Pharm п»їBuy Crestor without prescription No doctor visit required statins
https://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglu Pharm
CrestorPharm: CrestorPharm – rosuvastatin crestor
prednisone buy Predni Pharm 20 mg prednisone tablet
Crestor Pharm: Crestor Pharm – Crestor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg online
SemagluPharm Online pharmacy Rybelsus SemagluPharm
http://semaglupharm.com/# Buy Rybelsus online USA
LipiPharm lipitor paxlovid Atorvastatin online pharmacy
Order rosuvastatin online legally: what time of day should you take rosuvastatin – CrestorPharm
mounjaro vs semaglutide: semaglutide cyanocobalamin – Semaglu Pharm
https://lipipharm.com/# LipiPharm
https://semaglupharm.com/# semaglutide pregnancy
п»їBuy Lipitor without prescription USA Lipi Pharm LipiPharm
Predni Pharm: Predni Pharm – Predni Pharm
SemagluPharm: rybelsus used for weight loss – Semaglu Pharm
https://semaglupharm.shop/# Semaglu Pharm
Crestor Pharm: Crestor Pharm – how to wean off rosuvastatin
SemagluPharm does semaglutide make you depressed Rybelsus side effects and dosage
PredniPharm: Predni Pharm – mail order prednisone
https://prednipharm.shop/# buy prednisone without a prescription best price
http://semaglupharm.com/# can you drink alcohol on semaglutide for weight loss
Crestor home delivery USA: Crestor Pharm – Crestor Pharm
Crestor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg online crestor 10 mg effetti collaterali crestor 20mg price
CrestorPharm: does rosuvastatin cause back pain – Over-the-counter Crestor USA
http://semaglupharm.com/# SemagluPharm
Predni Pharm: prednisone for sale without a prescription – where can i buy prednisone without prescription
Discreet shipping for Lipitor Lipi Pharm LipiPharm
can you buy rybelsus over the counter: Semaglu Pharm – ozempic vs semaglutide
https://semaglupharm.shop/# SemagluPharm
https://prednipharm.shop/# Predni Pharm
Cheap Lipitor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg: Order cholesterol medication online – LipiPharm
Crestor mail order USA Generic Crestor for high cholesterol Best price for Crestor online USA
best time to take crestor rosuvastatin: ashwagandha and rosuvastatin – Best price for Crestor online USA
https://semaglupharm.shop/# Semaglutide tablets without prescription
Crestor Pharm: CrestorPharm – Crestor Pharm
semaglutide for prediabetes most affordable semaglutide rybelsus for non diabetics
prednisone 7.5 mg: prednisone 10 mg daily – prednisone 5 mg brand name
https://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglu Pharm
https://prednipharm.com/# pharmacy cost of prednisone
PredniPharm: prednisone buy – prednisone for sale in canada
prednisone 5mg capsules PredniPharm Predni Pharm
https://semaglupharm.shop/# SemagluPharm
Semaglu Pharm: Semaglu Pharm – Semaglu Pharm
Where to buy Semaglutide legally: phentermine vs semaglutide – does semaglutide cause liver damage
https://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglu Pharm
PredniPharm best pharmacy prednisone 50 mg prednisone canada pharmacy
Predni Pharm: average cost of prednisone – 50 mg prednisone tablet
https://semaglupharm.shop/# Semaglu Pharm
LipiPharm: Generic Lipitor fast delivery – Lipi Pharm
https://semaglupharm.shop/# Semaglu Pharm
PredniPharm buy prednisone from india Predni Pharm
CrestorPharm: Crestor Pharm – rosuvastatin lipophilic
https://semaglupharm.shop/# FDA-approved Rybelsus alternative
Semaglu Pharm: No prescription diabetes meds online – Semaglu Pharm
Over-the-counter Crestor USA rosuvastatin calcium 20 mg side effects side effects if crestor
Crestor Pharm: CrestorPharm – Crestor Pharm
https://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglu Pharm
SemagluPharm: can semaglutide make you tired – Online pharmacy Rybelsus
Affordable Rybelsus price SemagluPharm semaglutide before and after 3 months
https://prednipharm.shop/# Predni Pharm
LipiPharm: Lipi Pharm – atorvastatin why take at night
https://semaglupharm.com/# Semaglu Pharm
buying from online mexican pharmacy: Meds From Mexico – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs Meds From Mexico Meds From Mexico
canadian pharmacies: canadian online pharmacy – canadianpharmacy com
https://medsfrommexico.shop/# buying from online mexican pharmacy
reputable mexican pharmacies online: Meds From Mexico – mexican drugstore online
https://medsfrommexico.shop/# buying prescription drugs in mexico online
mexican mail order pharmacies best online pharmacies in mexico buying prescription drugs in mexico
medicine in mexico pharmacies: mexico drug stores pharmacies – п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
http://medsfrommexico.com/# best mexican online pharmacies
India Pharm Global: India Pharm Global – India Pharm Global
Meds From Mexico Meds From Mexico purple pharmacy mexico price list
https://indiapharmglobal.shop/# India Pharm Global
buying prescription drugs in mexico: pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa – mexican mail order pharmacies
India Pharm Global: pharmacy website india – Online medicine home delivery
http://medsfrommexico.com/# Meds From Mexico
Meds From Mexico buying prescription drugs in mexico online buying prescription drugs in mexico online
https://indiapharmglobal.com/# India Pharm Global
canadian pharmacy victoza: northwest pharmacy canada – canada pharmacy online
best online pharmacy india: top online pharmacy india – India Pharm Global
https://canadapharmglobal.com/# pharmacy wholesalers canada
mail order pharmacy india India Pharm Global п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india
pharmacy website india: India Pharm Global – India Pharm Global
canada online pharmacy: Canada Pharm Global – cheap canadian pharmacy
https://indiapharmglobal.com/# Online medicine home delivery
http://canadapharmglobal.com/# rate canadian pharmacies
mexican rx online mexican mail order pharmacies medication from mexico pharmacy
India Pharm Global: India Pharm Global – India Pharm Global
India Pharm Global: india pharmacy – India Pharm Global
medicine in mexico pharmacies Meds From Mexico Meds From Mexico
reputable canadian online pharmacy: reputable canadian pharmacy – online canadian drugstore
real canadian pharmacy: legit canadian pharmacy – legit canadian pharmacy
https://indiapharmglobal.shop/# mail order pharmacy india
http://medsfrommexico.com/# mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india reputable indian online pharmacy India Pharm Global
Meds From Mexico: Meds From Mexico – mexican drugstore online
mexican pharmaceuticals online: Meds From Mexico – Meds From Mexico
https://medsfrommexico.shop/# buying prescription drugs in mexico
hemleverans receptbelagd medicin: Svenska Pharma – Svenska Pharma
https://papafarma.shop/# dodot talla 5
farmГ cia i parafarmГ cia: Papa Farma – sildenafil online
https://raskapotek.shop/# vaksine influensa apotek
EFarmaciaIt farmacia piu economica accedi herbalife
Rask Apotek: Rask Apotek – Rask Apotek
Pharma Confiance: paraphamacie en ligne – Pharma Confiance
MedicijnPunt: Medicijn Punt – online apotheek recept
para santГ© online Pharma Confiance ma pharmacie chez moi
https://medicijnpunt.com/# Medicijn Punt
Pharma Connect USA: accutane online pharmacy india – Pharma Connect USA
Medicijn Punt: ons medicatie voor apotheken – medicatie apotheker review
fleur de bach 39 avis Pharma Confiance porte gel douche
https://pharmaconfiance.shop/# imodium chien
http://pharmaconfiance.com/# Pharma Confiance
shop a: PharmaJetzt – PharmaJetzt
Pharma Confiance: Pharma Confiance – easyparapharmacie en ligne
online pharmacy consultation: PharmaConnectUSA – pharmacy warfarin clinic
PharmaJetzt versandapotheke gГјnstig Pharma Jetzt
MedicijnPunt: MedicijnPunt – landelijke apotheek
https://pharmajetzt.com/# Pharma Jetzt
https://pharmaconfiance.com/# Pharma Confiance
PharmaConnectUSA: us pharmacy viagra – methotrexate pharmacy error
Pharma Confiance: Pharma Confiance – Pharma Confiance
http://pharmaconnectusa.com/# PharmaConnectUSA
versand apotheke Pharma Jetzt PharmaJetzt
MedicijnPunt: betrouwbare online apotheek zonder recept – apteka eindhoven
PharmaJetzt: PharmaJetzt – Pharma Jetzt
PharmaConnectUSA: Terramycin – PharmaConnectUSA
https://pharmaconnectusa.com/# publix pharmacy cephalexin
apotheek online: ongles noir et rose gold – Pharma Confiance
https://pharmaconfiance.com/# par pharmacie
MedicijnPunt MedicijnPunt MedicijnPunt
actonel online pharmacy: pharmacy checker viagra – PharmaConnectUSA
versandapotheke shop apotheke: Pharma Jetzt – Pharma Jetzt
https://medicijnpunt.shop/# Medicijn Punt
quel est le meilleur site de pharmacie en ligne ?: porte de douche 90 cm sans cadre – materiel medical autour de moi
best online pharmacy that does not require a prescription online pharmacy in usa silk road online pharmacy
Pharma Connect USA: pharmacy direct gb propecia – Pharma Connect USA
http://pharmaconfiance.com/# Pharma Confiance
https://pharmajetzt.com/# PharmaJetzt
PharmaConnectUSA: Pharma Connect USA – sams pharmacy
MedicijnPunt: Medicijn Punt – medicine online
PharmaJetzt apotheke online versandkostenfrei Pharma Jetzt
medikamente auf rechnung bestellen: Pharma Jetzt – apotheke onlin
https://pharmajetzt.shop/# PharmaJetzt
motilium uk pharmacy: valtrex pharmacy online – online pharmacy with doctor consultation