Anatomy of the Dominant Party System in Africa

By Mwalimu George Ngwane*

Entry
When the majority of African people went up in arms against one party rule in Africa in the early 90s, it was to expand democratic space and provide alternative voices that would impact on a sustainable democratic development.  That hunger for change was orchestrated against the backdrop of a lethargic mono-party culture whose fossilized dictatorial architecture had metamorphosed into one man high handed rule even if in some cases it bred positive economic growth. To avoid the pendulum of power from oscillating between civilian anarchy and military tyranny, a new dispensation was jettisoned to allow for popular access to power and equitable distribution of the country’s resources.