NAME : AMANDA HONWANA

STUDENT NUMBER : 41369823

Explain how the phenomenon of one-party-dominance impacts on the process of

democratic consolidation in Southern Africa.

INTRODUCTION

This essay will be discussing the concept of one party dominance and looking at the effect it has
on democratic consolidation in South Africa. Democratic consolidation can be defined as the
process whereby a recently built democracy strengthens its existing norms, political
authenticity, effective administration, practices and institutions. Nevertheless, the one-party
dominance has created noteworthy challenges to the effective democratic consolidation process.

ONE PARTY DOMINANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Its history of liberation battles , colonizations and democratic transformation defines Southern
Africa as a region. Many nations in this region struggled towards creating effective
democracies after recovering from authoritarian or colonial rule. However, in some cases one-
party dominance came about due to the history of movements for freedom. Which happened to
be frequent by dominant parties during the transition. For instance, the African National
Congress (ANC) in South Africa, Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front ( ZANU-
PF) and Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) in Mozambique (Southall, 2015) .

IMPACT ON POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

One-party dominance has a negative impact on democratic political participation which was a
vital part of democratic consolidation. This is because it potentially leads to a lack of political
competition, which is needed for a healthy and effective democracy. In a case where one party
dominates, it suppresses opposition and lowers people’s participation in politics. This results in
some form of apathy, a feeling that strengthens the thought that there is no point in voting or
taking part in politics. Even though these powerful parties mostly rise from liberation
movements that battled for democratic rights , their lengthy reign of power might cause citizens
to become apathetic (Geddes, 1999). Citizens may think that their voices are not being heard
since there are few viable options, which lowers their desire to participate in political processes
(Bratton & Masunungure, 2011) . For instance, claims of electoral fraud and the stifling of
opposition voices against Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF during President Robert Mugabe’s leadership
that led to a decline in public confidence in institutions and political participation (Szeftel,
2003)

A strong and diverse civil society can be stifled under one-party rule. Organizations in civil
society are crucial for representing a range of promoting citizen rights, holding governments
responsible and interests. These groups may be restricted in situations when the ruling party
attempts to dominate civil society or as a danger that could diminish their potential to support
the democratic consolidation process.

IMPACT ON INSTITUTIONS
Consolidating democracy depends on strong institutions. However, one-party rule frequently
impedes the growth of institutions that are independent and responsible. A lack of checks and
balances can lead to executive overreach and inadequate accountability when a dominant party
controls both the legislative and executive arms of the government (Young, 2007). The division
of powers and the rule of law, two essential components of a sound democracy, may be
threatened by this concentration of authority. Additionally, electoral institutions are essential for
maintaining free and open elections. One-party control can result in the manipulation of
electoral procedures and rules to keep the party in power (Azevedo, 2007) . As an example,
having a dominant party using state resources to back up its electoral campaigns, this slowly
deteriorates public trust in the electoral process (Szeftel, 2003).

Furthermore, one-party rule can result in corruption and patronage connections as those in
charge try to maintain their support base by distributing resources in a particular way.
Transparency, accountability, and fair growth are all threatened, and they are all crucial for the
consolidation of democracy (Lindberg, 2009).
The resurgence of one-party rule has created substantial obstacles to Southern Africa's efforts to
consolidate democracy. Political involvement, institutions, governance, and the nonviolent
handover of power have all been impacted. However, as continuing developments in South
Africa and the instances of nations like Zambia show, democratic consolidation is still feasible
even in the face of well-established dominating parties. Effective opposition tactics,
international participation, and a dedication to democratic values are necessary for successful
transitions.

CONCLUSION

The creation of powerful and independent institutions, the defense of civil society, and election
changes that guarantee equal competition must be put first in efforts to combat the detrimental
impacts of one-party rule. Furthermore, regional and international organizations can be
extremely helpful in advancing democratic standards, offering technical support, and applying
pressure when democratic backsliding takes place. In conclusion, Southern Africa's path toward
democratic consolidation is difficult and diverse. One-party rule poses significant difficulties,
but it's not an insurmountable barrier. Southern African countries may keep advancing toward
solid, inclusive democracies by taking lessons from both past achievements and setbacks.
REFERENCE LIST

1. Southall, R. (2015). South Africa’s ANC: A Party in Crisis. Journal of Democracy,

26(4), 47-61.
2. Geddes, B. (1999). What Do We Know About Democratization After Twenty Years?.
Annual Review of Political Science, 2, 115-144.
3. Bratton, M., & Masunungure, E. (2011). Popular Reactions to State Repression:
Operation Murambatsvina in Zimbabwe. Afrobarometer Working Paper, No. 131.
4. Szeftel, M. (2003). Electoral Malpractice in Mozambique: Towards An
Understanding of Frelimo's 1999 and 2003 Landslides. Journal of Southern
African Studies, 29(1), 211-229.
5. Young, C. (2007). The Politics of Difference and Tolerance: Examining
Opposition Party Strategies in Zambia's Emerging Democracy. African Studies
Review, 50(1), 67-86.
6. Azevedo, A. (2007). Africa's Liberation: The Legacy of Nyerere. The Journal of
Modern African Studies, 45(2), 253-281
7. Lindberg, S. I. (2009). Political Clientelism. The Oxford Handbook of
Comparative Politics, 612