Traditional values are the norms and ethics of a given society that have transcended from one generation to the other as a guide to determine the chose way of life of such a society in question. They are the underlying principles and practice of a successful traditional society hence the traditional African culture. Whilst democracy is a system of government in which the citizens of a country collectively determine who should lead the country under certain satisfactory conditions that are predetermined by collective consensus. And how all other individuals and group are expected to conduct themselves in their dealings within the circumference of such a systemic set up or strategically calculated frame work.
The importance of the traditional values in a successful modern democracy with Zambia as a point of reference is discussed below.
Zambia is a sovereign state in the African continent that by early history at the time of Christ were bushmen stone age hunting and gathering people but with a more advanced society in the 11th and 12th centuries came into force an iron age culture called “Luanga” and long distance trade was flourishing at a trading Center called Inge-ambe-llede (The lying place of the cow).
They recorded their first European visitor in the 1500 to 1900 by name Manuel Caetano Pereira of Portugal which marked the beginning of contact with the Western world.
Cecil Rhodes spearheaded British commercial and political interest in 1888 by obtaining mineral rights concession with the local chiefs. Northern and Southern Rhodesia which are now Zambia and Zimbabwe were pronounced British colonies.
Zambia becomes independent on 31st December, 1963.
Kenneth Kaunda spearheaded the Zambian freedom with an upheaval called the cha-cha-cha. The country became independent with a degree holding population of about 100 natives. Hence, lacking qualified people to run the country.
The vulnerable middle class Zambia people could not protest Keneth Kaunda’s unquenchable thirst of seeing multi-partysm as abominable and consequently his formation of one party state. This gave rise to his absolute power and eventual displeasure of the civil front. A commission was established which came out with recommendations based on the concepts of check and balances even though their most invaluable findings were dismissed. This recommendation dismissal invoked the spirit of multi-partysm in the people to exert pressure on Kaunda to democratize the government. The multi-party democracy agenda faithful formed the Movement of Multi-party Democracy (MMD) alongside other minor and the (MMD) eventually took the reign of government in October 1991 winning a 125 seats out of a total of 150 seats with Frederick Chiluba becoming the president with 81% vote cast.
It is worthy of note that democracy is a process by not just an event and therefore should be given the necessary condition to grow. It is therefore with this that the nature of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) must continue so as to facilitate the socio-political and cultural development of the people and a sustainable democracy in any given states or nations of African continents
There is more than ample evidence to buttress the fact of importance traditional values in a successful democracy for the following reasons:
The communitarian nature of the African society is very resourceful for a smoothly sustained democracy if resources are committed for the establishment of towns, districts and councils. This has a tendency of bringing the long stretched gap between the rulers and the ruled of the society. This is a simple process of decentralization to facilitate mass participation in the decision making process. Hence fostering the wing of democracy.
It is worthy of appreciation to state that consensual democracy benefits the entirely of the African as against the so called Western representative democracy. The chiefs or kings served as the heads of government in the indigenous African society whilst societies without rulers are a cephalous or anarchistic. Among the centralized societies were the Ashanti of Ghana Zulu of South Africa, Benba of Zambia and the Banyan Kole of Uganda and their counterpart decentralized societies included the Nuer of Sudan, Igbo of Nigerian and the Talensi of the Northern Ghana in the pre-colonial era. This is evidence enough that consensus is an African value with great potential s of fostering the democratic affairs of African when studied emphatically on at the first hand even before the contact of European civilization.
Moreover, respect for age and authenticity is a value not alien to the indigenous African. This when studied against even the 1992 4th republican constitution provides certain for various public offices. This value when harnessed will go a long way to build a sustainable democracy. There is no doubt that the elderly of the African society are accorded the necessary respect and prestige. This helps in developing the spirit of tolerance. It must therefore be acknowledged that there can be no democracy in an intolerant society. Hence the value of tolerance in the traditional society cannot be over emphasized. This is otherwise called the reverence for age as the actions and proclamations of the distinguished aged are held in high esteemed.
The value 0f fairness is another such African value that can by no stretch of imaginations be alien to the success of a modern democracy. This is because the act of fair hearing when need be and prescribed judgment is one such crucial African value this avert chaos in already charged atmosphere of tension in the society and are capable of maintaining and restoring peace and tranquility . Chiefs and elders carefully this value when and where necessary.
It is again imperative to state that chiefs by oath engage to adhere to the advice of the council of elders in the traditional in all matters pertaining to the governance of their people. This plays a vital role of checks and balance in the acts and conduct of the traditional and absolute power possession.
Accountability is another African value that is capable of fostering the democratic set up of the traditional. The chiefs and elders take responsibility in the execution of their duties that affect their people. This makes them accountable to their people. This when translated into the modern day is a really positive step in building democracy. The book ‘’ In The Chest Of a Woman ‘’ by Kojo Mawugbe illustrates the Akan traditional set up in this regard. Whilst the Ghanaian ‘’Tigger Eye ‘’ investigative journalist, exposed several scandals such as quark doctor abortions, the DVLA malpractice and the recent judicial scandals such as a modern measure accountability nourishment and enforcement in the society. This proves the necessity of accountability as a value capable facilitating modern democracy.
The value of consent by the people is an equally important virtue of the African where most monarchs believe that their power is vested by the people they govern. Hence the common has a slot in the affairs of the society. This improves or enhances mass participation.
Aside the virtues of African values in a successful democracy are their corresponding bedeviling challenges. It must be echoed in the first place that ethnicity and ethnocentrism is on the rise and indeed more than detrimental to a successful democracy. Ethnicity refers a process where a group of people are identified by a common ancestors and mode of life. Whilst ethnocentrism is a situation where one ethnic group see their culture to be superior to the culture of other ethnic groups. They feel that they are superior and their counterparts are relatively inferior. This leads to tribal wars and destabilizing the peace and tranquility of the society. Hence a serious threat to the success of democracy.
Moreover, abuse of incumbency is another canker affecting most developing democracies particularly in the African continent. Some leaders fail to surrender the reigns of government after their fixed tenure office. There is more than ample evidence to this effect. Robert Mugabe is one such leader and others are Yahaya Jameh of Gambia and even unsuccessful attempt by Osagyifu Dr Kwame Nkrumah the first president of the Republic of Ghana before he was over thrown whilst away at Vietnam on official duties. Among others are democratic downfalls.
It is also appreciable that the situation of inadequate logistics in the system is a threat to the success of our democratic system. There is a worthy adequate supply of democratic structures and stationery relevant for the practice and implementation of democracy. It should be as well as be recall that there is inadequate literature on our traditional governance so as to facilitate the understanding and education of the youth and the larger society. It must be echoed that a lot of our young academic intellectuals are culturally illiterate of their tradition. The diffused traditional authority authority of the traditional leaders are political misinterpretation and misapplied by our political class. We must tune our minds to the fact that traditional politics is different f from the modern inherited western representative politics. But many developing countries still have more to do as far as striking a balance between the traditional authority and the modern democratic process and concentrate the reconciliation of the two for the purpose of a successful modern day democracy.
Mr. lecturer and fellow students, it is a privilege to re-echo that the presentation assignment of the members of group 2 of the 2018 governance and democracy in traditional African thoroughly discussed the importance of traditional values in a successful democracy and their possible challenges in modern day with the Republic of Zambia as the point of reference.
REFERENCE;
Governance and democracy in Traditional Africa By Charles B .Campion.
Google Scholar (History of Africa)
Play store Book online (History of Zambia)
Global social studies And In The Chest of Woman (Efo Kojo Mawugbe)
