DEMOCRACY
Concept of Democracy
Democracy is the system of government whereby, the majority of the citizens make the decisions
of their country. The government of any democratic state receives its power from the mandate of
its citizens.
Principles of Democracy
Principles of democracy refer to the accepted basic rules that exist to guide democratic processes
and practices in a nation. In any democratic state, there are ideas that most people believe in and
necessary for democracy to succeed. They act as the basic of political activities. The following
are some of those basic needs;
i. Citizens’ participation. Citizens’ participation is the involvement of citizens within
the country in different affairs. Every citizen is obliged to participate fully in political,
social and economic affairs of the country such as voting in election, paying taxes, etc
ii. Accountability and Transparency. Accountability is the responsibility of the
leaders for their citizens. Transparency is the situation of doing things openness
without secret. The government leaders in any democratic state are supposed to
perform their duties and responsibilities in open way without any secret to the citizens
iii. Rules of laws. Rule of laws is the situation where all people in the country including
leaders are equal under the laws and all orders are confirmed by the laws. In any
democratic state, no one including leaders must obey the laws and no one is above the
laws.
iv. Separation of power. This is the act of dividing authority among the organs of the
state between the leaders. Each organ in the democratic state has the power to
exercise its obligation without being interfered with other organs.
vi. Political tolerance. This is the ability of a person to bear unpleasant and unfavorable
political situation in the country. In any democratic state, the citizens are supposed to
tolerate over unpleasant political situation which is not harm others
vii. Multiparty system. This is the existence of more than one political party in the
country. Any democratic country must allow the existence of many political parties
viii. Economic freedom. This is the condition in which the citizens are allowed to own
the properties and production of goods and services. In any democratic state, the
people are allowed to own their properties, goods and services freely without being
interfered. Also people are allowed to engage in any legal work
ix. Equality. This is the situation of being essential equivalent between people in the
country. In any democratic state, there must be the existence of fairness to all people.
x. Respect of Human rights. Human rights are the basic things that all human being are
entitled to and no one should interfere with. In any democratic states, human rights
must be respected and protected to ensure equality to all people in the country.
TYPES OF DEMOCRACY
There are two types of democracy namely;
1. Direct democracy
2. Indirect democracy
1.Direct democracy
This is the types of democracy in which all adult citizens assembled to participate in
making decisions on the government affairs. This type of democracy is applicable only in
the countries which have small population and small geographical areas, examples
Greece in 5th and 4th centuries BC and it involved only rich adult men and not women.
Also direct democracy in our country is observed in the local and small communities
such as school and villages. Many villagers in different parts in the country participate in
making decision for the development of their villages.
This of democracy has many advantages such as;
promotes a sense of honour and ownership of the decision made the community
members
it makes the decision made more legitimate because they are made by majority
it is less expensive compared to the indirect democracy.
This type of democracy also has some disadvantages such as;
it is not viable for large group of people
it is time consuming as it allows every member of the community to
contribute in discussion and decision making
it does not work properly where community members have different interests
and social economic status
it can be affected by different levels of skills and knowledge
Features of Direct Democracy
i. It is applicable only in the areas with small population and small geographical
areas such as village level, small community level and even tribal level, clan or
family level
ii. The people (Adult) have enough freedom to make their own decisions concerning
their country
iii. People contribute directly to the government decisions
iv. All votes have equal weight
v. All adult citizens have the right to vote on all national issues
2. Indirect Democracy
This is the type of democracy whereby, few people are elected to represent others on
making the decision of the government. This type of democracy is applicable in the areas
with high population and large geographical areas. Example Tanzania
Features of Indirect Democracy
i. The representatives are obtained through election and are removed in the office
through election
ii. All adult citizens have the rights to vote to choose their representatives
iii. There are competition among leaders to win the position of representative
iv. The elected representatives are govern according to the wishes of majority
Forms of Indirect Democracy
i. Parliamentary Democracy
This is the kind of indirect democracy whereby people elect the members of the
parliament. Then, the members of the parliament elect the Prime Minister from the
majority party in the parliament who becomes the head of the Executive and the head
of the government in the parliament. The Prime minister stays in power for the whole
period of life of the Parliament. However, Members of Parliament can, in the event of
misconduct, cast a “vote of no confidence” to remove the Prime Minister from the
office. United Kingdom is the country run by this system of democracy
ii. Presidential Democracy
This is the form of indirect democracy whereby, the voters elect both the members of
parliament and the head of the Executive who is the President. In this system,
Legislature and Judiciary are independent from the Executive, but each has power to
scrutinize the performance of the other. This is referred as “checks” and “balance” in
the sense that, the Parliament and the Judiciary oversee the Executive under the
President and vice versa. Example Tanzania
iii. Mixed Representatives.
This is the form of indirect democracy whereby, people
elect the head of the state who is the President and Members of Parliament. Then,
Members of Parliament elect Prime minister. Good example is Israel, Ethiopia
The advantages of indirect democracy
i. it is appropriate in an area with a large population density and large geographical
area,
ii. it is suitable in societies with freedom which allows the representative to oversees
their government,
iii. it saves time since few elected representatives make decisions on behalf of other
citizens,
iv. it provides a wide choice to the people to elect leaders of their choice during
democratic elections
Disadvantages of indirect democracy
i. it does not allows the highest level of participation in decision making
ii. conflicts may occur especially during the election of representatives
iii. it can lead to underdevelopment in a certain area due to choosing incompetent
representatives
iv. it requires effective, frequent and open communication
v. it is costly since electoral process require financial resource
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND NON-DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
Democratic government
Democratic government is the type of the government in which the political power and
authority is determined by the popular election. This type of government considers the
people in making decision and gets its legitimacy through free and fair election.
Examples of democratic government are Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, etc.
Features/Characteristics of Democratic Government
i. There is the presence of rule of laws in the country. All people are equal under the
laws
ii. The rulers are chosen by the people through election and they serve interest of the
people
iii. Every adult citizen has the right to elect or to be elected to political office
iv. The decisions must be based on the will of the majority and with respect to the
minority rights
v. There is the respect of human rights
vi. There is the separation of power in the government’s institutions
Non-Democratic Government
Non-democratic government is the type of government where y, a leader come into
power by force without considering the people’s votes. This kind of government can be
resulted from the military coup, manipulation of the election process or even changing
the democratic state into dictatorship after the leader attain the power through election. In
this type of government, only one person or group of people hold the power of the state.
In this kind of government, the leader runs the government without considering the
willing of the people in the country.
Features/Characteristics of Non-democratic Government
i. They are not answerable to the people
ii. Those who rule ensure that, their decisions are final
iii. Most of the dictators came into power by force
iv. They usually abuse their power.
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Written by: Salimu Panzi 2023
Forms of non-democratic government
i. Fascism
Is the form of dictatorship which is hold by one political party which operates in the country
with strict and severe rules. It suppressed the opposition party through terror and censorship
ii. Autocracy.
Is the form of dictatorship where a single person or small group form and control the
government with unlimited power in the country. The leaders of this government can do
whatever they want and judicial power rest on them.
iii. Authoritarianism/ Caesarism
This is the form of dictatorship where the government is controlled by military and seeks no
consent of the people
iv. Totalitarianism
This is the form of dictatorship where the government ruled by few people controls all activities
of the people in the country. No citizen has the right to challenge the government.
Implementation of democratic principles in Tanzania
In Tanzania, the following are some principles of democracy which are implemented
i. Citizens’ participation. Citizens’ participation is the involvement of citizens within the
country in different affairs. Every citizen is obliged to participate fully in political, social and
economic affairs of the country such as voting in election, paying taxes, etc
ii. Accountability and Transparency. Accountability is the responsibility of the leaders for their
citizens. Transparency is the situation of doing things openness without secret. The government
leaders in any democratic state are supposed to perform their duties and responsibilities in open
way without any secret to the citizens
iii. Rules of laws. Rule of laws is the situation where all people in the country including leaders
are equal under the laws and all orders are confirmed by the laws. In any democratic state, no
one including leaders must obey the laws and no one is above the laws.
iv. Separation of power. This is the act of dividing authority among the organs of the state
between the leaders. Each organ in the democratic state has the power to exercise its obligation
without being interfered with other organs.
v. Multiparty system. This is the existence of more than one political party in the country. Any
democratic country must allow the existence of many political parties
vi. Respect of Human rights. Human rights are the basic things that all human being are entitled
to and no one should interfere with. In any democratic states, human rights must be respected
and protected to ensure equality to all people in the country.
Participation Of Students In Democratic Activities
i. Opinions- sharing at the family level. A student can be encouraged to contribute ideas and
opinions on various family matters.
ii. Election of student government. A student participate in electing their school government
leaders who represent them in school leadership
iii. Debating on various issues in the society. Student can participate in different debate going on
in the society
iv. Seeking and disseminating information. A student should stay informed about what happened
in the country and inform others what is going in the country
v. Participating in democratic processes and practice. Students with 18 years old and above
have the right to join civil societies and political parties of their choices.
MULTI PARTY DEMOCRACY
Concept of Multi party system
This is the political system in a country where there is the existence of many political parties which operate
their activities legally and freely. In any democratic country, multi party system is common as the means of
ensuring the implementation of Human Rights
A Political Party
Is a group of people legally organized and registered for the purpose of forming the government of a
certain country
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MULTIPARTISM IN TANZANIA
Tanzania introduced multi party system in 1992. This is not first time, our country is experienced this
system during the struggle for independence in both Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The political parties which
existed during that time in Tanganyika were African National Congress (ANC), United Tanganyika Party
(UTP), All Muslims National Union of Tanganyika (AMNUT) and Tanganyika African National Union
(TANU)
In Zanzibar there were Afro-Shiraz Part (ASP), Zanzibar National Party (ZNP) and Zanzibar and Pemba
People’s Party (ZPPP)
After independence, there was constitutional amendment of creating single party system in 1995 in both
Tanganyika and Zanzibar. In Tanganyika there was TANU and in Zanzibar there was ASP. Therefore, the
from 1965 to 1992 there was the existence of single party system in the country
After reintroduction of multiparty system in 1992 in Tanzania, nowadays we have the following political
parties
i. Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM)
ii. Civic Unite Front (CUF)
iii. Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo
(CHADEMA)
iv. Tanzania Labour Party (TLP)
v. National Convention for Construction
and Reforms (NCCR- Mageuzi)
vi. United Democratic party (UDP)
vii. Chama cha Haki na Ustawi
(CHAHUSTA)
viii. Jahazi Asilia
ix. Alliance for Change Tanzania (ACTWazalendo)
x. Alliance Democratic Change (ADC)
xi. Progressive Party of Tanzania (PPTMaendeleo)
xii. Democratic Party (DP)
xiii. Tanzania Democratic Alliance
(TADEA)
xiv. Sauti ya Umma (SAU)
xv. National League for Democracy
(NLD)
xvi. National Reconstruction Alliance
(NRA)
xvii. Demokrasia Makini
xviii. Forum for Restoration of Democracy
(FORD)
xix. Union for Multiparty Democracy
xx. Chama Ustawi wa Umma
(CHAUMA)
Features Of Multi Party System
i. Presence of law that allow multi-party system. In Tanzania, there is the law in the
constitution which allows the existence of more than one party system. All political parties are
operated legally and recognized by the government
ii. Existence of Special office that deals with multi-party system. In Tanzania, there is special
office which handles the affairs of all political parties in the country. This office is called Office
of Register of Political Parties.
iii. Power of a winning political party to form the government. In Tanzania, the multi-party
election gives the power and authority to the winning political party to form the government in
the country. The winning party acquires legitimate mandate to form the government
iv. Presence of political tolerance. In Tanzania, the existence of multi-party system create the
political tolerance in such a way that, political parties which lose election can concede defeat
and support the winning party for well- being of the people
v. It allows the debate on national matters. Multi- party democracy in Tanzania allows debate
and discussion on national policies and development plans for the development of the country
Reasons Foe Multi Party System In Tanzania
i. Ideological changes in the world. This occurred after the disintegration of USSR and rise of
USA. USSR supported single party system because of its socialist ideology, while USA
supported multi-party system because of its capitalist ideology. After the decline of USSR, USA
remained only powerful nation that perpetuating liberal democracy that promotes multi-party
system.
ii. Pressure from outside. The spread of neo- liberal policies in USA and Europe made the
African countries including Tanzania to adopt multi-party system due to the economic crises
they faced. To recover with that problem they seek financial support from the donor countries
which had some conditions including adopting neo-liberal policies which emphasized multiparty system
iii. Challenges from civil societies and pressure groups. The government of Tanzania
experienced the challenges from the pressure groups and civil societies which criticized the
single party system. The single party system was condemned for denying political freedom to
the people in the country
iv. Widening the scope of democratic freedom. In Tanzania, multi-party system was adopted in
order to give people wide scope of democratic freedom. People were given the freedom and
opportunities to make their choices in different democratic affairs
v. The role of Nyalali commission. In February 1991, Francis Nyalali was given the Presidential
commission to collect the views country wide from the citizens and make decision on whether
the country should adopt multi-party system or continue with single party system. The report of
the commission later on lead to gradual changes of the constitution to accommodate a multiparty system
Advantages Of Multi Party System
i. Creation of good governance. Multi-party democracy helps the political parties to co-operate
and ensure good governance in the country because opposition parties create pressure to the
government so as to become more serious in serving the citizens
ii. It stimulates the national development. Multi-party system stimulates the national
development because the elected leaders are accountable to serve the citizens because citizens
themselves elected and accepted their government leaders
iii. Ensuring good representation to the citizens. Multi-party system ensures good representation
to the citizens because each political party creates its platform which represents the overall wills
of the people
iv. Strengthening the political competition. Multi-party system strengths the political
competition in the country because it creates the freedom of citizens to participate legally in
political affairs such as voting for a leader or making choices to join with a political party
v. Promotion of democracy in the country. Multi-party system promote democracy in the
country because it gives the chance to the citizens to enjoy their social, political and economic
rights
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