Rawlings Speaks For Opposition Parties

FORMER PRESIDENT Jerry John Rawlings has criticized the tendency by governments to regard the opposition as enemies, saying democracy is about providing space for the existence of the other side of the political divide. 

He said: 'In the politics of some countries, you are either a political friend or an enemy; there are no shades of grey in between. This sort of mindset is exacerbated by the mentality - and the actual experience in so many instances - of 'winner takes all.' Democracy is about losers having political space, and the genuine opportunity to win back power at the next electoral test.' 

Mr. Rawlings made these remarks recently during the opening ceremony of a workshop on 'Government and Opposition' organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. 

Addressing an audience of parliamentarians, political party leaders and civil society, he said politics involved the striking of balances and compromises between the executive and the judiciary, between the executive and the legislature and between the judiciary and the legislature. 

Democracy, the former President noted, 'does not come with one or two elections, it does not grow overnight. Further, democracy cannot just be about rhetoric. It must have meaning, strong foundations and vibrant institutions. It must be inclusive and touch the lives of people.'

In a paper delivered to the workshop that same day,  he charged parliamentarians to acknowledge that they have a responsibility to be selfless advocates, represent the truth, exercise utmost humility, and be ready to sow seeds of social, political, economic and cultural development for their people and country. 

Speaking on the topic, 'Government and Opposition: Roles and Responsibilities,' the ex-president said parliamentary independence had been devalued by the overriding influence of political parties who tend to tele-guide every decision of members of parliament.

He said: 'Indeed examples abound on the continent where an MP who goes contrary to the dictates of his party is 'hounded' out through the party's sponsorship of another candidate when elections are due.

'I am not in any way advocating that we do away with the authority of the party. I am rather calling on our political parties and the executive to respect the individual right of legislators to take responsible decisions on behalf of their constituents.'

The former President noted that if parliamentarians draw their remuneration, research resources and other official funding direct from an independent, non-partisan structure it would encourage them to operate more independently and proactively.

Constructive opposition, President Rawlings noted is characterized by organized opposition that points out coherently the shortcomings of the government of the day whilst offering practical alternatives to the electorate and wider group of citizens. 

'The role of the opposition is to assist in finding a solution to national problems, not to compound them. They must not simply agree with the government's view.  But in the absence of an agreement they must not be unnecessarily disruptive either of the search for a consensus on issues,' he said.

He also said: 'Democracy will thrive in an environment where the growth of civil society is unimpeded and encouraged.  This involves encouraging the flow of ideas; data and opinions from such identified bodies, which span a wide and disparate spectrum.

'Civil Society also has an obligation not be partisan and should at all times desist from covertly or overtly exhibiting signs of partisanship…,' he said.