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Nairobi-based international relations scholar Dr Weston Shilaho has criticised what he calls the “hollowing out of democracy” across Africa, warning that elections in many countries — including Tanzania, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast — have degenerated into rituals for the coronation of incumbents rather than genuine exercises of the people’s will. Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (3 November), Dr Shilaho said recent elections in Tanzania under President Samia Suluhu Hassan reflect the continent’s wider democratic crisis — one characterised by one-party dominance, repression of dissent, and the manipulation of institutions meant to guarantee fairness. “What happened in Tanzania, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast are not elections — they are farces,” he said. “When opposition parties are banned, critics persecuted, and electoral bodies beholden to the state, that is not democracy. It’s a ritual for the coronation of the incumbent.” ‘Democracy in retreat’ Dr Shilaho argued that the optimism of the early 1990s — when many African nations embraced multiparty systems following the Cold War — has faded into widespread disillusionment. “Democracy is backsliding across Africa,” he noted. “What we have now is one-party dominance, personality cults, and the resurgence of military coups. The institutions that were meant to protect transparency and accountability have been captured by elites.” Citing political theorist Francis Fukuyama’s once-celebrated thesis The End of History, Shilaho said the Western model of liberal democracy has failed to deliver dignity, justice, or development to Africans. “Liberal democracy has not reduced conflict or poverty,” he said. “If anything, it has deepened divisions and inequalities in fragile societies. The colonial legacy has caught up with us.” ‘The illusion of choice’ The Kenyan academic said that even where elections appear free and fair — such as in Malawi — voters are often faced with recycled leaders rather than meaningful alternatives. “Elections may look competitive, but the electorate has no real choice,” he explained. “Barometer data shows Africans are losing faith in democracy because rigging, intimidation, and manipulation persist.” Shilaho also criticised the use of technology in elections, noting that while it is often introduced to curb fraud, “it ends up being manipulated by incumbents to entrench their power.” On Tanzania and Samia Hassan’s legitimacy Turning specifically to Tanzania, Dr. Shilaho said the political landscape remains dominated by Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) — the ruling party in power since independence. He argued that although Tanzania may not descend into violence due to its strong sense of national cohesion, President Samia Hassan’s legitimacy is in question. “The elections were boycotted by large sections of the population. Opposition leaders have been persecuted. That erodes legitimacy,” he said. “Madam Hassan must be magnanimous in victory. She must reach out to the opposition and begin a genuine national conversation about constitutional reform.” He credited the late Julius Nyerere for laying the foundation of Tanzania’s unity, saying the country’s resilience stems from Nyerere’s deliberate effort to build a single national identity through Swahili language and inclusive politics. “Unlike many of her peers, Nyerere invested in building a cohesive state. That’s why Tanzania may not collapse into chaos — but they should not test their luck,” he cautioned. ‘Africans want freedom, not facades’ Dr. Shilaho concluded that Africans are increasingly demanding freedom rather than the mere formality of democracy. “What good is the right to vote if elections don’t translate into food, jobs, and justice?” he asked. “People want governance that improves lives, not rituals that recycle elites.” He warned that without reform, electoral apathy will deepen, and citizens will continue to turn to military regimes or populist movements in search of dignity and stability. “Democracy must deliver,” he said. “Otherwise, people will choose freedom — even if it comes from the barrel of a gun.” Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). 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