Turning elections into a development asset in Africa

The central thesis in this work is that Africa and its people stand to benefit tremendously if African countries turn elections into assets

This contribution seeks to highlight the fact that properly conducted elections (based on genuine and effective functioning electoral machinery and respect for the will and choices of the people with respect to those who seek to govern them) in any African country would be a major contribution to Africa’s social and material development. With no pretence of exhausting the issues covered, it belabours the various factors bedevilling elections in Africa and the lessons to be learnt from past election crises. It dwells on how such factors could be addressed with a view to bringing about a productive electoral landscape in Africa. The central thesis in this work is that Africa and its people stand to benefit tremendously if African countries turn elections into assets (tools) for development. In so doing, these countries would also be preventing conflicts and achieving increased national self-confidence and self-empowerment vis-à-vis the global politico-economic and strategic environment.

About the author

Admore Mupoki Kambudzi is a former Lecturer in political science at the University of Zimbabwe. He is the author of a book titled ‘Africa’s Peace Fiasco and numerous book chapters, journal articles and other publications. In 2001, he joined the United Nations Development Programme, in attachment to the the OAU-to-AU, with assignments relating to the establishment of new peace and security operational arrangements of the African Union. From mid-2006, he joined the Commission of the AU, as the Secretary of the AU Peace and Security Council.