Elections fail to axe ineffective leaders - report
Citizens worry their governments are not listening
Afrobarometer researchers say Namibia's Fishrot scandal has negatively affected Southern Africa's reputation as the least corrupt region on the continent.
Among Namibians, 61% say they feel that elections fail to enable voters to remove non-performing leaders from office.
The finding is included in a just-released Afrobarometer policy paper entitled 'Africans want more democracy, but their leaders still aren’t listening’.
According to the report, for the most part, African citizens remain committed to democracy and democratic institutions.
Strong democratic values
Among those surveyed across 34 countries by Afrobarometer between 2019 and 2021, 68% of Africans said they prefer democracy to any other system of government, and large majorities rejected military rule (74%).
"Africans remain committed to democracy. We find that despite the many efforts to undermine democratic norms and freedoms, citizens continue to adhere to them. They believe that the military should stay out of politics, that political parties should freely compete for power, that elections are an imperfect but essential tool for choosing their leaders, and that it is time for the old men who cling to power to step aside," Afrobarometer reports.
Namibia's democracy strong
Findings showed that 56% of Namibians surveyed supported democracy, saying it was preferable to any other form of government, while 75% rejected military rule.
There was, however, a decline of six percentage points between survey rounds in 2011/2013 and 2019/2021 in the proportion of respondents who agreed or strongly agreed that leaders should be chosen through elections.
According to the survey, 69% of Namibians said they view the country as a full democracy with minor problems, while only 3% of Namibians said they believe votes are often not counted fairly.
Namibia’s corruption problem
"Southern Africa has also had a reputation as the least corrupt region on the continent. But that’s been shaken by Namibia’s Fishrot scandal, in which senior government officials stand accused of accepting bribes in exchange for lucrative fishing quotas, and the proliferating corruption scandals in South Africa," the report says.
In addition, Afrobarometer surveys found that 67% of Namibians said they feared retaliation if they reported corruption.
The report also notes that it is often the supply of democracy that citizens find lacking.
"The perception of widespread and worsening corruption is particularly corrosive, leaving people increasingly dissatisfied with political systems that are yet to deliver on their aspirations to live in societies that are democratically and accountably governed. And although citizens find myriad ways to voice their concerns, they feel that their governments are not listening."
The finding is included in a just-released Afrobarometer policy paper entitled 'Africans want more democracy, but their leaders still aren’t listening’.
According to the report, for the most part, African citizens remain committed to democracy and democratic institutions.
Strong democratic values
Among those surveyed across 34 countries by Afrobarometer between 2019 and 2021, 68% of Africans said they prefer democracy to any other system of government, and large majorities rejected military rule (74%).
"Africans remain committed to democracy. We find that despite the many efforts to undermine democratic norms and freedoms, citizens continue to adhere to them. They believe that the military should stay out of politics, that political parties should freely compete for power, that elections are an imperfect but essential tool for choosing their leaders, and that it is time for the old men who cling to power to step aside," Afrobarometer reports.
Namibia's democracy strong
Findings showed that 56% of Namibians surveyed supported democracy, saying it was preferable to any other form of government, while 75% rejected military rule.
There was, however, a decline of six percentage points between survey rounds in 2011/2013 and 2019/2021 in the proportion of respondents who agreed or strongly agreed that leaders should be chosen through elections.
According to the survey, 69% of Namibians said they view the country as a full democracy with minor problems, while only 3% of Namibians said they believe votes are often not counted fairly.
Namibia’s corruption problem
"Southern Africa has also had a reputation as the least corrupt region on the continent. But that’s been shaken by Namibia’s Fishrot scandal, in which senior government officials stand accused of accepting bribes in exchange for lucrative fishing quotas, and the proliferating corruption scandals in South Africa," the report says.
In addition, Afrobarometer surveys found that 67% of Namibians said they feared retaliation if they reported corruption.
The report also notes that it is often the supply of democracy that citizens find lacking.
"The perception of widespread and worsening corruption is particularly corrosive, leaving people increasingly dissatisfied with political systems that are yet to deliver on their aspirations to live in societies that are democratically and accountably governed. And although citizens find myriad ways to voice their concerns, they feel that their governments are not listening."
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