We politic too much and that is what will bring us down

We Africans have a rather interesting way of dealing with serious issues.

Looking at the situation that has been unfolding in Burundi, one gets the impression that we have a long way to go.

That not withstanding, it is quite obvious that citizens over there have gained a large amount of courage to the extent that they are able to resist a president who wants to behave like a dictator.

They fearlessly charged against a threatening police force and stood up for what they thought was right. Sadly some died and I am sure others were wounded but they did not give up.

Some twenty, twenty five years ago during the era of dictatorships in Africa, this would have been unheard of in many countries. On the whole, the behaviour of that president leaves a lot to be desired and bespeaks of long gone political tendencies.

The regional body that is mandated to deal with such issues did not help much for they dragged their feet when they should have acted and as such they may have to take some of the blame.

GRUELLING CAMPAIGN

Here at home we will claim that we have made some progress and indeed we have. One or two things leave me wondering though.

Barely two years ago, we witnessed a gruelling political campaign and a General Election whose results were challenged in the Supreme Court.

We all know what happened and those who were declared winners settled into government. It is now more than two years to the next elections.

For all one can see, political campaigns have started. Those in the Opposition both inside and outside of Parliament keep pointing fingers at those in government and so they should.

Some of their activity one can understand is meant to make them remain relevant but I have a feeling that this can have the effect of distracting those who are running government.

Just a few weeks ago, the British people held their General Election, which was a close contest between the Labour party and the Conservatives.

We heard about it quite close to the elections and once they were over, the winners formed the government and the rest is history. Political campaigns are over and now it is the work of building their nation.

One will of course argue that our circumstances are different from those of the British and the rest of the more mature democracies. It is not lost on me that when it is convenient we do not hesitate to borrow from them or accept their assistance when it is offered.

Why can’t we just get down and borrow the good practices that go with their politics?

Fr Wamugunda is dean of students, University of Nairobi; [email protected]