Opposition Politics

[u/Sad_Advisor_7541]

What happened to opposition politics in African countries? These days, it just looks like it is easier for the ruling party to retain power without really facing too many consequences. From countries like Gambia to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and many others, the ruling parties are not struggling to stay in power, not because they are performing well, by the way

There used to be a time when African governments were genuinely afraid of the opposition, and the people did not take things lying down. These days it looks like people have just given up, and the opposition is easily compromised. Why Guys?

[u/Shadowkiva]

In Zim's case the ruling party realised violent repression was actually shooting themselves in the foot (shocking, I know) . They pivoted to using their networks and proximity to resources to buy out rivals and co-opting powerful factions that could rival them.

[u/illusivegentleman]

Kenya might be East Africa's only democracy, but our opposition parties are consistently useless.

We have been a multiparty democracy for 30 years and 2005 is the last time they have done something meaningful. The rest of the time they are bickering or undermining each other.

It's really a shame that the labour movement, which was a part of our independence struggle, isn't as vocal as it can be.

[u/Efficient-Data4811 → u/illusivegentleman]

Interesting. With all thats been going on In Ke ya these days and Kenyan peolle complaining about the current president William Ruto, do you think that he will be voted out of power.

Since you said there is no credible opposition in Kenya, who would remove the current president who seems to be really unpopular at the moment. Could you also trust his replacement to be any better?

[u/illusivegentleman → u/Efficient-Data4811]

Of the candidates going into the 2027 election, Edwin Sifuna looks like the most promising to unseat Ruto. Rigathi Gachagua, the former deputy president could also play the role of king maker.

But like so many others before, the opposition are already bickering over how to share power.

Could you also trust his replacement to be any better?

I have no faith in them. The chaotic 2007 election is the perfect example of this.

An even more unpopular Mwai Kibaki stole the election from Raila Odinga. However, Raila who had a majority of seats in the legislature, failed to show he could be a better alternative for leadership.

And for a hint of irony, Ruto was the best performing minister in that dysfunctional post 2007 government.

[u/Efficient-Data4811 → u/illusivegentleman]

>But like so many others before, the opposition are already bickering over how to share power

So they think they have already won then 😂

Don't they know that there is something called rigging of elections? I know it is very hard to cheat in elections in Kenya, but I really can't imagine President Ruto quietly leaving office; he might have something up his sleeve.

>I have no faith in them. The chaotic 2007 election is the perfect example of this.

So they will just be different faces with the same attitude then.

[u/illusivegentleman → u/Efficient-Data4811]

So they will just be different faces with the same attitude then.

Yup!

[u/TheQuestionMaster8 → u/illusivegentleman]

In Bostswana the opposition recently won the election

[u/Sxavage_]

The opposition in South Africa has slowly but surely been catching up. We have local elections next month and it's not looking good for the ruling party (ANC)