The Tribune (Blantyre)
Elson Kasinja
30 December 2008
analysis
Political party primary elections are not the easiest or the smoothest of processes, particularly when a nation follows the competitive multiparty system of government.
Political parties face defiance and sometimes outright rebellion from sitting MPs disgruntled that the party is accepting new aspirants to contest against them.
Sitting MPs believe they have sacrificed for the party; developed the constituency; assisted in times of bereavement with cash and coffins among others to deserve to run unopposed in a party primary. The United Democratic Front (UDF) came face to face with its own sitting MPs, demanding to be automatic candidates for elections next year.
Apparently, the current crop of UDF MPs feel they sacrificed too much for the UDF in the last four years to be subject to primary elections. They see primary elections as an insult, a lack of gratitude for their resistance against defecting to President Bingu wa Mutharika’s government side in Parliament.
Some MPs say they were assured by UDF National Chairman Dr. Bakili Muluzi of the exception to the rule. They draw their strong assertion from the fact that they proved their loyalty beyond doubt. They say they endured persecution and prosecution, physical and psychological violence, which UDF sitting MPs experienced regularly at the hands of the minority regime.
Party promises aside, it would be out of step with democratic core values for MPs to seek a fresh mandate without going through party primaries. It would only expose them to wrath from constituents and lose the hard-earned reputation and respect among colleagues who admire them as sentinels of democracy.
The loss of reputation from that single stroke of being seen to be favoured, not depending on their own prowess, would instantly destroy the MPs’ promising political careers. There are many examples of promising careers that failed at the last hurdle, never to recover again.
Serious political parties, which consider their parties as ‘government-in-waiting’ will hold primaries in all 193 constituencies plus one (presidential). Otherwise, for any reason whatsoever, making exceptions is likely to drive away voters who fear such a party would gravitate to being despotic as government.
As a matter of fact, Dr. Bakili Muluzi went through primary elections at the party’s National Conference in April, 2008 to become presidential candidate for 2009 elections. MPs who have lived up to the expectations of the people have little to worry from competition. It should be emphasized that at party primary elections in Malawi, the tradition has been to restrict the voting process to party committee members.
It is important for aspirants to remember that all politics is local, which is a good warning for last minute candidates whose strength largely lies in distributing cash and promises in order to bribe their way into Parliament , for reasons that are far from honourable aims such as having power for the sake of power.
The fly-by-night gold diggers usually reside elsewhere and appear in a constituency for the purpose of getting into Parliament, through a party, if possible.
Often when they are defeated at the primaries they force the people they campaigned with to protest and further pressure them into forming committees which then declare to run as independent candidates.
It is at this time of primaries that parties find they are in a dilemma because they have not prepared committee members for eventual elevation as aspirants for legislative seats. This translates into a lottery for opportunists who are audacious enough to go to parliament with no background in developmental issues of any sort. Many become legislators by accident.
This is a weakness that the UDF paid heavily for when it appeared to accept too readily aspiring candidates who had no known relation with the party at the official level and grassroots. Candidates, who joined on a personal recommendation, defected at the first sign of trouble in the UDF. The MPs who crossed the floor are some of the country’s richest men and women whose interests are basically selfish.
However, even when parties may fall into the trap of imposing candidates, generally eligible voters consider attributes or qualities they would like to see in leaders. Leaders should be trustworthy, dependable and reliable, courageous, polite, truthful, just and wise.
In addition, a leader should play the role of teacher, able to receive and disseminate messages quickly and wisely, plan development activities, settle differences among members, and create good relations, and be a good public speaker.
Sitting MPs therefore only have to assess their suitability as leaders against that check-list. Otherwise to deviate could be misconstrued as dictatorial, greedy and selfish because these are the three most devastating allegations that can be leveled against any aspirant.
In the case of UDF MPs, one could expect that they have set a record for bravery and courage in the face of what others would call state terror for staying with the UDF. They can use this glowing reputation as a trump card to assert their suitability against any rival in the primary and indeed, in parliamentary elections.
They are heroes and the greater majority of people respect heroes who stand up for justice, freedom and democracy, which is what the UDF professed to defend. There is no need to be propped.
In most elections, incumbent MPs have enormous advantages over challengers. Not only have they won elections in the constituency before, and thus possess greater recognition, but they also have at their disposal all the trappings of elective office: freedom of the constituency, news coverage, patronage and increased fundraising ability.
Despite all of these advantages, though, woe to any elected MP who is seen as losing touch with the constituents. This warning applies not only to MPs, who can go to Parliament and seem to "forget about home," but also to the President, who may be seen as "too big for his breeches" if the voters think they have lost touch.
Known party members should take precedence over the new-comers, in a spirit of building the party on an ideological level so that it can grow from strength to strength. The ideal situation would be for the party to allow only bona fide members in the various committees of the party to run.
The process is not the neatest. Community leaders have exploited their positions as chiefs to manipulate parties into becoming their godfathers. Should the parties not show due reverence, independent candidates proliferate and a party is faced with a parallel structure that runs deeper than any party would.
Getting re-elected requires incumbent MPs to maintain a permanent campaign operation that constantly reconnects them with the voters. MPs must make sure that their constituents feel cared for, that they know who you are and what you are doing for them. By staying in touch with the voters and keeping their campaign organizations alive, MPs can ensure that the voters will be happy to keep them in office.
It is therefore unacceptable for the concerned UDF MPs to hold their party at ransom by threatening to stand as independents if the party conducts primaries in their constituencies.
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