OPINION: Democracy, multipartyism and a letter from 1,400 years ago
The proposed law on the multiparty political system that bestows more or less absolute powers upon the political party registrar needs wider debate.
My view is very simplistic: any political system that brings food to the table will get my vote. My concern is more corporate than idealistic. Taxpayer money should finance development, not politics.
Why would political parties receive taxpayer money to practice politics, pray? After all, politics is a career just like any other – and politicians must struggle for a living, not whine for a free lunch!
Let’s have as many political parties as possible; but they must fund themselves, not gobble-up taxpayer money.
My attention was recently drawn to the UN endorsement of a letter (Nahj al-Balagha) by Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (‘Alayhi al-Salaam: Peace be upon him) – advising Arab countries to take Imam Ali as an example in good governance.
The 7th century letter on the relationships between the ruler and the ruled was written by Imam Ali to Malik al-Ashtar, governor of Egypt, advising him on how to treat his Egyptian subjects justly.
Imam Ali’s letter is widely acknowledged as a model for universally-applicable good governance.
The Imam’s viewpoint was expressed about 1,400 years ago when political theories were not yet written; there was no capitalism, democracy, neoliberalism, socialism or communism the way we know them today.
The UNDP in its 2002 Arab Human Development Report listed six Imam Ali sayings on governance.
The sayings are:
l He who has appointed himself Imam (ruler) of the people must begin by teaching himself before teaching others. His teaching of others must be by setting an example rather than words alone. He who begins by teaching and educating himself is more worthy of respect.
l Your concern with developing the land should be greater than your concern for collecting taxes, for the latter can only be obtained by developing; he who seeks revenue without development destroys the country and the people.
l Seek the company of the learned and the wise in search of solving the problems of your country and the righteousness of your people.
l No good can come out of keeping silent on the government, or in speaking out of ignorance.
l The righteous are men of virtue whose logic is straightforward; whose dress is unostentatious; whose path is modest; whose actions are many – and who are undeterred by difficulties.
l Choose the best among your people to administer justice. Choose someone who doesn’t easily give up, who is unruffled by enmities. Someone who won’t persist in wrongdoings; who won’t hesitate to pursue right once he knows it. Someone whose heart knows no greed; who won’t be satisfied with a minimum of explanation without seeking the maximum of understanding; who’ll be the most steadfast when doubt is cast; who’ll be the least impatient in correcting the opponent; the most patient in pursuing the truth; the most stern in meting out judgment. Someone who is unaffected by flattery – and isn’t swayed by temptation.
Back to governing systems… While democracy is among the most efficient systems ever, it nonetheless has downsides.
Democracy is based on free and fair elections. But, what appears as ‘free and fair’ could actually harbour demerits. There’s always the possibility of electing into power incompetent and/or irresponsible leaders who misuse public resources and take advantage of their positions for personal gain, consigning the interests of the citizenry to the backburner – and switching it off!
Today, democracy isn’t working in the US as it should. In the 1970s, elected US leaders introduced deregulation, reduced taxes, union-free workplaces, lower wages and higher pay for themselves – justifying it all with promises of an economic boom that never materialized!
Even when economic growth has been considerable, most of the bounty has flowed to the top, not trickled down to the masses. The typical American family today has a lower net-worth than it had 20 years ago.
Stagnation in living standards defines current times. Most families aren’t enjoying the promised “rapidly-rising level of living standards.”
Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, 69, is already rolling out a platform for her almost-certain campaign for the 2020 presidential election, which differs from the usual Democratic agenda of progressive taxes and bigger social programmes.
Ms Warren wants an economy in which companies invest in their workers and communities. Yet, she doesn’t believe it can happen organically, as it did in the 1940s, saying “you have to do it with a rule!”
Some 1,400 years ago, Imam Ali (a.s.) outlined what a good governing system entails. Had the Islamic countries heeded the Imam, there’d have been no ‘Arab Spring’ in Egypt and elsewhere beginning in 2010.
Perhaps it is time for Tanzanians to have a broader dialogue on the right governing system.
Zulfiqarali Premji is a retired MUHAS Professor. His career spans over 40 years in academia, research and public health.
