Hichilema’s victory is a win for liberal democracy

When British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan spoke of the “Wind of Change” in 1960, it was a wind of national consciousness. More than half a century later, a new wind is blowing: a movement for liberal democracy in Africa.

In Zambia, this movement achieved a historic victory when the Electoral Commission of Zambia announced on 16 August that Hakainde Hichilema would be the next president. Zambia had been led by a president from the Movement for Multiparty Democracy or its breakaway party, the Patriotic Front, since one-party rule ended in 1991. Hichilema’s victory ends this 30-year rule and begins a new chapter for the country.

But this is not the first such victory in recent times. Seychelles was a one-party state from 1979 to 1991. But 10 months ago, President Wavel Ramkalawan secured a victory, ending the 43-year rule of the Seychelles People’s United Party.

Ramkalawan gave the keynote address at a virtual global summit convened by the Africa Liberal Network last month, held to launch Initiating, Planning and Managing Coalitions: An African Liberal Perspective Handbook. He shared timely lessons for Africa’s liberal leaders.

Ramkalawan reflected on the importance of a steadfast commitment to liberal values and principles to ensure good governance. This principled approach begins with an understanding of the pillars of liberalism: respect for human rights and individual liberties; and open economies in which people thrive. By definition, to be liberal is to defend these principles.

Yet in most African countries, liberal parties do not enjoy sufficient support to achieve outright victory and fully implement their own programmes. Rather, they must navigate coalition politics. In Somaliland, the Peace, Unity and Development Party (Kulmiye) candidate was elected president in 2010, while a coalition of opposition parties held on to the majority in parliament. In Senegal, the Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar has held the majority in parliament as part of the United in Hope coalition since 2012.

Coalition arrangements introduce a greater level of complexity to the democratic processes on a continent where many countries achieved self-governance relatively recently. Parties governing in coalitions require more discipline to uphold good governance above political expediency, but this discipline is frequently tested by another inherent requirement of partnership: compromise.

Liberal governing parties in Africa must learn to compromise shrewdly while maintaining the trust of the electorate, growing their faith in the ability of liberal democracy to deliver on its promises. This can only happen when parties are faithful to their core principles. As Ramkalawan put it: “When we fight from a position of strength, because of our principles, then things grow.” Sometimes the correct answer to an offer to collaborate is no, even when it costs the party power. But this is not an easy lesson to grasp. Africa has seen its share of ill-conceived coalitions that destroyed parties. In Zimbabwe and Kenya, opposition parties accepted prime ministerial roles in coalitions, but conceded too much power.

Yet politics requires both principled leadership and pragmatism. This is reflected in another African experience. The president of Liberal International, Hakima El Haité, previously served as a cabinet minister in the Moroccan coalition government.

On coalitions, Hakima said: “People think that a coalition can work only if parties are the same ideologically. I used to think that because I was in a government where we had almost all political colours. And I was a member of the political bureau that was against that coalition with the Islamic party because I was not for a party that was using religion to get power. Was I wrong? With time I’ve discovered that such a coalition can still succeed if it is well initiated, well negotiated and well documented.”

It is in this vital arena that the Africa Liberal Network’s handbook is designed to assist political parties. Through collaborative learning journeys such as these, Africa’s leaders and citizens can ensure that the liberal wind blowing across our continent leaves a durable legacy of entrenched democratic norms. The Zambian victory should inspire us to make the best use of this chance to realise our vision of freedom, equality and respect for human rights in Africa.

Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo is president of the Africa Liberal Network, the Alliance for Democracy and the Federation-African Democratic Rally, and a member of the Burkinabe National Assembly.