Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Do multiparty elections facilitate or hinder the process of democratic consolidation in Zanzibar?Since Tanzania's return to a multiparty system in 1992 three rounds of general elections have been held in Zanzibar, all of them marred by gross irregularities, fraud, violence, and insecurity.All three elections were also followed by a political stalemate, with a major opposition party rejecting defeat, refusing to recognise the elected government, and challenging the results.Consequently, the legitimacy of the elected government has remained questionable for more than a decade.This puts in question the reliance on the 'election-centric concept' of the 'consolidation' phase, which tends to place a great deal of hope in the holding of periodic elections.This by no means suggests that elections do not matter in Zanzibar.They matter in terms of keeping the flame of democratic struggle alive.Also, as the findings in this article indicate, there is a need to pay attention not only to elections but, equally importantly, to other processes and institutions of governance that enhance the rule of law and individual rights.INTROdUCTION do multiparty elections in Zanzibar facilitate or hinder the process of democratic consolidation?This is the key question this article attempts to address.In a way the arguments set out here bring to the fore the contentious relationship 1 The United Republic of Tanzania, has, since 26 April 1964, comprised two former sovereign states, Tanganyika and the Zanzibar Islands off the East African coast.Tanzania is a unitary state with two separate governments, the Union government and the Zanzibar government, each with its own executive, judiciary and legislature.Whereas the Zanzibar government exercises sovereignty over all domestic and non-union matters, the Union government exercises jurisdiction over such matters as defence and security, foreign affairs, police, emergency powers, citizenship, external borrowing and trade, mineral oil resources, higher education, the court of appeal, and the registration of political parties, among others.
Source: Journal of African Elections
Author: Bernadeta Killian
Institution: University of Dar es Salaam
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1592218927