Multiple voices are the oxygen of democracy
South Africans must fight the political monopoly their country has become,
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" The mythology of a whole nation being beholden to a single party or group for the freedom they enjoy is extremely dangerous " Jacob Zuma
The quality of a democracy can be measured by the extent to which it defends the right of a multiplicity of voices to be heard. The right and capacity of a country's citizens to control institutions of state for their own purposes are paramount to "the rule of the people by the people".
In such a system equality of individuals is enshrined in the very foundations of society. South Africans are blessed with a democracy founded on these principles and values.
There are, however, gathering storm clouds on the horizon, signalling that all is not well in our democracy. The growing gap between the promise of our constitutional democracy and the practice of governance is breeding despair and passive aggression.
The outbreak of violence and destruction of public assets are symptoms of people who feel they have lost control over state assets. Post-apartheid South Africa seems to be falling into the same trap as post-conflict countries across the globe, with particular reference to post-colonial Africa.
The seduction of entrusting the future of one's society to a party or parties associated with the liberation process is difficult to resist. In our case this seduction is further complicated by the association of the dominant liberation movement with the saintly figure of Nelson Mandela.
But we dare not fail to follow Mandela's example of harnessing the lessons of history to convince his jailors to choose a negotiated political settlement. Political monopolies are as bad for a society as private-sector monopolies.
Citizens, like consumers, need to have real choices if they are to get value for their money in exercising their votes. Our authoritarian political history continues to frame our understanding of power as dominance. Opposition politics are often framed as disloyal to the foundations of our democracy, and thus illegitimate. The legacy of floor-crossing in parliament over the last decade or so has further undermined the legitimacy of opposition parties. Many are one-person outfits that can hardly claim a legitimate mandate. The current political landscape does not offer citizens credible alternatives to express themselves as the sovereigns of a constitutional democracy.
The quality of political education has not served voters well. Most South Africans are new to democracy and the exercise of their vote.
Much more effort is needed in educating them about democracy, but the Independent Electoral Commission has unfortunately not focused enough attention on the principle of choice in voter education.
Our schools have also not utilised the Life Orientation programme in the curriculum to educate about democracy. New voters are not provided with enough opportunities to understand the role of citizens as sovereigns to hold public officials accountable. Affirming the power of the individual vote to signal pleasure or displeasure with the performance of public officials needs to be at the core of our political-education programmes.
The myth of voters owing their freedom to liberation movements goes unchallenged. The mythology that a whole nation is beholden to a single party or group for the security and freedom they enjoy is extremely dangerous.
Zimbabweans have come to learn this lesson at great cost to themselves and us as their neighbours.
The reality of our history is that South Africa was liberated by a combination of mass action and international pressure. A cross-sector of citizens contributed to this struggle - black and white, male and female, urban and rural. Our freedom was won by the collective action of all freedom-loving people across the board. Nothing can be more disempowering than trapping poor people in a myth of a messiah liberating them, which creates a vicious dependency syndrome. It undermines the high value placed on the equality of individuals as free actors in shaping the political landscape.
Above all, it adds salt to the wounds of past humiliation and is disrespectful to people who remain poor and powerless.
Psychosocial pain is increasingly recognised globally as more intense than physical pain.
It is a key factor in apathy, ill health and passive-aggressive behaviour among those who feel marginalised, yet the Truth and Reconciliation process has left the job of dealing with the socioeconomic violation of human rights unfinished. The psychosocial pain related to that humiliating legacy remains unattended to. This was a conscious political choice.
The unintended consequences of that choice are that poor citizens have been left to depend on handouts from the state. Many others are crippled by their wounds, making social relationships difficult at many levels. The level and brutality of crimes in our society, including the carnage on our roads, speak to this woundedness.
A healing process that includes acknowledgement of our woundedness, reflections on the impact of the wounds and sharing our various painful journeys could release many to become productive citizens and custodians of state.
Instead, we remain a nation of the walking wounded. For the elites, material comforts substitute inner peace and dignity, hence the widespread crass materialism that is consuming our nation. State capture to secure material benefits has become part of our political culture, undermining the good intentions of black economic empowerment.
"Tenderpreneurship", as the resource scramble has been called, is a logical outcome of this culture. The intolerance of critical voices reflects our insecurity, which is part of this woundedness.
We need to have more open and strategic discussions about the future of our democracy. Multiple voices need to be heard on the state of our nation both within and outside the governing party. Citizens have to recommit to engaging with one another to find better ways of reshaping our political landscape into one in which multiple voices are not only heard, but welcome.
Our legacy has bequeathed us complex problems that can only be addressed through collective action. No government, however committed, can "deliver services" to a passive citizenry. Nor can the government ever have enough resources to tackle the developmental challenges we face. The private sector needs to make its voice as a corporate citizen heard. Not least because the private sector is a vital partner in the development of our human and natural resources to ensure that we become a prosperous democracy.
Working together as government, opposition parties, the private sector, citizens as individuals and groups, requires the ability to listen to one another. A political culture that celebrates and welcomes diversity of voices is essential to a sustainable democracy. We have the gift of diversity of cultures, language and political affiliations. What is needed is to live up to our constitutional imperative of celebrating unity in diversity.
Our democracy is blessed with a young and growing population looking to the liberation-struggle veterans as they take on their citizenship roles. My generation has a special responsibility to these young men and women between 18 and 24 years old. We need to act as a bridge between the old authoritarian politics of the apartheid era and the promise of our constitutional democracy. We need to live the principles of our constitution and lead by example in the home, community, at work and in the wider society.
The stakes are very high for South Africa to succeed as a democracy in Africa. We are the economic engine in Africa. Can we also become one of the democratic engines for our continent?
We have all the ingredients of success. Every citizen has a contribution to make to uphold the principle of "the people shall govern", enshrined in both the Freedom Charter and our constitution.
Nothing can be more important than strengthening our democracy. We owe it to our children and their children. Our future depends on a strong democracy. Multiple voices are key to a strong democracy.
- Ramphele is a political activist and chair of Circle Capital Ventures, a Cape Town-based black economic empowerment company that focuses on growing companies and investing in people
- http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article384476.ece/Multiple-voices-are-the--oxygen-of--democracy
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