Growing Democratic Culture

Lessons from the Legislative and Municipal Elections of 30 September 2013 in Cameroon are being drawn in spite of the fact that the law sets certain safeguards for the publication of results.

The participation of voters, the level of debate during the two weeks of campaigns; reflections and the atmosphere in the country following the voting exercise, all call for some directives.

Besides minor incidents reported in two or three boiling spots in some parts of the country as rival political party supporters sought to push through their views and fears, the early balance sheet presented by the Director General of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, Mohaman Sani Tanimou and the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, (MINATD) René Emmanuel Sadi, whose services had a supporting role to play, point to the fact that Cameroonians are largely aware of what they want.

While ELECAM talked of a participation rate of 75 per cent in seven regions and with the likelihood that the figure could increase once a nation-wide picture is available, MINATD commended government efforts to ensure that the voting exercise was successful. On the whole, those who took the pains to cast their votes, the political party leaders and the observers that turned out to monitor polling across the country have been positive in their appreciation of how voting went on.

Understandably therefore, President Paul Biya reacting after voting at the Government Bilingual Primary School, Bastos in Yaounde looked back at the election of Senators last 13 April 2013 and regretted that little media attention has been noticed around the growing maturity of Cameroonian democracy. "Certainly our democracy is gaining in maturity. The last senatorial elections took place in an impeccable manner. I regret that the media did not duel much on that. We are making gigantic progress," President Biya remarked.

Although the leading opposition Social Democratic Front, (SDF), has been witnessing diminishing political fortunes, the National Union for Democracy and Progress, (NUDP) fluctuating as well while the Cameroon Democratic Union, (CDU), and the Union des population du Cameroun remain influential only in their Noun and Nyong and Kelle backyards respectively, other emerging opposition parties are yet to demonstrate their political weight.

Be they splintered opposition groups or the traditional opposition parties, no one has yet found the antidote for an alternative to the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, (CPDM), making it obvious that the CPDM will come out with an absolute majority in local councils and the National Assembly. May be to keep the democratic culture buoyant and ensure that those who govern have a critical voice on the other side, the opposition need to recast their strategies and focus more on what they can offer to the people rather than simply centring their arguments on the need for an alternative.

The entry of ELECAM cannot also be undermined because over the years, apathy seemed to have taken hold of a good segment of the population, making it difficult for voters to play the refereeing role they ought to during elections. Increasing assurances from ELECAM, accompanied by effective actions like the transparent handling of all electoral processes will certainly be another plus to building confidence in the country and the institutions that the various government officials incarnate.

Therefore, as ELECAM officials keep distancing themselves from any political inclination, the chances are that the institution will win more Cameroonians towards governance and ensure greater participation by the people in public affairs. By so doing, the country will stand to gain from a democratic culture where the people accept their differences, knowing that there is a neutral umpire.