There recently were botched and violet elections in Tanzania. Uganda is currently braced and geared for general elections next January. I wish it well. May these elections be credible, fair, free, and transparent. So be it. I’ve lived in Canada for over two decades. May I pull a leaf out of Canada’s book vis-à-vis how to conduct clear, credible, fair, and free elections? For, it offers positive insights. Thus, Uganda must (not can) learn and take a leaf from the Tanzania's lessons to avoid committing or repeating the same flaws.
First, elections in Canada aren’t cutthroat and corrupts. For, voters vote for policies not parties and personalities. To win an election in Canada, present sound policies that respond to voters’ aspirations and interests altogether. Hence, the system here doesn’t allow, accommodate, or tolerate any sort of corruption or malpractices. Candidates squarely get what they deserve.
Secondly, there aren’t expensive or pompous campaigns. In my town of approximately 4,400 people of about 17 years, I’ve never seen any campaign meeting. Not one, not once. When it is time for elections, the Electoral Commission set a date for elections. Public places are used to cast vote.
First, elections in Canada aren’t cutthroat and corrupts. For, voters vote for policies not parties and personalities. To win an election in Canada, present sound policies that respond to voters’ aspirations and interests altogether. Hence, the system here doesn’t allow, accommodate, or tolerate any sort of corruption or malpractices. Candidates squarely get what they deserve.
Secondly, there aren’t expensive or pompous campaigns. In my town of approximately 4,400 people of about 17 years, I’ve never seen any campaign meeting. Not one, not once. When it is time for elections, the Electoral Commission set a date for elections. Public places are used to cast vote.
There are four ways of voting in Canada. One can vote on election day by going to a polling station and cast one’s vote or by advance polling days, which is before the voting day. If one doesn’t want to or can’t vote in the above category, can do so at any Elections Canada office or by mail. For those who want to vote in the last category, provides his or her postal address to the Election Canada, which posts a voting kit ready for casting it.
Thirdly, with such a system, there are no huge campaign meetings everywhere in the country. There also no chaos or cheating or rigged. Furthermore, there are no inducements or coercion since people here vote for policy not personalities or parties. This system has proved to be efficient and effective for both candidates and voters so to speak.
Fourthly, Canada started voting in 1867. Canada is a multiparty country. It has many big and small political parties such as the Liberal Party of Canada, a centre-left political party that has historically been one of the two dominant parties in Canada; the Conservative Party of Canada, a centre-right political party that emerged from the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party; and the New Democratic Party (NDP), a left-wing party that advocates for social democracy and progressive policies.
Others are the Bloc Québécois, a federal political party that promotes Quebec nationalism and advocates for the interests of Quebecers; and the Green Party of Canada, which focuses on environmental issues and sustainability, advocating for green policies and practices. These are the bigger parties, which are a must have in every general election.
Other registered parties are the People's Party of Canada, a right-wing party that emphasises individual freedom and limited government intervention; the Christian Heritage Party, a socially conservative party that promotes Christian values in politics; and the Libertarian Party of Canada, which advocates for civil liberties, free markets, and minimal government intervention in personal lives, among others. Nevertheless, the top three are the dominant players in the politics of Canada.
Fifthly, due to being corruption proof, I have never heard of any electoral corruption case. I tried to research in the archives and got none whatsoever. That said, that’s why Canada’s political system remains one of the world’s most stable and respected democracies.
Sixthly, why are there no corruption in Canada’s elections? There are many answers among which are the fact that, in Canada as opposed to Africa, politics isn’t a moneymaking endeavour. Firstly, people run for political positions to serve people but not to serve themselves and families. Secondly, no politician, even though there can be a few, stays in a position for forlornly long. Specifically, since President Museveni came to power, Canada’s had seven Prime Ministers compared to our southern neighbour, the US with 8 Presidents.
Finally, no party’s ever won more than 50-odd percent in four decades. Therefore, in Canada, neither party nor its leader has ever dreamt of winning with a bigger percentage as we recently evidenced in Tanzania where current President, despite bedlam and bloodbath, miraculously ‘won’ 98 percent! So, you know.
Source: Daily Monitor Sunday today.
Thirdly, with such a system, there are no huge campaign meetings everywhere in the country. There also no chaos or cheating or rigged. Furthermore, there are no inducements or coercion since people here vote for policy not personalities or parties. This system has proved to be efficient and effective for both candidates and voters so to speak.
Fourthly, Canada started voting in 1867. Canada is a multiparty country. It has many big and small political parties such as the Liberal Party of Canada, a centre-left political party that has historically been one of the two dominant parties in Canada; the Conservative Party of Canada, a centre-right political party that emerged from the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party; and the New Democratic Party (NDP), a left-wing party that advocates for social democracy and progressive policies.
Others are the Bloc Québécois, a federal political party that promotes Quebec nationalism and advocates for the interests of Quebecers; and the Green Party of Canada, which focuses on environmental issues and sustainability, advocating for green policies and practices. These are the bigger parties, which are a must have in every general election.
Other registered parties are the People's Party of Canada, a right-wing party that emphasises individual freedom and limited government intervention; the Christian Heritage Party, a socially conservative party that promotes Christian values in politics; and the Libertarian Party of Canada, which advocates for civil liberties, free markets, and minimal government intervention in personal lives, among others. Nevertheless, the top three are the dominant players in the politics of Canada.
Fifthly, due to being corruption proof, I have never heard of any electoral corruption case. I tried to research in the archives and got none whatsoever. That said, that’s why Canada’s political system remains one of the world’s most stable and respected democracies.
Sixthly, why are there no corruption in Canada’s elections? There are many answers among which are the fact that, in Canada as opposed to Africa, politics isn’t a moneymaking endeavour. Firstly, people run for political positions to serve people but not to serve themselves and families. Secondly, no politician, even though there can be a few, stays in a position for forlornly long. Specifically, since President Museveni came to power, Canada’s had seven Prime Ministers compared to our southern neighbour, the US with 8 Presidents.
Finally, no party’s ever won more than 50-odd percent in four decades. Therefore, in Canada, neither party nor its leader has ever dreamt of winning with a bigger percentage as we recently evidenced in Tanzania where current President, despite bedlam and bloodbath, miraculously ‘won’ 98 percent! So, you know.
Source: Daily Monitor Sunday today.
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