In Rwanda last week, we celebrated Africa day by organising the Democracy in Africa: The way forward conference hosted by the African Democracy Forum in partnership with Never Again Rwanda.

This discussion comes in the wake of Africa’s strive towards attaining not only the universally applicable Sustainable Development Goals but also as we strive towards the African Union’s Agenda 2063 aimed at achieving socio-economic transformation through building on the development that the continent has been experiencing.

Africa is a melting pot of diversity, rich in culture and traditions; it is a continent of 54 nations each with their own achievements and challenges.

Too often the world looks at Africa, talks about Africa and forgets this rich heritage and the reality that the plight of South Sudanese women are not identical to the plight of Zimbabwean women many kilometres South of them.

The solutions for Africa are not as generic as what they may seem. It is not a one-size fits all solution, because of all the differences on the different parts of continent. And it is the responsibility of African thought leaders and influencers to make this reality known.

What works in Rwanda might not be suitable in Uganda; the premise may have to be changed even if the end goal is the same.

Democratisation process

So too, with the notion of democracy at the heart of it is the premise that a government should be elected by the people for the people, that it should be their decision.

But democracy is more than an election and should not be spoken of only in electoral terms.

It is important that Africans start the discussion on democracy, how it is applicable? How does it work? How do I benefit from it once the electoral process is over?

When we say that democracy is essential, that the process of democratization in Africa and for Africans is important, then we should know the answers to these questions.

We should know how to apply it, and should be able to see the benefits because democracy cannot be a discussion we have, so as to show the western countries that we’ve heard it.

Democracy needs to be a system of government that we experience, one where we can attest to the difference in our lived experience, one where we can see that the future is bright and not just have our leaders tell us that it is so.

With the resources and skills that Africa has, with a young population able to carry the weight of responsibilities present for the continent to achieve these goals, there is no reason why Africa cannot prosper, there is no reason why our young population remains unemployed, or our fathers and mothers making the perilous journey on make-shift boats, or paying traffickers for the prospect of a better future in a foreign land.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement that seeks to create a free trade area from the Cape of Good Hope to the Mediterranean Sea will improve the economic circumstances of about 1.2 billion people and this will be possible when trade between African countries increases from 16 per cent  to 50 per cent.

Connecting with each other

An agreement, such as this that seeks to connect Africa with Africans is essential to our growth and our prosperity. It is this calibre of agreements that civil society organizations should hold governments accountable to because of the impact that it can have on our lives.

It is important that we connect with each other, that we understand each other and that we know of each other, so that the goal of young people is not to go and explore the West but that the goal be to explore the continent in its remarkable majesty and beauty.

Unfortunately building Africa and ending poverty is not as easily said as done, it is no surprise that the goal set by the African Union is based on what we’ll do, what we’ll work on over a fifty-year period.

But even so it is not an impossible goal to attain. However the reality is that the onus is on government officials, heads of state, civil society organisations and the citizens to make it a reality.

To hold those in office accountable to promises made during election campaigns, but also for people to play their part in the governance process, to adhere to laws, to pay taxes. This process of a renewed, vibrant, developed Africa is not just the responsibility of governments.

Democratization should be a collective effort in achieving on the continent what we want which is an end to poverty, to political strive, to unemployment and an end to violence.

We organized this conference and invited African thought leaders and decision makers to uncover the importance of democracy, to share ideas and learn the best practices.

Only an "us"

We did this purposefully, because we are present on the continent, this is our home, this is our future and we have a role to play to make it the continent we believe it should be.

And when we talk about Africa we are not talking about a foreign land’s people, we are talking about our people, and our interest.

During this conference there is no “them” there is only an “us” which sets this event apart from so many others held.

Democracy is not a foreign concept; it is an African concept towards the building of nations, and people. We need to internalise this thought, we need to value democracy and the freedoms we have and work towards the attainment of all freedoms.

It is our responsibility whether you are the president of a country or a manual labourer – the blossoming of democracy rests with us. And we owe ourselves a prosperous future, a way forward.   

Dr. Nkurunziza is the Chairperson of the African Democracy Forum (2017-19), and the Executive Director of Never Again Rwanda.