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News & Comment
Democracy and Dictatorship are Two Sides of the Same Coin
News
Press in Tanzania has reported on police force harsh measures to defend CCM General Meeting scheduled for July 23. Police has already begun to take action against some officials from opposition party Chadema Youth Wing (BAVICHA) that intends to block ruling party conference in the same spirit police disrupted their meeting.
Comment
This Police measure has regarded by many and most especially the opposition as open double standards and clear inclination on the side of the ruling party and its government.
It is open to everyone that the current government is engaging in controlling the wave of political opposition and is unfriend of criticism, to the extent that it has branded as ‘flimsy dictatorial rule’ that kill democracy.
The current government has restricts airing of parliamentary sessions live on television despite being allowed by the previous government. There have been measures to control the tide of opposition MPs, including their speeches being edited during budget session, some lawmakers being penalised following their pressure to Parliament. Not to mention all those who dare to criticize the president have been taken to court and punished.
Furthermore, Police force continues to control and restrict with great force opposition parties meetings following the President's announcement at public that the political activities will have to resume by next election.
The outlook that the task of opposition parties is to account and straighten government in democracy has remained elusive, while the concept of separation of powers between branches of the state has become day dreaming.
In the real sense democracy and dictatorship are two sides of the same coin. In the dictatorial regime, decisions are made by the sole ruler without assigning any. Plus utilizing forces and terror in achieving its objectives.
While in a democratic system allegedly that nominally citizens make decisions, but in reality is not true. Instead the real decision makers is a small group of people, of which take decisions in all sensitive issues of state. In a developing country like Tanzania, it is the major capitalist nations that are decision makers in all vital issues including on who should hold sensitive political position. While in major nations, those called leaders of democracy, decision makers are capitalist and wealthy.
Basically, there has never been a democracy in the real sense, or decision made by the majority of citizens.
In the Tanzania context, the President has a constitutional authority to appoint some members of parliament who became legislators. Also he enjoys sovereignty immunity that bar him from persecution for whatever his acts. More recently when some showed up call to prosecute the previous president, still the current president, despite proudly showing off as in charge of justice, righteousness and anti-graft, he declared openly to protect presidents who preceded him at any cost.
Not to mention that decisions of the Electoral Commission related to the Presidential election can not be questioned by any entity, meaning it to be infallible. Furthermore any bill presented before the parliament can not become law until it gets presidential assent. So, what do you expect the president to do, by having this status of human - god authority?
Democracy emerged from the wave of anti theocratic rule, meant to uproot god from politics. It only managed to marginalize church far from regime, by instead installing man god in its position.
Islam has come up with a radical solution to this disorder. Both ruler and the ruled ones have to submit to the Creator only. No one has the right to make or unmake a law. Which means that no one is above the law.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Masoud Msellem
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Tanzania