History and Citizenship

Definition of democracy

Activity 11.1 

1. Discuss how Members of Parliament are elected in Rwanda. 

2. Describe the advantages of choosing your own leaders.

Election is about choosing representatives that a person feels can lead well. We choose representatives because we cannot all sit in parliament to discuss our country’s welfare. This is called democracy. 

The term democracy has its origin in the Athenian government of Greece during their great civilisation. It means a form of leadership where people choose their leaders from amongst themselves. The leaders are chosen without any form of coercion or intimidation.

Principles of democracy 

Activity 11.2

Discuss rules that govern elections for school prefects and class representatives in your school.

There are basic guidelines that are considered during election of prefects in schools. If these guidelines do not exist, the environment for elections may not be conducive. These are what we call principles. 

The following principles should guide any democratic process: 

(i) Citizen participation: All citizens must participate in the leadership of their government. 

(ii) Equality: In a democratic government, everyone is equal before the law. 

(iii) Political tolerance: Democracy allows existence of many political parties (multiparty system).

(iv) Accountability: Government resources must be properly allocated and managed in accordance with the law. 

(v) Transparency: There should be openness in both public and private enterprises so as to avoid mismanagement of resources. 

(vi) Regular free and fair elections: Elections are supposed to be fair without irregularities. Such irregularities include bribing voters, forcing people to vote and general election malpractices.

 (vii) Economic freedom: Economic liberalisation is a situation where there is free market system and free investment. 

(viii) Control of the abuse of power: Abuse of power refers to misuse of public offices through corruption and harassment. People who abuse power should be taken to courts of law and prosecuted accordingly. 

(ix) Bill of rights: These are fundamental rights and freedoms of people usually guaranteed by the government. 

(x) Accepting the results of elections: Accepting the results of an election without going to war. 

(xi) Human rights: These are rights that belong to an individual because they are human beings. 

(xii) Multi party system: This is the operation of more than one party in competing for power within a country. 

(xiii) Rule of law: This involves having a functional legislature system and law abiding citizens.

Remember! 

Democracy is one way of keeping peace and moral values among people. It involves mutual respect, equality and fair treatment of people even in courts of law. 

Rwanda practices democracy. Leaders are elected to power. The rights of all Rwandans are respected including those of children and women. This explains the radical economic and social developments in the country. 

Activity 11.3

If you become a leader in future, describe how you would promote democracy in your community.

Forms of democracy

(a) Direct democracy

This places all power in the hands of an individual. When political decisions must be made, all members of an organised unit gather to vote. In theory, this sounds like the ideal form of government. There are no intermediaries. People are treated as equals. Each person is given a chance to directly influence the policy making process. In practice, however, this system is hard to implement. 

Direct democracy is ideal in small towns or within indigenous communities. This is because everyone knows one another. As such, issues under debate directly affect them. 

(b) Representative democracy

This political arrangement establishes an intermediary political actor between the individual and the policy outputs of the state. Through the electoral process, one person or a group of people is elected. They are assigned the task of making decisions on behalf of the citizens they represent. 

(c) Constitutional democracy/liberal democracy

This is a system of government which places the rights and the power of the majority first in decision making as long as they are within the limits of the constitution. It makes sure that the rights of the minority are not curtailed. Minority rights are guaranteed in constitutional democracy.

Activity 11.4 

1. Gather information from various sources how general elections are conducted in Rwanda. Write an essay in summary how this process starts and ends. Observe rules of grammar in your essay. 

2. Draw a chart showing the structure of Rwandan legislature. 

Revision questions 

1. Define the term democracy. 

2. Discuss the various forms of democracy you know of. 

3. Examine the advantages and disadvantages of democracy.

 4. State the qualities of a good leader. 

5. Explain the principles of democracy you know of.