Opposition parties in Africa

In many countries, a healthy political opposition is seen as crucial to keep governments in check and to provide the electorate with a possible future alternative. But in other parts of the African continent joining an opposition party or being a leader of one, means human rights abuses, torture, incarceration and even death. The treason trial of Hakainde Hichilema, the detained President of Zambia’s largest opposition party, the United Party for National Development comes to mind. He’s facing treason charges, and treason is a non-bail able offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of the death penalty. In Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye is in and out of court, for challenging the current president, Yuweri Museveni in last year’s elections. Opposition leaders in Zimbabwe are not also sparred from harassment and even threatened with violence. This morning we look at this worrying political TREND. To help us unpack this we are joined on the line by:Dr Samuel Oloruntoba: Senior Lecturer: International Political Economy Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute, University of South Africa Dennis Bloem: Congress of the People Spokesperson: Dr Jessie Kabwila: Chairperson of the Women Caucus in the Malawi Parliament