OPINION | Paul Kariuki: Why Political Accountability Matters in South Africa

With the continued exposure of wrongdoing in both the country’s public and private sectors, accountability cannot be a catchphrase or cliché. It must be put into action by citizens from all walks of life, writes Paul Karuki.

The advent of democracy in 1994 paved the way for the transformation of a nation locked in centuries of discrimination, underdevelopment, inequality and exclusion, among other societal ills that created divisions based on race, class and social background. economic status.

A plethora of legal frameworks and development policies have been put in place to address the above challenges. However, more than two decades later, the nation appears to be living through an accountability crisis, despite much having been achieved in terms of political and socio-economic development.

For example, the state takeover revelations, based on the recently released Zondo Commission report, show the extent to which institutional systems have been compromised and weakened over time. The failure of existing systems to prevent misconduct in both the private and public sectors is a cause for concern and is having a negative impact on citizens’ trust in public institutions. Effective systems of government aim to increase political accountability by promoting good governance, in which ordinary citizens can hold political leaders accountable for their actions.

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With this in mind, it is imperative to understand that political accountability is an important aspect of any thriving democracy. It is one of the cornerstones supporting equality, power-sharing, active citizenship and social justice, among other aspects of democracy.

But what is political accountability?

Political Accountability

Although there are many definitions of this concept, in this article political accountability refers to the agreements and procedures that govern the relationship between citizens and their elected representatives to ensure that all stakeholders comply with rules and laws that govern their existence and regulate relationship.

Stated another way, political accountability simply means that all leaders at all levels of responsibility are accountable to the public, and that individuals are accountable to one another for their actions, attitudes, and behavior. In this sense, political accountability becomes a societal control mechanism to ensure that everyone is acting in the greater interest of society and not in their own interest.

Why is political accountability important?

First, political accountability is important because it is at the heart of democracy. Government officials, political leaders and all citizens must work together in the best interests of society. Without political accountability, the ruling political elite can make economic, political, and social decisions without involving the citizens. This, of course, is undesirable and requires active civic participation policies to defend our hard-won democracy by promoting political accountability at all levels of government.

Second, political accountability is crucial because it ensures that private interests do not override the larger interests of society. In order for the interests of the public to be safeguarded and prioritized, however, an informed electorate is required, which always remains vigilant and in a democracy is not a passive actor reduced to a recipient of decisions, but which actively participates in shaping the numerous rules and uphold laws that govern their existence as citizens.

Third, political accountability improves the management of public resources by holding elected political leaders accountable for their actions and decisions. The aim is to ensure value for money for all public goods and services that citizens consume.

Fourth, efficient use of public resources to provide quality public goods and services also improves corporate governance. Ultimately, the costs associated with investigating misconduct and misappropriation of public funds are reduced or eliminated.

role of civil society

What role, then, do citizens and civil society at large play in promoting sustainable political accountability?

Inform first. An informed electorate can confidently participate in societal discourse and articulate their views without fear of intimidation. Therefore, citizens and civil society must be proactive by seeking information, participating in forums and other public participation opportunities to better understand the political dynamics in our country and their impact on our democracy.

Armed with this information, they will be motivated to engage with political leaders at every level of government and power and confidently demand answers for every aspect of public service that affects them. Ultimately, an informed citizenry will develop new norms and practices that are likely to shape the political behavior of leaders toward responsible and ethical public service.

Second, civil society and citizens should mobilize and continue to work to uphold the rule of law, strengthen judicial systems and uphold the laws of the country.

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Third, political leaders, citizens, and civil society must continue to work together to support collaborative governance, embracing and promoting democratic principles such as transparency, pluralism, public participation in decision-making, and accountability as societal norms. This is a collective responsibility and not the government alone.

In summary, political accountability is the responsibility of every citizen.

With the continued exposure of wrongdoing in both the country’s public and private sectors, accountability cannot be a catchphrase or cliché. It must be put into practice by citizens from all walks of life.

While there has been progress in fighting and exposing corruption, much remains to be done. The legitimacy of our policies and system depends on the constant vigilance of citizens and civil society to ensure that the gains of our hard-won democracy are protected and preserved for future generations, while being enjoyed by the present generation.

– dr Paul Kariuki is the executive director of the Democracy Development Program (DDP) and writes in his personal capacity.

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