The killing of key opposition leader in Burundi served as an
exclamation mark in an already turbulent situation in the small east African
nation. Across the border however the opposition made a call for a lifting of
presidential term limits in their own constitution.
With Pierre Nkurunzinza safely reinstalled in his seat after
a failed coup attempt earlier this month, and the worst of the Burundi crisis
seemingly behind them, despite continued protests in the street, opposition
leader Zedi Feruzi was gunned on the street on the weekend.
No one has been arrested for the assassination but no one
doubts that such an event further inflames affairs in Burundi. That Nkurunziza
is determined to run for a controversial third term does not help matters.
Things couldn’t be more different in Rwanda. Dr Vincent
Biruta leader of the Parti Social
Democratic (PSD) called for the lifting of
term limits. Biruta is also the natural resource minister of Rwanda. When we
were still trying to digest this brilliant political manoeuvre, hundreds of
rural Rwandans streamed into the capital Kigali and presented their petition to
parliament calling for a constitutional amendment to lift presidential term limits.
With two million petitions parliament will now debate the
issue for the next two months before deciding on whether to upset the status
quo or not.
"The speed of developments in Rwanda has got our heads reeling and has observers of the country impressed by the political sleight of hand there...
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has always said he will
respect the constitution but has also added that the fate of Rwanda will be
determined by its citizens.
The term limits were adopted in various countries two decades
ago, promoted as an answer to bad governments and as a way to achieve civil
transfers of power. The opposers of term limits have argued that they shackle
good leaders, a hard argument to rebut when the affected leaders still have the
popular vote on their side.
Both cases provide some cause for head scratching for the
champions of democracy.
On the one hand in Burundi there are “mass” demonstrations
against Nkurunziza’s attempt at a third term, but he courts have ruled that he
is within his rights to contest the coming election. Do you pander to the mob
and compromise the institution building process – never mind that you suspect
that judges may have been leaned on to rule favourably for NKurunziza? And if
there is enough opposition surely an election will put paid to NKurunziza’s
third term bid.
On the other hand in Rwanda there is no ambivalence in the
constitution about term limits but there seems to be a groundswell of support
for a lifting of these limits. So do you tinker with the constitution to cater
for the political circumstances of the time or ignore the voice of the people
and maintain that the constitution is inviolable.
"How the next few weeks play out will provide useful fodder for political thinkers...
It could very well be that Nkurunziza goes to the polls and
his flattened to reflect the opposition crowds we saw on TV. Or that after two
months of deliberation the Rwanda parliament dominated by the ruling Rwanda
Patriotic Front (RPF) comes to the conclusion that term limits should be upheald
and begin a process to replace President Paul Kagame.
Of course both outcomes seem unlikely but whatever the
outcome precedents will be set that will inform the democratic process going
forward.
It will not be the end of the world either way.
