Unconstitutionality and Elections in Africa: Lessons from Tanzania and Cameroon

 

Elections are meant to be the heartbeat of democracy. They are the moments when citizens voice their choices, when constitutions come to life, and when leaders are held accountable. But in parts of Africa today, this heartbeat sometimes weakens. Voting becomes less about choosing and more about survival, and constitutions—intended to protect fairness—can seem like fragile sheets of paper confronting entrenched power.

 

Two recent cases bring this stark reality into focus: Tanzania and Cameroon. Both countries held elections that were supposed to be milestones of democracy—but instead exposed deep fractures in their constitutional and political systems.

Meanwhile, youths in both countries make up the majority of the population, but their voices are not heard, as it was seen in their mass demonstrations.

 

Tanzania: The Price of a “Free and Democratic” Election

 

On election day in Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the overwhelming winner, securing 98% of the vote. Officially, it was hailed as a free and democratic process. In her victory speech, Samia thanked security forces for keeping the vote on track, while dismissing protesters as “unpatriotic.”

 

Yet outside the official narrative, the streets of Dar es Salaam and other cities told a very different story. Young people, frustrated by the exclusion of opposition candidates, protested in defiance of heavy security presence. Tundu Lissu, a main opposition contender, languished in jail, while another was barred from running. For many Tanzanians, the election was a hollow ritual, not a reflection of their will.

 

The violence that followed—hundreds injured or killed—was a painful reminder that elections can become moments of fear rather than hope. Yet even amid tear gas and barricades, it was the youth who stood firm. They tore down posters, marched through streets, and demanded accountability. In their courage, one sees the raw heartbeat of a society refusing to accept constitutional shortcuts imposed from above.

 

Cameroon: Power Encased in Time

 

Meanwhile, in Cameroon, President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 92, secured an eighth term. Biya’s tenure—stretching over four decades—is a testament not to constitutional health but to political endurance. Opposition supporters described the election as stolen, taking to the streets of Douala in protest. Police responded with water cannons, tear gas, and arrests.

 

For many Cameroonians, these elections are a familiar narrative: the constitutional framework exists, but its protections are hollow. Term limits have been removed; electoral bodies are aligned with the ruling party; dissent is met with repression. Yet, in this bleak landscape, young Cameroonians continue to resist. Students, activists, and digital organizers challenge the status quo, knowing full well the risks. Their struggle is less about winning tomorrow’s election and more about asserting that constitutional principles must matter.

 

The Shared Struggle: Youth at the Forefront

 

What stands out in both Tanzania and Cameroon is the role of youth. Across Africa, young people are taking up the mantle of democracy in ways previous generations could only imagine. They are the ones marching in the streets, documenting abuses, posting videos online, and refusing to accept outcomes imposed through force or manipulation.

 

Their resistance is deeply reflective of a generational awakening: a recognition that constitutions are not mere decorations, that elections are not ceremonies to legitimize entrenched power, and that true democracy requires vigilance. In both countries, the youth are saying, “We will not accept a system that silences our voices or undermines our rights.”

 

Reflections on Unconstitutional Elections

 

Reading about these events, one cannot help but reflect: what does it mean for a constitution to fail its people? Is democracy only legitimate when opposition is allowed to compete freely? When violence, intimidation, and fear dominate the public sphere, what hope remains for accountability?

 

In Tanzania and Cameroon, constitutions were written to safeguard fairness, equality, and justice. Yet political realities—long-term incumbency, legal loopholes, manipulated institutions—have turned these safeguards into tools for power preservation. And yet, in the shadow of this systemic failure, hope glimmers in the courage of youth-led movements. Their determination reminds us that constitutions live not only in texts but in the active, persistent claim of citizens demanding their rights.

 

Looking Ahead: Lessons for Africa

 

What can the continent learn from these examples? First, institutional independence matters. Electoral commissions and courts must be empowered to act without fear or favor. Second, youth engagement is indispensable. Democracy requires vigilance. It is not an event but a process—one that requires citizens, institutions, and leaders to continually uphold constitutional principles. When elections become exercises in exclusion or repression, the spirit of democracy is lost—but the determination of the youth reminds us that it is never truly gone.

 

Conclusion

 

Elections in Tanzania and Cameroon reveal a sobering truth: constitutions can be manipulated, and ballots can be tools of entrenchment rather than empowerment. Yet amid suppression, fear, and violence, the youth emerge as beacons of resistance. They march, protest, and speak out, embodying the hope that one day, African elections will reflect not just the letter of the law, but the true will of the people.

In the end, democracy is more than numbers on a ballot—it is the courage to demand accountability, fairness, and justice. And in the streets of Dar es Salaam and Douala, that courage is alive and unwavering.