POLITICAL ORGANISATION
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
— Explain the following terms; political party, manifesto and political party conference or conventions.
— Describe the structure of a political party.
— Discuss the function (importance) of a political party.
Political party
— is a group of people who come together to promote their political agenda.
— It is also a voluntary association of people who share common beliefs and values whose
main aim is to form the government of the country.
Party manifesto; it is a document that contains the political party‘s ideas, plans, beliefs and
programs of the country once they are voted into power.
Party conference or convention; these are meetings held to discuss party matters. These meetings
are held at district, provincial and national levels.
Any group of people can form a party in a democracy where a political party name can be given and the leader elected
(through type of election known as primary election).
The beliefs, ideas, programs and plans and plans of the party are written down in a document known as a Party
Manifesto.
For a political to exist, it must be registered with the Registrar of Societies (an institution responsible of registering
associations and organizations in Zambia).
When people vote or give power to a political party (usually for five years in Zambia), that elected political party forms
government and becomes the Ruling Political Party.
If the ruling party fails to keep its promises, people can vote for another political party at the end of five (5) years.
There can be no democracy without political parties. Therefore, political parties are very important in a democratic
country like Zambia.
However, when the Army takes over the government through Coup Detat and bans political parties, the country becomes
a Military Dictatorship.
Structures of a political party
For any political party to perform its roles and functions, it has the following party structure.
— National Executive Committee (NEC) or Central Committee
- It is the most powerful and highest organ of the party.
- Based at the party headquarters
- It is led by the party president (senior meetings are usually chaired by the president).
Functions
- Look at the affairs of the party throughout the nation
- Carry out decisions of the party
- Raise funds for the party
- Choose candidates for the party/elections
- Discuss means or methods of winning elections
- Discipline party members
- Appoint party workers e.g., Chairpersons, media directors, campaign managers etc.
- Discuss national issues with other parties.
(i) Provincial Committee
— It is the second highest organ of the party and it is lead by the provincial chair person.
- Win support of the party in the province
- Publicise party programmes in the province
- Act as a channel of communication between the national leadership and the province.
- Select delegates to the National Conference or Convention.
- Persuade voters to vote for the party candidates
- Raise and administer party
A. The district committee/constituency committee
- It is third largest organ of the party.
- It is led by the district/constituency chair person.
Functions
- Organise the party
- Raise funds for the party candidates
- Win support for the party candidates
- Communicate with provincial leaders
- Organise public meetings or rallies
B. The section and Branches
- It is the fourth and lowest organ of the party.
- It is headed by section or branch chairperson.
Functions
- Maintain support for the party at local level
- Monitor local opinion and advise the district and provincial leadership.
- Sell party membership cards
- Win support for the party candidates during elections.
Party conferences or conventions are meetings held to discuss party matters. These meetings are held at district,
provincial or national levels. The function of these meetings are to;
- Discuss party organisation
- Work out party policies or plans of action.
- Elect party leaders
The National Convention of Conference elect or choose leaders of the party such as the President, the chairperson,
treasurer, the secretary-general and the publicity secretary.
Functions (importance) of a Political Party
To educate the public on national issues
To nominate candidates for elections
To mobilise and educate people on elections
To unity members of society
To form government when they win elections
To promote social, political and economic development in the country
To act as a link between the government and the general public
To make government aware of ordinary citizens opinions and wishes
To develop policies and programs that reflect the wishes of their members
To monitor government actions to ensure rule of law
To provide checks and balances through constructive criticism
To monitor elections activities to ensure free and fair elections
To enforce separations of power through representation in parliament
Political party system
A political party system is the classification of a country either a one-party system, two party
system or multi-party system.
One party system
This is where one political party is allowed to exist in the country by the constitution e.g Zambia in
the second republic.
Advantages of one-party system
There is no time wasted on political campaigns as there is only one political party
Avoids inter-party violence
It is easier to formulate long term national planning as they will be no fear of being voted out soon
It is easier for the government to make decisions as there is no opposition
It promotes national unity as all they will belong to one party
Disadvantages of one-party system
It promotes dictatorship as all opposition political parties are banned
There is no respect for human rights
There is no tolerance to divergent views
There is no separation of powers
The party leader cannot be challenged during an election
There is oppression of any political party leaders
The press (media) is controlled by the government
The pressure groups are not allowed to operate freely
People are only given one set of programs
Two-party system
This is where two political parties are allowed to compete against each other during elections by
the constitution e.g USA, the Democratic party versus Republican party and in Britain, the
Conservative party versus Labour party
Multi-party system
This is where many political parties are allowed to compete for power in the country by the
constitution e.g Zambia in the third republic.
Advantages of two-party and multi-party system
There is wider freedom of political choice
There is political tolerance
There is existence of civil societies
There is respect of human rights
there is regular, free and fair elections
there is respect of the rule of law
Disadvantages of two-party and multi-party system
Promotes disunity through tribal politics
Promotes inter-conflicts between leaders of each political party
It is costly to manage elections
It wastes a lot of time in running elections
There is lack of continuity as each one that comes in power has its own ideas
