Democracy in itself is "inherently good", but the problem arises in the implemetation of democracy where there is "lots of distortion", according to Dr David Monyae, director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies and the Confucius Institute at the University of Johannesburg.
"The manner in which it's developed in the Western world and spread with a certain particular bias towards certain norms and values that are more Western than African," he explains.
Dr Monyae believes that what is "most damaging value" of Western liberal democracy is the "individualistic value", as it tends "to favour the elite" and "those who are closer to Western elites".
"It tends to negate African Ubuntu where people really think in communities, communal understanding, which is our traditional way that I am – because you are, and my existence can not continue in your absence," Dr Monyae elaborates.
Professor Lere Asuman, Professor of International Relations of North-West University, agrees with Dr Monyae in that Africa needs to find a balance between democracy and African traditions.
"There should be a meeting point whereby integration of the possible aspects of the Western idea and African idea so that at the end of the day there's going to be what we can call sustainable development," Prof Asuman says.
To hear what else the experts had to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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