Decreased support for the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa’s elections on 29 May was expected. But a decline from 57% to 40% marked a turning point in the country’s democracy. It also confirmed the general decline in popularity of former liberation movements as governments in southern Africa.
I have focused since the late 1990s on the limits to liberation, pointing at the shortcomings of liberation movements as governments. Elections in Namibia at the end of November might also confirm for the governing South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo) a decline in popularity.
Anti-colonial movements struggled for self-determination. In armed conflicts with the minority regimes their members (and their countries’ populations) paid a high price. Once their mission was accomplished, hopes were high. Ordinary people expected a significant change for the better, also in material terms.
