A joint study by Afrobarometer and the University of Reading finds that while African Members of Parliament (MPs) often reflect the continent’s diversity in ethnicity and religion, they remain significantly out of touch in key areas such as age, education, and economic background.
Dr Matthias Krönke, Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the University of Reading and a former Afrobarometer researcher, explained the findings in an interview with Channel Africa.
“We found that MPs are generally more educated, wealthier, and around 20 years older than the average citizen eligible to vote,” said Krönke.
“That kind of gap has real implications for how well lawmakers understand and represent their constituents' everyday struggles.”
The study compared MPs and citizens across 17 African countries. While MPs were found to be descriptively representative in terms of language, religion, and ethnicity, they were overwhelmingly male, university-educated, and from business or elite professional backgrounds. This, Krönke noted, can affect policy priorities.
“For example, MPs with university degrees tend to focus heavily on education, sometimes at the expense of issues citizens view as more urgent, such as healthcare or electricity,” he said.
Interestingly, the research challenges the notion of African MPs as a unified “power elite.” Krönke noted that MPs often enter politics from varied backgrounds and are not as interconnected as popularly believed. High turnover, averaging fewer than two terms, also limits the formation of entrenched networks.
However, the lack of direct accountability remains a concern, particularly in countries like South Africa and Namibia, where party lists determine MP selection. “This creates a disconnect, with MPs often answering more to party leadership than to the people,” Krönke warned.
As dominant parties across the continent lose their grip on power, Krönke argues that improved representation and accountability could strengthen democracy.
“People need to feel seen, and more importantly, heard. Representation alone isn't enough. It must translate into action that reflects the public's priorities,” he said.
--ChannelAfrica--
