Are opposition parties a waste of time?

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With many countries staging elections this year, we ask how effective are opposition parties across Africa. Many opposition groupings come together when an election is called, but fall fall apart when the polling is over. Is there a need for an "official" opposition which can continue to hold elected governments to account? Some commentators believe that opposition parties do not work in Africa because supporters will just group around one leader or tribal or geographical group, rather than a coherent set of policies. Would it be better if there was more state funding for opposition groups? What do you expect from the opposition parties in your country? What roles do they play? And how can they be more effective?.