You'll have to do it for yourselves
You'll have to do it for yourselvesBy EDITOR
Wednesday April 23, 2008 [04:00]
Having a government, even the best of governments, in itself guarantees us nothing. All it does is to offer us instead the opportunity to succeed, to improve our lives as well as the risk of failure, of continuing to live in poverty.
Therefore, having a government, and indeed a good government for that matter, is then both a promise and a challenge. It is a promise that as free human beings, working together, we can govern ourselves in a manner that will serve our aspirations for personal freedom, economic opportunity and social justice. It is a challenge because the success of our enterprise rests upon our shoulders as citizens of this country and on no one else.
Acting Anglican Archbishop for Central Africa Albert Chama’s observation that “nobody will improve citizens’ lives if they do not take it upon themselves” is very valid. We share or agree with Archbishop Chama’s view because government of and by the people means that the citizens of a country share in its benefits and in its burdens. It is said that “a free man, when he fails, blames nobody”.
It is true as well for citizens of a country who, finally, must take responsibility for their own lives and the fate of the society in which they themselves have chosen to live. In the end, we as citizens, give ourselves a life we deserve.
What this means is that you cannot build an economy or a society purely on the basis of entitlement. People have to make a contribution. They have to have a sense of ownership which they don’t get from being given free things, things they have contributed nothing to. Of course, it is our government’s task to give the millions of Zambians an essential piece of dignity in their lives – the dignity that comes from having a solid roof over one’s head, running water and other services in an established community.
But people have to have a sense of ownership which they don’t get from being given blocks of rented accommodation which they don’t own, don’t have a stake in and haven’t helped to design. The most the government should do is to provide sites with the basics of electricity, water and sewerage and at most a foundation. But the responsibility for putting a roof over their heads should depend on mobilising the sweat equity of the people themselves.
And our politicians should learn to tell our people the truth and not make fake promises to them – they shouldn’t promise them heaven when they are not even able to deliver purgatory. And just as much as they tell people what they would do if elected, we feel they must tell them also what they won’t be able to do.
They shouldn’t create an impression that if voted into power, life would change overnight as that would be far from the truth. Things don’t change that way. This would be unreasonably patronising our people. Our people need to know that if they want to continue living in poverty without clothes and food, they should go on lazing around, spending all their time drinking kachasu without having to work hard.
They should be told that if they want things to be better, if they want their lives to improve, they must work hard because government will not do it all for them; they must do it for themselves. Every citizen should do their part in trying to develop the country and make life better. It is said that what a single ant brings to the anthill is very little; but what a great hill is built when each one does their proper share of work. Yes, living conditions must be improved especially for the low-income earners. But it can’t be without their participation; it can’t be without their involvement – they have to make a contribution. Of course, economic justice requires that each individual has adequate resources to survive, to develop and thrive, but it also requires that he or she gives back in service to the community. If our country is to move forward, honesty and hard work is demanded of all of us.
And we should see the government simply as an instrument by which we cooperate together in order to achieve the common good. An authority will always be needed to guide the energies of all of us towards the common good.
For this reason, the roles of business owners and management have a central importance from the viewpoint of society, because they are at the heart of that network of technical, commercial, financial and cultural bonds that characterises the modern business reality. For this reason, the exercise of responsibility by business owners and management requires constant reflection on the moral motivations that should guide the personal choices of those to whom these tasks fall. The motive of business should be to not only make profits but even more to contribute to the common good of society. Businesses should be characterised by the capacity to serve the common good of society through the production of useful goods and services.
The sense of responsibility in economic initiative should demonstrate the individual and social virtues necessary for development. A business enterprise must be a community of solidarity.
Therefore, there is need for the cooperation of everyone in the efforts to develop the country and in turn ourselves – government and citizens should cooperate. Individual citizens are obliged to make their specific contributions to the common good. We can make a difference as citizens if we get fully involved in national affairs; if we come together with different interests to work for the common good. This is why all citizens are called to participate actively and responsibly in national affairs. This is why Archbishop Chama is urging citizens to be proactive and to stand up and be counted.
And it is said that it is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.
Labels: ALBERT CHAMA, DEVELOPMENT
posted by MrK @ 4:11 AM
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