Maravi

Partnerships that benefit our people

Partnerships that benefit our people
By Editor
Tuesday July 29, 2008 [04:00]

We are happy to extend a very warm Zambian welcome to heads of state and government, delegates and indeed all those that are in our country to attend the Smart Partnership dialogue that officially started yesterday. We are glad that this meeting is taking place at a time when our communities, societies, nations, regions, continents and indeed our world as a whole, are in dire need of solutions and answers to the many problems that have plagued mankind today.

Smart Partnership dialogue, as the summit is aptly called, signifies this all too important role of dialoguing as we all strive to bring about betterment in the lives of our people.

We are further encouraged to note that what started as a humble idea of one Tan Sri Kishu, the owner of Globe Silk Store in Malaysia, as a way of private business and government working together to improve the economy, has today emerged as a leading platform for our leaders and captains of our economies, civil society and other stakeholders to share ideas in the best interest of our people.

And this time around, it is these leaders that are gathering to discuss pressing issues such as the effects and management of the soaring food prices, energy prices, climate change among others.

We indeed share the noble approach in the idea advanced by our Malaysian brother to ensure that economic advance of our societies have to ultimately benefit our people, the majority of whom are living in squalor and sub-human conditions.

As we start counting the dollars generated from the improved performance of our economic activities, let us remember the human factor - the challenges and suffering being faced by our people - instead of just the dollar signs.

Indeed, we also support the approach which is founded on four key guiding principles. Starting from the international front, governments hold multi-lateral talks to facilitate skills sharing and transfer across borders, and form regional organisations to allow free trade and movement of people.

Second, from a national front, the government, public and business sectors work together to provide infrastructure and suitable environment for business while the private sector is conscious of its social and ethical responsibilities.
The private sector supports government efforts of national development while the public sector is friendly to business and individuals.

Third, from an organisation’s position, goods and services must be delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner that satisfies customers with the interest of stakeholders in mind while creating strong links between the government, the public, and the private sector.
The last point focuses on the need for strengthening inter-company relations and cooperation, formally and informally.

Ideally, this is a very positive approach to bringing about economic development in our countries. But these noble ideas will remain mere ideas not even worth the paper they are written on if they do not translate into tangible benefits to our suffering masses. Our people need urgent and long-lasting solutions to the many problems they face on a daily basis: inability to access the basic needs like food, water, health and shelter, including education. With the rising food prices, coupled with the huge leap in global energy prices, it is our people that are affected. And how can you address the rampant deforestation with the ever-soaring petroleum prices?

The list of problems affecting our people is endless but it has to start from somewhere, and indeed, the Smart Partnership dialogue being held in our capital city, Lusaka, provides that platform and arena to start these candid discussions aimed at making our nations and our world in general a better place for our people.

It is in this vein that we call on the leaders, technocrats and all our brothers and sisters attending this very important summit to work hard and fast towards providing solutions for our people. It is not the first time that we have heard of important and well-meaning conferences that have recorded no results.

We therefore remind our leaders and all delegates as they meet again this morning that this summit will remain just another summit, like the many they have attended in the past, if they fail to confront issues affecting our people. They need to provide leadership in arriving at the answers to our people’s problems.

Theirs is certainly a challenge and should not fall short of making this special summit a dialogue and partnership that benefits our people.

It is also sad that as the leaders gather to dialogue, there is a notable absentee, our President Levy Mwanawasa who is recuperating in France. As South Africa’s African National Congress leader, Jacob Zuma, rightly oberved upon arrival for the summit, Levy’s absence will certainly be felt. Levy, not so long ago, set the pace and tone for the Smart Partnership dialogue that is finally taking place in our country. His commitment to human dignity and firm belief in the ideals of the Smart Partnership cannot be questioned.

We urge the leaders as they continue to meet to forge ahead and ensure that we see results that will benefit our people both in Zambia and beyond our borders.

Labels: SMART PARTNERHIPS

posted by MrK @ 5:39 AM