Maravi

Begging won't take us far

COMMENT - It isn't begging when you are being robbed. The fact that Donor Aid is about the same amount as the taxes that the mines aren't paying should be a big clue as to where 'Donor Aid' ultimately comes from. If Zambia collected all the taxes due today, it would not need any Donor Aid.

Begging won't take us far
By The Post
Tue 26 June 2012, 13:25 CAT

FOR more than four decades, we have been dependent on begging from others, on aid from donors. But where has it taken us? Yes, there are some countries who have exploited our resources for many years and one can claim that they have a duty to pay back. But there are other countries that have nothing to do with our colonial past that have for the last four decades been assisting us financially and otherwise. Again, where has that aid left us in terms of development?

It is clear that we need a different approach to our development. But on what basis should our approach rest? It should rest on our own strength, and that means development through our own efforts, relying on what we ourselves are able to organise, mobilise.

We stand for self-reliance. But this does not mean we are opposed to international cooperation. International cooperation will always be important and a necessity because no country in this world can solve all its problems by itself. We therefore should hope for foreign assistance but not be dependent on it; we need to depend on our own efforts, on the creative power of our people.

And Michael Sata is right; the culture of begging has to come to an end. We have no right to expect others to always do things for us, even the things we can do for ourselves. Every meaningful project of ours has to be undertaken by donors, this is not on. This is not sustainable. This will not bring development to our country and our people.

We shouldn't cheat ourselves that we will develop and live better without much effort, without much sacrifice. No country in the world has ever developed without much effort and sacrifice from its people and without the great vision of its leaders.

The Europeans took great risks to sail to far-off lands to bring the necessary goods to their people. Many perished in those early voyages of discovery. Americans have lost astronauts in their quest to conquer outer space. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery.

It's all part of taking a chance and expanding their horizons. The future doesn't belong to the faint-hearted; it belongs to the brave. It is dangerous expeditions that have been pulling them into the future.

What makes us think everything will come to us on the cheap, as manna from some benevolent friend in Asia, Europe or America?

We must thoroughly clear away all ideas among our people of winning an easy life, easy development through good luck, without hard and bitter struggle, without sweat and blood.

There are big possibilities for success, but there are also many dangers. We have many challenges. But as a country beginning to develop itself, we must in the first place work, above all, at organisation. And we should learn to approach the practical problems we face using our own heads.

This may seem to be an abstract and rather vague opinion, but it's something very important. We have to learn to pay attention, above all, to particular realities. Yes, our politicians should carry on constant propaganda among the people on the bright future ahead so that they will build their confidence in themselves.

But at the same time, they must learn to tell the people the truth, the things they may not want to hear, that there will be twists and turns before they get to that better life the future is promising them. There are still many obstacles and difficulties on the road to economic development and social progress.

We know that some people do not like to think much about difficulties. But difficulties are facts; we must recognise as many difficulties as they are and should not adopt a policy of non-recognition of difficulties. It doesn't make sense to paint a picture that everything is going to be easy; it will be instant coffee. We must recognise difficulties, analyse them and combat them.

There are no straight roads in this world; we must be prepared to follow a road which has twists and turns and not try to get things on the cheap from donors, friends and other well-wishers. It must not be imagined that one fine morning we will wake up and find all the roads tarred, all the schools and hospitals renovated and stocked with all the medicines and equipment we need.

Things don't happen like that in this world. Even if the leadership of Michael works so hard and in the most honest way, things won't happen that way, that easily. We are not in a dream world; we are in a real world. In a word, while the prospects are bright, the road has twists and turns. There are still many difficulties ahead which we must not overlook.

We should forget about the campaign rhetoric or the demagogic promises of some cheap politicians. To push our people out of poverty and bring prosperity in their lives will require a lot of work and sleepless nights on the part of Michael and his leadership and on the part of all of us as a people, as a nation.

But by uniting with the entire people in a common effort, our leaders can certainly overcome all the difficulties and enable us to live better.
Anyone who sees only the bright side but not the difficulties cannot work effectively for the development that our people are yearning for.

The wealth of a society is created by the workers, peasants and working intellectuals. If they take their destiny into their own hands and follow correct policies and take an active attitude in solving problems instead of evading them, there will be no difficulty in the world which they cannot overcome.

We therefore urge our political leaders, especially those in government, to take all this fully into account and be prepared to overcome difficulties with an indomitable and in a planned way. But in times of difficulty, we must not lose sight of our achievements; we must see the bright future and pluck up our courage. New things always have to experience difficulties as they grow.

It is sheer fantasy to think that in 90 days or in nine months everything can be changed, all our rags can be thrown away and everyone can be in new clothes, eating three square meals a day. It is sheer fantasy to imagine that all will be plain sailing and easy success, without difficulties and setbacks or the exertion of tremendous efforts.

To give our people a good and comfortable life needs intense efforts, which will include, among other things, the effort to practice strict economy and combat waste, that is, the policy of building up our country through diligence and frugality. We must not take a short view of things and indulge in wastefulness and extravagance. We must take resolute measures against anyone wasting public resources and pay special attention to thrift and economy.

Thrift should be the guiding principle in our government expenditure. It should be made clear to all government workers that corruption and waste are very great crimes.

But there is another dangerous tendency that our leadership has developed over the last two decades - an unwillingness to share the joys and hardships of the masses, a concern for personal fame and gain. This is very bad.

No amount of donor aid, international assistance, will make us live better if we ourselves do not take the necessary measures and exert the necessary effort to improve our lives. It is said that it is what we make of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.

Begging, aid, assistance may take us somewhere but it will certainly not take us far. Assistance from others is simply a ladder to get us on top of things. There is no use whatsoever trying to help people who do not help themselves. You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he be willing to climb himself.

And moreover, the rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other foot somewhat higher. Aid, international assistance, cannot be a permanent way of life for us. Our lives should be permanently anchored on self-reliance.

Labels: DONORS, OLIVER SAASA

posted by MrK @ 3:36 PM