Maravi

Let's be demanding, but...

Let's be demanding, but...
By The Post
Sun 14 Oct. 2012, 15:20 CAT

Participatory governance requires that organisations and government departments try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

The effectiveness of the various economic, social and cultural development programmes depends on the bridging of the gap between policy and practice. One way by which responsiveness could be enhanced is by improving the provision of information about performances and whatever statistical data about activities of organisations and government departments so that timely and appropriate interventions can be performed.

Those elected should give account of their work. Public and individual wellbeing should be developed out of the very structure and administration of the state. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it (Proverbs 3:27).

If something can be done by the government within a year, it should be done within a year. And the Zambian people should expect what can be done by the government within a year to be done within a year. They should demand that what the government can do within a year is done within a year. What can be done within a year should not take more than a year to be accomplished. If what can be done within a year stretches over a year, those in government should be made to account for their failure to deliver to the people that which government could have done within a year.

What can be done today should not be postponed or deferred to tomorrow. What can be done today should be done today. And only that which can only be accomplished tomorrow should be deferred to tomorrow. Moreover, tomorrow is built on the threshold of what we do today. Tomorrow is not built tomorrow; it is built on the threshold of what we do today. Just like the future is not built in the future, but on what is done today, on the threshold of what is done today.

It is therefore not nonsensical for the Zambian people to demand from this government for the delivery within one year of being in power that which can be delivered within one year. There are many things that this government could deliver within one year and has indeed delivered within one year. That delivery should be acknowledged. And where the government has fallen short in delivering that which could be delivered within a year, accountability has to be demanded.

We should not expect this government to perform miracles or magic. But that's not to say we shouldn't have any reasonable expectations in terms of what this government can do in a day, a week, a month, a year. The performance of this government, at the end of its five-year term of office, will be based not on what would be delivered on the last day, but on its cumulative daily deeds.
But Aaron Milner has a point that cannot be ignored when he says that "wanting changes within a year is nonsensical". It is truly nonsensical for one to expect that which needs more than one year to be accomplished in less than a year.

And in this regard, as we have warned before, we should watch out for those who are too demanding, the demagogic champions, the extremists who crop up in situations like these in order to divert attention from their own deficiencies, faults and weaknesses and pretend to be demanding for performance, delivery when they are really opportunists trying to avoid being called on to account for themselves.
Experience has shown that in circumstances like these, it is necessary to avoid unilateral judgements, avoid excessive zeal. And our desire to solve problems as soon as possible should not lead us to improvise, especially since we have learned that no isolated measure, no matter how just or effective it seems, can lead to the true, radical solutions or transformations we are aiming for. We must understand above all that the only way to systematically tackle the problems and challenges of our economic development and overcome our weaknesses is by dealing with the situation in its entirety and following honest and correct ways of doing things; that no administrative or propaganda measures are capable, in themselves, of automatically eliminating vices that have become habits.

We have no doubt that the government, as we all already know, is presently involved in implementing, in the quickest and most efficient way possible, measures aimed at finding true, long-lasting solutions. A great deal of time and effort is being dedicated to examining the problems and challenges our country and people are facing - many of them definitive - to deal with them.
When we speak of applying definitive measures, we realise the need to make a detailed analysis of the factors involved and their complex interaction in order to make sure that they will lead to real, concrete solutions and not simply promote superficial, transitory campaigns that don't solve anything and create the appearance of making spectacular, demagogic attempts to mitigate the population's irritation.

But it is important to emphasise the need for people's participation. And part of this participation is demanding performance from government on things that can be reasonably expected to be delivered. And we shouldn't forget that the wealth of society is created by the workers, peasants and working intellectuals. If they take their destiny into their own hands, follow a correct political line, and take an active attitude in solving problems instead of evading them, there will be no difficulty in this world which they cannot overcome.

Those in government must take this all fully into account and be prepared to overcome all difficulties with an indomitable will and in a planned way. But it is sheer fantasy to imagine that we will get our people out of poverty in an easy and plain-sailing way, without difficulties and setbacks or the exertion of tremendous efforts. Anyone who sees only the bright side but not the difficulties will have very little of value to contribute to the development of our country.

As much as we should demand the delivery of that which can be delivered today to be delivered today, we should also be honest enough to tell people the truth about the things they should not expect to be delivered today because they cannot be delivered in such a short time. We must tell the people that there will be twists and turns on our road. There are still many obstacles and difficulties along the road of transforming our country and thus transforming the lives of our people. We know that some people do not like to think much about difficulties.

But difficulties are facts; we must recognise as many difficulties as there are. We must recognise difficulties, analyse them and combat them. There are no straight roads in this work; we must be prepared to follow a road which twists and turns and not try to get things on the cheap. It must not be imagined that one fine morning we will wake up and find there is no poverty amidst us and we have all the things we need as a nation. 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. By uniting the entire people in a common effort, we can certainly overcome all difficulties and give our people a better and dignified life.

We must thoroughly clear away all ideas among our people of winning material benefits through good luck, without hard and bitter struggle, without effort and sweat.

Labels: AARON MILNER, PF

posted by MrK @ 5:04 PM