DISAPPOINTED 'TIMES' SAYS, GO VOTE

Times of Swaziland

18 September 2008

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VOTE WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR

(Newspaper editorial)

Tomorrow comes once in five years. The people go to the polls to decide the future of this country.

Five years ago brought hope. Very little of it, if any, remains today.

Another chance is upon us though to rekindle the hope for a better future but it is entirely upon how we use this opportunity that will determine whether we rise or fall; forever.

Wisdom has never been such a necessity as the people set out to entrust their lives in the hands of a few men and women who have the enormous task of bailing us out of our current misery. But who will these be?

Will it be aspiring MPs who have openly come out to buy voters as their idea of a sign of commitment to the people? We hope not, because those who seek votes through ‘bribes’ have nothing intellectual to offer this country and voters should not be fooled. Theirs (MPs) is to make our economy work through effective legislation and financial prudence so that we all have jobs that give government tax to provide for all our needs.

In their campaigns, they should have explained how they seek to do this; if not, then they have no solutions for this poverty stricken ‘middle-income’ country.

The incoming MPs are to be confronted with serious economic, political and social issues that need educated and experienced minds to resolve. The solution to these issues lies in good governance which MPs must uphold, not promises of vehicles, soccer tournament prizes, t-shirts and prize money for best traditional dancing.

The bulky documents and research work that each MP must be capable of reading, understanding and critiquing will determine the type of laws or flaws this country will have in the next five years and there will be very little time for gospel gigs or DJ parties.

The reason some people want the system changed is because it has no benchmark for success and the lack of economic growth in a region where the economies of our neighbours are booming gives some justification to this call. Especially if the system is not accountable to the people.

Ministers do not hold public office for instance. They hold ‘private office’ according to the constitution so they do not account to the people but to the appointing authority.

All is not lost however. We should at least thrive to have highly competent cabinet ministers who have the capacity to put right all that is wrong; without fear or favour!

Link http://www.times.co.sz/News/1519.html