Avoidance of the African pitfall is a must-a principled leadership is a necessity for our democracy

Owen Nsala | Wednesday August 23, 2017 16:51

Politicians sit at the chamber of parliament to pass laws that regulate the conduct of men and those that direct the swing and bounce of an economy. For that reason, it matters that those who are voted into power pass the test of able leaders who have the dreams and aspirations of their people at heart.

Notwithstanding the importance that politics play it is sad that a majority of those that offer mandate to politicians have very little regard of the powers that they possess. You see politicians serve a very important role in a constitutional democracy.

It is them who have the powers to pass laws and that remains a select preserve of them alone, well, bar judges who of course interpret and make laws on a narrow and limited scope. It is their mumblings and rumblings in parliament that determine who becomes judge and who becomes a commander of the armed forces. They are in custody of powers to decide when to attack Syria or who to sentence for capital punishment.

They derive powers from the Constitution to decide who can get married to who and how many wives one can have. They can decide either to legislate for or against homosexuality. They can tell us which religion to follow and which to abhor. Their power under the Constitution is so overwhelming and to that end it must matter to us who must sit in parliament.

The sad reality though is that we are now becoming another African state. Leaders are chosen on account of food hampers. We have leaders being voted on account of their good looks or the ability to construct endless sentences in English. Our leaders are chosen on account that their fore fathers have before ruled and controlled the four corners of the Republic. Leaders are chosen on account of cultism and heroism. We have leaders being chosen on account of tribal lines or religious indoctrination.

Some are chosen simply on account of being tribal leaders and not worthy of being shamed at the polls as that shame would trickle down to the tribe. People worry and fear that their tribe would be seen as a laughing stock should their chief or paramount chief lose to a more deserving candidate. Does that make sense? Is it suggestive of people in touch with reality and the demands of politics? 

Politicians, upon realising the gap of mind that exists between them and the voters have mastered the art of abuse of the voters. They tend to throw political education off the window and do not want voters who engage them on bread and butter issues. They would rather take advantage of the less privileged and buy them soccer kits and soccer boots.

They organise beauty pageants and donate shoes and uniform to the poor. They do not tell the poor that in the first place it is their (politicians) fault that the state of poverty is as is. They do not tell the poor that they have, overtime failed them and have not been able to meaningfully use the available resources for their better livelihoods. Instead they come as messiahs and saviors to the poor.

It is a painful sight to take. Listen to the poor praise an area member of parliament for having donated soccer kits and being readily available to offer his bakkie for a funeral or wedding. The poor and uneducated do not want anyone telling them that the poverty is more a child of that member of parliament for failing to advocate for laws that safeguard their right to dignity. We need to have our people understand that the price of rice and flour is determined by the politicians that they vote. We need politicians who will fully account for their greed and corrupt tendencies.

Those that will accept when shameful acts are brought to their doorsteps and would rather resign than fire those that are constitutionally empowered to investigate any forms of corruption leveled against them. It is only in Africa that a leader accused of theft would do all necessary to dismantle the institution that is investigating him.

There would be accusations of which hunt and in most cases those accusations are delivered by the voter who cares little of any corruption but the satisfaction that his guy is in power. If we do not open our eyes very soon we will be a proper African state. We will have leaders being voted against tribal lines and celebrate corrupt ministers simply because they are able to sponsor charity events.

We will have a country so detached to its founding principles of a good and clean governance simply because there is very little value and will to seek accountability from our leaders. We must therefore as of necessity call our leaders to account at each and every step. They are after all human and susceptible to error of judgment and need our guidance.