Does academic expertise make better or able leaders without any intellectual excellence?
Do we necessarily need leaders with higher education qualifications as we attempt to stem the tide of the global economic meltdown?
Will politics or economics play any significant leadership role to address the historic financial crisis in the millenium?
Neither Socio-Political Commentators, Economics Buffons and Academics have given a recipe and they differ widely in their intepretation of what 'actually' inform or give rise to the other discipline.
Where, then, would you locate eminent leaders, such as businessman Tony Factor, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, RSA President Jacob Zuma, and last but not least, Steve Bantu Biko?
Some of these 'once reverred' personalities never had proper formal education, while others did actually receive secondary and tertiary education, though, they never graduated.
Main argument by present-day scholars is that 'making academic expertise a vital requirement for intellectual excellence is a 'misnomer'.
How,then do you place the leadership that was 'inherently' born sharp-minded in the contemporary global political economy.
The greatest thinker of our times, Ali Mazrui, describes an intellectual as 'a person who has the capacity to be fascinated by ideas, and has the capacity to handle them effectively'.
And Richard Hofstadter, in his seminal book 'Anti-Intellectualism in American Life' draws a distinction between intelligence and intellect.
According to Hofstadter intelligence is 'an excellence of mind with an "unfailingly practical quality".
However, in the words of our own young South African Socio-Political commentator, also an 'intellectual of the highest calibre' Xolela Mangcu; the term intellectual in its modern incarnation emerged during the Dreyfus affair in France as a badge of political committment.
Who then can be regarded as an intellectual?
"Intellectualls use 'the contemplative side of the mind to engage in free speculation WHILE academic experts rely on their intelligence to solve problems" explains Mangcu eloquently.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
WERE YOU WARNED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC CRISIS?
Nkonzwenhle Mqadi
Did anyone { 'Clever-Fool'} out there across the globe ever foresaw and warned US about the present global economic meltdown?
Fellow Global Village compatriots, living in the new millenium someone {Political/Business leaders}should have foreseen this predicament and warned US!
NB! NB! NB! NB!
In 2005, two eminent South African Scenario Planning Guru/s in Clem Sunter & Chantel Ilbury published a book titled the 'Games Foxes Play'.
In this book { A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE THESE DAYS} they were the first to identify a scenario for pending economic crisis.
On constructing scenarios, Clem Subter advises;"Identify the scenario that you are actually in at the moment, look at possible pathways that could lead to other futures, ..... select the flags that suggest you are moving from the present scenario to others.
Then, on a balance of the evidence, survey your options and make the most appropriate decision".
Did anyone { 'Clever-Fool'} out there across the globe ever foresaw and warned US about the present global economic meltdown?
Fellow Global Village compatriots, living in the new millenium someone {Political/Business leaders}should have foreseen this predicament and warned US!
NB! NB! NB! NB!
In 2005, two eminent South African Scenario Planning Guru/s in Clem Sunter & Chantel Ilbury published a book titled the 'Games Foxes Play'.
In this book { A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE THESE DAYS} they were the first to identify a scenario for pending economic crisis.
On constructing scenarios, Clem Subter advises;"Identify the scenario that you are actually in at the moment, look at possible pathways that could lead to other futures, ..... select the flags that suggest you are moving from the present scenario to others.
Then, on a balance of the evidence, survey your options and make the most appropriate decision".
Saturday, May 30, 2009
AFRICA: NOW IS YOUR TURN DESPITE THE GLOBAL RECESSION
AFRICAN Leaders must, despite the troubled political economies, turn Africa into its rightful position within the global markets,argue eminent African leaders .
Delivering a speech during the Africa Day celebrations by the African Union in Addis Ababa recently, the Chairperson of De Beers Nicky Oppenheimer called upon Africa to strengthen and impose its competitiveness in the global markets.
Oppenheimer implored the continent's leaders to use the global recesion crisis to its advantage, and argued that in order to catch up with the rest of the developing world, Africa needs much higher levels of growth.
"Greater flows of trade, capital and technology have lifted billions out of poverty since the end of the Cold War. A workable solution to the current crisis demands acting selflesly in global terms.
In order to survive the current world economic crisis, Africa needs to embrace globalisation and reduce its own protectionsim, to reduce our economic vulnerbility to crises and increase growth" says Oppenheimer.
Accordingly, he aserts, Africa has a vital role to play in global efforts to improve weakneses and imbalances.
"Africa has choices. Rather than riverting to greater protectionsim we have to continue to press ahead for greater openness.
Developed markets of Europe and North America should not be denied the possibility of benefiting from the potential inherent in the younger populations of Africa, 'and Asia' " he advises.
Openheimer's speech dovetails former Republic of South Africa President Thabo Mbeki's Guardian lecture he delivered to the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos in 2003.
Mbeki had argued that self-reliance in the form of its own governing structures will enable Africa to confound its critics and prove their predictions wrong.
"Despite the harsh realities befalling the global political economies, as fellow compatriots we have a moral duty to turn Africa into a gift to humanity.
At a glance our post-independence period has seen the devaluation of our African unity and pan-ASfricanism, the devaluation of intellect and intellectual achievement and worst of all, the devaluation of African lives" noted Mbeki.
It must be highlighted that Mbeki alluded to these serious concerns some five years prior to the global economic meltdown.
He, even, made a famous qoute from Henry Kissinger's book 'Does America need a Foreign Policy'.
"Without the moral commitment of the American people and the international community, Africa's tragedy will turn into the festering disaster of our age. The African continent is a tragedy; it is also a challenge. Africa's variety inhibits concerted action; the scope of its crises nevertheless demands a significant response.
African countries have a high propensity for civil war. And if the tribal and ethnic loyalties extend across national frontiers, these civil wars will turn into international wars" writes Kissinger.
Mbeki counterposed Kissinger and pronounced that we have made a mockery of the gift of Africa's independence.
'What shall Africa hand over to the future? What gift shall we-the living- bequeath to the unborn?
We must together take the decision that we shall determine our future. The struggle for democracy is a struggle to enable every African to play a pivotal role in deciding the future of our countries and continent" said Mbeki.
Adds Oppenheimer, we need to assume a constructive role in global negotiations at multilateral forums such as the G20, and for Africa to make a greater contribution rather them asking for more aid.
Africa must not rely heavily on donor support as that will be bad news over the long term because the lack of liquidity in global markets will hit cash-strapped African markets, especially where private equity is needed for infrastructure investment.
"One big change about how we think differently about the future is that we should no longer assume a commodity super-cycle. Africa's future depends not only on how well we use commodity inflows, look at Botswana, which is a remarkable example of how to invest a commodity windfall wisely" warns Oppenheimer.
In the imediate term, he adds, African governments will have to manage the economic and political fallout of lower revenues from natural resources, trade and tax as well as smaller aid transferes.
Africa, he says, must renew efforts to build a domestic consensus on the necessity of economic reform, the importance of high growth rates and nation's integration into the global economy" argues eminent scholars in Africa.
In order to survive the current economic quagmire, Oppenheimer says Africa needs to strengthen and improve its competitiveness through lowering the costs of doing business which will simultenously reduce its economic vulnerability to crisis and increase her growth potential.
Mbeki concludes by arguing that the relationship of donor and recipient must become a thing of the past, and must be replaced by a partnership which must both respect our right to determine our future and impose a common obligation on our global partners what was mutually-accountable to each other.
And no better placed African nationalist than Ngugi wa Thiogo sums it better and so eloquently in his book 'Writers in Politics';
"And really we cannot expect that those who benefit from our crippled positions will come and say unto us 'Throw off those crutches and walk. But surely, it is unto us to have the will to say 'Away with all crutches of whatever make or model' " writes wa Thiogo.
African people, it is your time to turn Africa into a self-reliance as your integrate to global economy!
Delivering a speech during the Africa Day celebrations by the African Union in Addis Ababa recently, the Chairperson of De Beers Nicky Oppenheimer called upon Africa to strengthen and impose its competitiveness in the global markets.
Oppenheimer implored the continent's leaders to use the global recesion crisis to its advantage, and argued that in order to catch up with the rest of the developing world, Africa needs much higher levels of growth.
"Greater flows of trade, capital and technology have lifted billions out of poverty since the end of the Cold War. A workable solution to the current crisis demands acting selflesly in global terms.
In order to survive the current world economic crisis, Africa needs to embrace globalisation and reduce its own protectionsim, to reduce our economic vulnerbility to crises and increase growth" says Oppenheimer.
Accordingly, he aserts, Africa has a vital role to play in global efforts to improve weakneses and imbalances.
"Africa has choices. Rather than riverting to greater protectionsim we have to continue to press ahead for greater openness.
Developed markets of Europe and North America should not be denied the possibility of benefiting from the potential inherent in the younger populations of Africa, 'and Asia' " he advises.
Openheimer's speech dovetails former Republic of South Africa President Thabo Mbeki's Guardian lecture he delivered to the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos in 2003.
Mbeki had argued that self-reliance in the form of its own governing structures will enable Africa to confound its critics and prove their predictions wrong.
"Despite the harsh realities befalling the global political economies, as fellow compatriots we have a moral duty to turn Africa into a gift to humanity.
At a glance our post-independence period has seen the devaluation of our African unity and pan-ASfricanism, the devaluation of intellect and intellectual achievement and worst of all, the devaluation of African lives" noted Mbeki.
It must be highlighted that Mbeki alluded to these serious concerns some five years prior to the global economic meltdown.
He, even, made a famous qoute from Henry Kissinger's book 'Does America need a Foreign Policy'.
"Without the moral commitment of the American people and the international community, Africa's tragedy will turn into the festering disaster of our age. The African continent is a tragedy; it is also a challenge. Africa's variety inhibits concerted action; the scope of its crises nevertheless demands a significant response.
African countries have a high propensity for civil war. And if the tribal and ethnic loyalties extend across national frontiers, these civil wars will turn into international wars" writes Kissinger.
Mbeki counterposed Kissinger and pronounced that we have made a mockery of the gift of Africa's independence.
'What shall Africa hand over to the future? What gift shall we-the living- bequeath to the unborn?
We must together take the decision that we shall determine our future. The struggle for democracy is a struggle to enable every African to play a pivotal role in deciding the future of our countries and continent" said Mbeki.
Adds Oppenheimer, we need to assume a constructive role in global negotiations at multilateral forums such as the G20, and for Africa to make a greater contribution rather them asking for more aid.
Africa must not rely heavily on donor support as that will be bad news over the long term because the lack of liquidity in global markets will hit cash-strapped African markets, especially where private equity is needed for infrastructure investment.
"One big change about how we think differently about the future is that we should no longer assume a commodity super-cycle. Africa's future depends not only on how well we use commodity inflows, look at Botswana, which is a remarkable example of how to invest a commodity windfall wisely" warns Oppenheimer.
In the imediate term, he adds, African governments will have to manage the economic and political fallout of lower revenues from natural resources, trade and tax as well as smaller aid transferes.
Africa, he says, must renew efforts to build a domestic consensus on the necessity of economic reform, the importance of high growth rates and nation's integration into the global economy" argues eminent scholars in Africa.
In order to survive the current economic quagmire, Oppenheimer says Africa needs to strengthen and improve its competitiveness through lowering the costs of doing business which will simultenously reduce its economic vulnerability to crisis and increase her growth potential.
Mbeki concludes by arguing that the relationship of donor and recipient must become a thing of the past, and must be replaced by a partnership which must both respect our right to determine our future and impose a common obligation on our global partners what was mutually-accountable to each other.
And no better placed African nationalist than Ngugi wa Thiogo sums it better and so eloquently in his book 'Writers in Politics';
"And really we cannot expect that those who benefit from our crippled positions will come and say unto us 'Throw off those crutches and walk. But surely, it is unto us to have the will to say 'Away with all crutches of whatever make or model' " writes wa Thiogo.
African people, it is your time to turn Africa into a self-reliance as your integrate to global economy!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
THE WORLD & FUTURE DEMANDS WE NURTURE CONFIDENT CHILDREN
"Every caring and responsible parent wants their children to be confident" writes Gael Lindenfield.
Her book; 'Confident Children A Parent's Guide to Helping Children feel good about themselves' is highly recommended to every parent that would like to see their kids making a mark in life.
'Nurturing self-esteem in children from a young age will give them a greater chance of developing self-assurance and fulfilling their personal potential in later life' advises Lindenfield.
NB. The critical & central question is 'how is this achieved without them (children) becoming precocious or arrogant'?
Gael Lindenfield explains how to go about in developing 'Confident Children' ;
(i) How language and actions can be used to build and boost confidence.
(ii) How to help your child learn social skills
(iii) How to teach your children to like themselves the way they are
(iv) How your children can become assertive and cope with bullying.
NB. Whether your child is a toodler or a teenager, this sensitive and perceptive book is invaulable reading for every parent and offers real scope for positive change in your family life!
BAZALI ABAQOTHO HAMBANI NIYOZIBHEKELA BESE NIFUNDE LENCWADI!
Her book; 'Confident Children A Parent's Guide to Helping Children feel good about themselves' is highly recommended to every parent that would like to see their kids making a mark in life.
'Nurturing self-esteem in children from a young age will give them a greater chance of developing self-assurance and fulfilling their personal potential in later life' advises Lindenfield.
NB. The critical & central question is 'how is this achieved without them (children) becoming precocious or arrogant'?
Gael Lindenfield explains how to go about in developing 'Confident Children' ;
(i) How language and actions can be used to build and boost confidence.
(ii) How to help your child learn social skills
(iii) How to teach your children to like themselves the way they are
(iv) How your children can become assertive and cope with bullying.
NB. Whether your child is a toodler or a teenager, this sensitive and perceptive book is invaulable reading for every parent and offers real scope for positive change in your family life!
BAZALI ABAQOTHO HAMBANI NIYOZIBHEKELA BESE NIFUNDE LENCWADI!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
MINISTER NDEBELE'S "MERC S-500" :SOCIALISM AT ITS BEST
RETURNING Or TURNING the Mercedes S-500 donation by the Republic of South Africa's Minister of Transport Dr Sbusiso Joel Ndebele to fund a 'Training Programme' to capacitate and empower emerging Vukuzakhe contractors in KwaZulu-Natal is literally practising socialism at its best.
Put it differently, Manzankosi, it is like establishing a library within your immediate communities whereby you stock computers, books and manuscripts of every discipline and allow citizens across religious,colour,creed and ideology to access knowledge free of charge.
Long Live! Past immediate KZN Premier, Past immediate KZN ANC Chairperson!
Where else in the Republic of South Africa have we seen/witnessed one individual pledging over one-million in a 'Social Responsibility Investment programme like what Ndebele has done?
NB. Subject to the google search proving me otherwise, Cde Sbu Ndebele's personal gesture towards the creation of a better life for all is record-breaking.
Long Live for your Revolutionary Social Consciousness Vanande!
Put it differently, Manzankosi, it is like establishing a library within your immediate communities whereby you stock computers, books and manuscripts of every discipline and allow citizens across religious,colour,creed and ideology to access knowledge free of charge.
Long Live! Past immediate KZN Premier, Past immediate KZN ANC Chairperson!
Where else in the Republic of South Africa have we seen/witnessed one individual pledging over one-million in a 'Social Responsibility Investment programme like what Ndebele has done?
NB. Subject to the google search proving me otherwise, Cde Sbu Ndebele's personal gesture towards the creation of a better life for all is record-breaking.
Long Live for your Revolutionary Social Consciousness Vanande!
BEYOND EGO: YOUR TRUE IDENTITY
Nkonzwenhle Mqadi Presently reading "A New Earth 'Awakening to your Life's perpose' " by Eckhart Tolle "We each have the power to make a difference. A New Earth begins with you .... " says Tolle
Nkonzwenhle Mqadi "Acceptance 'of Yourself' is such an important commodity, some have called it the 'First Law of Personal Growth' " says Peter McWilliams
Eckhart Tolee provides the spiritual background for anyone to make their own life -and therefore the world - better and more meaningful.
Tolle exposes the fears that hAng over all of US and shows how eachof US can find happiness and health through the series of simple, life-affirming steps.
A 'New Earth' is a stunning journey of self-enlightenment as it strips away the illusions we live-0by and provides a new basis for personal spirituality and self-improvement.
My Favourite Chapter is titled; "Beyond Ego: Your True Identity'
"When the ego is at war, know that it is no more than an illusion that is fighting to survive.
All that is required to become free of the ego is to be aware of it, since Awareness and Ego are incompatible.
Awareness is the power that is concelead withinthe present moment.
We may also call it "Presence" 'make my presence felt'.
NB. Only Presence can free you of the Ego, and you can only be present Now, not Yesterday or Tomorrow.
Only Presence can undo the (You) past and transform your state of consciousness.
Nkonzwenhle Mqadi "Acceptance 'of Yourself' is such an important commodity, some have called it the 'First Law of Personal Growth' " says Peter McWilliams
Eckhart Tolee provides the spiritual background for anyone to make their own life -and therefore the world - better and more meaningful.
Tolle exposes the fears that hAng over all of US and shows how eachof US can find happiness and health through the series of simple, life-affirming steps.
A 'New Earth' is a stunning journey of self-enlightenment as it strips away the illusions we live-0by and provides a new basis for personal spirituality and self-improvement.
My Favourite Chapter is titled; "Beyond Ego: Your True Identity'
"When the ego is at war, know that it is no more than an illusion that is fighting to survive.
All that is required to become free of the ego is to be aware of it, since Awareness and Ego are incompatible.
Awareness is the power that is concelead withinthe present moment.
We may also call it "Presence" 'make my presence felt'.
NB. Only Presence can free you of the Ego, and you can only be present Now, not Yesterday or Tomorrow.
Only Presence can undo the (You) past and transform your state of consciousness.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
RSA NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION: WILL IT DELIVER TO CITIZENS?
DESPITE the rumblings from certain quarters over tha 're-organised and better aligned' President Jacob Zuma's Cabinet that was announced on Mother's Day (10 May 2009), there have emerged genteel murmurs and strong debate about the National Planning Commission and the person entrusted to lead it.
Was the honourable Trevor Manuel the RIGHT person to drive the NPC, and if so, will the majority South Africas-poorest of the poor- ever realise the beter life for all under the country's leadership by Msholozi and beyond?
Will the renowned 'anti-poor programmes Manuel' ever be biased towards the upliftment of the downtrodden people?
Will the central planning commission have statutory powers to recommend policy formulations that aim to benefit the majority South Africans?
Surely, as Minister of Finance over the past 10-years, Manuel became the darling of the captains of industry and also became the envy of the citizens that were still trapped under the so-called Second Economy.
Permit me to remind to hasten to remind you that the ANC's 50th Conference held in Mafeking (December 1997) had adopted a definitive resolution on economic policy.
One fundamental clause reads; "Conference re-affirms that our macro-economic framework policies must be directed to advancing the RDP. We are not pursuing macro balances for their own sake, but to create conditions for sustainable growth, development and reconstruction.
The strategy for Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) is aimed at giving effect to the realisation of the RDP through the maintainance of macro balances and elaborates a set of mutually-reinforcing instruments".
However, it must be noted that immediately thereafter some eminent scholars, including the former RSA President Thabo Mbeki, then Deputy President of the Republic, and his fellow cronies including then, Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel, were captured on the mass-media networks stating that GEAR and RDP haved a totally different objective but 'its implemantation was necessary to ensure the sustainability of the RDP'.
From such utterances by ANC heavyweights and to the tabling of Gear in Parliament on June 14,1996, all talk and mention of RDP to drive the government policy formulation evaporated into thin air.
The then Deputy President of labour federation Zwelinzima Vavi was qouted in Cosatu's economic policy debate 'Social Equity' lamenting Manuel's conservative fiscal policy and the dire effects it was to have to the working class.
Before dwelling deeper on Manuel's shortcomings as a people-centred leader, lets reflect on Zuma's announcement of his Cabinet make-up, and he boldly pronounced that ' we created a structure that would enable us to achieve visible and tangible socio-economic development in the country over the next five years'.
Accordingly, he said, the structure of the Cabinet and national departments has therefore been re-organised to achieve better alignment between the structure, our electoral mandate as per our (ANC) election manifesto, and the developmental challenges that need to receive immediate attention from government.
And the very same Head of the National Planning Commission is on record defying resolutions expoused by his party, ANC, a decade earlier as the rumsacked over GEAR to South African citizens as an influential team player to that notorious " '96 Class Project".
"No matter what the misguided critics may argue, it is no use merely making a long list of promises. Making promises is easy--especially during election campaigns-- but carrying them out as government is very much more difficult.
Gear calls for a period of fiscal consolidation and Gear does not deal with black economic empowerment at all" argued Manuel (Sunday Times 13/8/06).
Does these sentiments run contrary to the multitudes that cast their votes next to Msholozi hoping that the ANC shall be true to their election promises in creating 'A Better Life for All' ? One is tempted not to believe that Trevor Manuel can at his whims behave as a loose canon.
Words uttered by the President himself when he announced his Cabinet are reassuring.
"Following extensive research on international models on how governments in other parts of the world plan and monitor perfomance, we have decided to establish a National Planning Commission and the Ministry for Perfomance Monitoring and Evaluation. Both ministries will be located and administered in the Presidency" Zuma said.
Coming from a socialistic background, one is but tempted to take stock of the blatant failures by the central government to fasttrack developmental programmes to benefit the previously-disadvantaged communities at a time when the incumbent Head of NPC was playing a critical role in the state budget allocation be it Gear, Asgisa, Jipsa, and you name them.
Under his stewardship as minister of finance, South Africa's rating plummented and the country is still battling to achieve the average 6% growth rate becausethe macroeconomic policy framework runs counter to the creation of an improved standard of living to the residents of Orange Farm, Cato Manor, Lindelani or Phillipi informal settlements.
IDASA Executive Director Paul Graham is on record stating that citizens have an amenable right to question how they were represented in their democratically-elected government.
"On March9, 2009 we presented to the Executive the findings of 4th Afrobarometer survey that we had conducted in 19-African which measures public attitudes on democracy and its alternatives, evaluations of the quality of governanance and economic performance.
The "South Africans' views of government perfomance and possible implications for policy making" can be used as a way of describing the political situation that faces the new government at the beginning of its term" says Graham.
Paradoxically, the critical challenge for a fresh start post Mbeki era, is to take a more comprehensive view of the socio-economic development for all South African citizens.
Synergy and corporate governance, surely, will be fasttracked after the creation of the perfomance monitoring and evaluation competency desk in the Presidency.
Even KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize announced during his inauguration, the two ministries housed in the Presidency will also be duplicated in provincial legislatures.
Therefore, across board there's a mandate to constantly monitor, appraise elected government officials and evaluate their perfomance in service delivery which must be commended.
However, will the NPC under the stewardship of Trevor Manuel, play any significant role in transforming the South African society and the economy to benefit the majority people in South Africa, in particular, the srious challenges of unemployment, poverty, transformation in the judiciary as seen in the Judicial Services Commission versus Cape Town Judge President legal quagmire, government open policy on HIV-Aids treatment facilities and the ever-increasing social inequalities prevalent in South African society?
Was the NPC armed with a blueprint that was aimed to usher in a mixed economy, a sustainable economy, or an economy that is fully integrated (connected) to the global political economy imperatives?
Will the new Department of Economic Development focus on economic planning, and promote or sustain small emerging contractors, small-scale farmers in rural areas and provide seed money to the co-operative societies?
Doest the NPC have the capacity to accelerate growth and the economy in the definition of a common national agenda?
Why must the National Planning Commission under the astute leadership of M,inister Trevor Manuel fail on this constitutional democracy mandate because the above form the basis of the paromount resolutions adopted by the ruling-party cadres during its 52nd Polokwane conference in December 2007.
Was the honourable Trevor Manuel the RIGHT person to drive the NPC, and if so, will the majority South Africas-poorest of the poor- ever realise the beter life for all under the country's leadership by Msholozi and beyond?
Will the renowned 'anti-poor programmes Manuel' ever be biased towards the upliftment of the downtrodden people?
Will the central planning commission have statutory powers to recommend policy formulations that aim to benefit the majority South Africans?
Surely, as Minister of Finance over the past 10-years, Manuel became the darling of the captains of industry and also became the envy of the citizens that were still trapped under the so-called Second Economy.
Permit me to remind to hasten to remind you that the ANC's 50th Conference held in Mafeking (December 1997) had adopted a definitive resolution on economic policy.
One fundamental clause reads; "Conference re-affirms that our macro-economic framework policies must be directed to advancing the RDP. We are not pursuing macro balances for their own sake, but to create conditions for sustainable growth, development and reconstruction.
The strategy for Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) is aimed at giving effect to the realisation of the RDP through the maintainance of macro balances and elaborates a set of mutually-reinforcing instruments".
However, it must be noted that immediately thereafter some eminent scholars, including the former RSA President Thabo Mbeki, then Deputy President of the Republic, and his fellow cronies including then, Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel, were captured on the mass-media networks stating that GEAR and RDP haved a totally different objective but 'its implemantation was necessary to ensure the sustainability of the RDP'.
From such utterances by ANC heavyweights and to the tabling of Gear in Parliament on June 14,1996, all talk and mention of RDP to drive the government policy formulation evaporated into thin air.
The then Deputy President of labour federation Zwelinzima Vavi was qouted in Cosatu's economic policy debate 'Social Equity' lamenting Manuel's conservative fiscal policy and the dire effects it was to have to the working class.
Before dwelling deeper on Manuel's shortcomings as a people-centred leader, lets reflect on Zuma's announcement of his Cabinet make-up, and he boldly pronounced that ' we created a structure that would enable us to achieve visible and tangible socio-economic development in the country over the next five years'.
Accordingly, he said, the structure of the Cabinet and national departments has therefore been re-organised to achieve better alignment between the structure, our electoral mandate as per our (ANC) election manifesto, and the developmental challenges that need to receive immediate attention from government.
And the very same Head of the National Planning Commission is on record defying resolutions expoused by his party, ANC, a decade earlier as the rumsacked over GEAR to South African citizens as an influential team player to that notorious " '96 Class Project".
"No matter what the misguided critics may argue, it is no use merely making a long list of promises. Making promises is easy--especially during election campaigns-- but carrying them out as government is very much more difficult.
Gear calls for a period of fiscal consolidation and Gear does not deal with black economic empowerment at all" argued Manuel (Sunday Times 13/8/06).
Does these sentiments run contrary to the multitudes that cast their votes next to Msholozi hoping that the ANC shall be true to their election promises in creating 'A Better Life for All' ? One is tempted not to believe that Trevor Manuel can at his whims behave as a loose canon.
Words uttered by the President himself when he announced his Cabinet are reassuring.
"Following extensive research on international models on how governments in other parts of the world plan and monitor perfomance, we have decided to establish a National Planning Commission and the Ministry for Perfomance Monitoring and Evaluation. Both ministries will be located and administered in the Presidency" Zuma said.
Coming from a socialistic background, one is but tempted to take stock of the blatant failures by the central government to fasttrack developmental programmes to benefit the previously-disadvantaged communities at a time when the incumbent Head of NPC was playing a critical role in the state budget allocation be it Gear, Asgisa, Jipsa, and you name them.
Under his stewardship as minister of finance, South Africa's rating plummented and the country is still battling to achieve the average 6% growth rate becausethe macroeconomic policy framework runs counter to the creation of an improved standard of living to the residents of Orange Farm, Cato Manor, Lindelani or Phillipi informal settlements.
IDASA Executive Director Paul Graham is on record stating that citizens have an amenable right to question how they were represented in their democratically-elected government.
"On March9, 2009 we presented to the Executive the findings of 4th Afrobarometer survey that we had conducted in 19-African which measures public attitudes on democracy and its alternatives, evaluations of the quality of governanance and economic performance.
The "South Africans' views of government perfomance and possible implications for policy making" can be used as a way of describing the political situation that faces the new government at the beginning of its term" says Graham.
Paradoxically, the critical challenge for a fresh start post Mbeki era, is to take a more comprehensive view of the socio-economic development for all South African citizens.
Synergy and corporate governance, surely, will be fasttracked after the creation of the perfomance monitoring and evaluation competency desk in the Presidency.
Even KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize announced during his inauguration, the two ministries housed in the Presidency will also be duplicated in provincial legislatures.
Therefore, across board there's a mandate to constantly monitor, appraise elected government officials and evaluate their perfomance in service delivery which must be commended.
However, will the NPC under the stewardship of Trevor Manuel, play any significant role in transforming the South African society and the economy to benefit the majority people in South Africa, in particular, the srious challenges of unemployment, poverty, transformation in the judiciary as seen in the Judicial Services Commission versus Cape Town Judge President legal quagmire, government open policy on HIV-Aids treatment facilities and the ever-increasing social inequalities prevalent in South African society?
Was the NPC armed with a blueprint that was aimed to usher in a mixed economy, a sustainable economy, or an economy that is fully integrated (connected) to the global political economy imperatives?
Will the new Department of Economic Development focus on economic planning, and promote or sustain small emerging contractors, small-scale farmers in rural areas and provide seed money to the co-operative societies?
Doest the NPC have the capacity to accelerate growth and the economy in the definition of a common national agenda?
Why must the National Planning Commission under the astute leadership of M,inister Trevor Manuel fail on this constitutional democracy mandate because the above form the basis of the paromount resolutions adopted by the ruling-party cadres during its 52nd Polokwane conference in December 2007.
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