Defining the political landscape of any economy and finding a way for economic expression has become important for all voters to understand. After 19 years of political freedom, the debate of a maturing country is answering the question of what is the power of franchise and how do I take the responsibility seriously?
The truth is my grandfather never voted in the country his birth and for years I have gone to the poles, in commemoration to his memory and to the memory of those that died for the freedom that we are taking so for granted today. This over time I have realized is a noble motivational but not in the design of the electoral process. We do not vote to affirm the memory of those that have died before the privilege but we are exercising an endowment much like the force in the famous Star wars movies, to change the direction of a country.
The economy has many stakeholders or role players. The famous ones are labour, business and government. I would like to add the politicians and the voter to the stakeholder map and discuss how we can move Mzansi forward.
The past four years have been very favourable to the labour movement and the tragedy of Marikana has highlighted the importance of organised labour movements in the economic progress of a country. In South Africa it has become clear that the cause for the poor will be fought on the distribution on wealth front. That is if business makes money then the labour force should follow suit and get a significant portion of the money. The fundamental challenges with this assertion is the size of the margins that are being contested.
During the year where platinum demand world wide was reduced due to many factors including commodity prices, economic uncertainty and a market place that provided better investment options, the tool adopted by business to sustain the sector was to lower production and increase the commodity price and grow margins on low volumes. This means the sector can make profits with less volumes and would naturally retrench employees. This will be studied in MBA programmes as a clever rationalization of an ailing industry and the survival of a mature mining country.
During the year where platinum demand world wide was reduced due to many factors including commodity prices, economic uncertainty and a market place that provided better investment options, the tool adopted by business to sustain the sector was to lower production and increase the commodity price and grow margins on low volumes. This means the sector can make profits with less volumes and would naturally retrench employees. This will be studied in MBA programmes as a clever rationalization of an ailing industry and the survival of a mature mining country.
Naturally the labour movement will deem this unfair and unwarranted. Their argument are will be more sentimental than business school approach. The employees that are being off loaded have been part of the success of the given mines in the past, especially when the markets ware favourable. They risked their health, left their homelands at the expense of their families and it's unfair for a mine to let go of them without due consideration to the souls that have helped them in the past.
In comes Government, an under pressure stake-holder, who is under pressure improve his employees effectiveness. Their primary view of the mining scenario will be that we cannot allow business to add more people in to the growing list of the unemployed and that of the social grant system. Their argument will be political, and it will carry a more potent opposition view. Business has thrived through the exploitation of the land and that the tax and mining laws have helped business produce high earners. They will further say that, they own the mining rights licensing processes and any damage in relations will have future reparations.
Government has two tiers the public bureaucratic employees and the politicians that form our parliament. Parliament oversees the government through cabinet with ministers and the different formations like portfolio committees. In light of our mining analogy parliament will have the power to summon the ministry of mining and ask them all the various strategic choices that have been explored in the process. Opposition parties will ask hard questions and score points on the direction they moved discussions. The ruling party will insist that their party is fighting the cause for the poor and that all is being done to ensure continued development of the country.
This has a name, its called vote maximisation. Where politicians are proving to the voters they deserve the vote and that they are taking responsibility to the mandate given. This is why most people and commentators believe that politicians will say and do anything to ensure that they are always able to keep the vote. The church in Limpopo proves it every voting year with the wisest, intellectual and charming of our leaders finding a reason to do campaigns there and even do the famous dance.
Government has two tiers the public bureaucratic employees and the politicians that form our parliament. Parliament oversees the government through cabinet with ministers and the different formations like portfolio committees. In light of our mining analogy parliament will have the power to summon the ministry of mining and ask them all the various strategic choices that have been explored in the process. Opposition parties will ask hard questions and score points on the direction they moved discussions. The ruling party will insist that their party is fighting the cause for the poor and that all is being done to ensure continued development of the country.
This has a name, its called vote maximisation. Where politicians are proving to the voters they deserve the vote and that they are taking responsibility to the mandate given. This is why most people and commentators believe that politicians will say and do anything to ensure that they are always able to keep the vote. The church in Limpopo proves it every voting year with the wisest, intellectual and charming of our leaders finding a reason to do campaigns there and even do the famous dance.
There are real life issues to solve in this world and politicians are after my vote to place them face to face with these challenges. They are asking to me to entrust to them the future of this country and for them to manage a multiple level process to solving the mining challenge without casualty of lives or international reputations. I have the power to make such a decision and I cannot do it because I feel sorry for my grand father who died not vote.
I demand that in the next election in 2014, the following is important for me to cast an informed vote:
1. I need to see a televised three part debate between party representatives not leaders but reps in line with our voting system on the economy, community development and foreign policy with the African focus. The economy because I need to know what the agenda is in trying to grow it. Community development because I need to know we have a programme to reverse social ails like poverty, Crime and health challenges. Lastly I care about what we are doing in other countries, but I think we are over postponing the African redevelopment by making it about the minerals in the continent. The influx of African migrants into this country to do service based jobs is a sign that something is happening and we're not in the know of it
2. Provincial debates
3. Report on pocket of excellence on the achievement of the current government
4. A fact checking website, I hate being lied to. I don't like it when the media does it and when politicians do. Some academic institutions or media house should setup a site to verify facts for the public.
5. Eliminate ambiguity, please let me know what the idea is but add some meat to it
6. Take me serious, especially if I don't wear your badge. The idea that badge wearers are more important is alienating and festers corruption sentiments
7. A standard format for manifestos so that I can compare them to each other. JSE makes companies produce annual reports to a certain standard, I think political parties should be forced to do the same with their manifestos. Let me cast my vote not on sentiment but help me make an informed decision.
That's my 2 cents worth...
I demand that in the next election in 2014, the following is important for me to cast an informed vote:
1. I need to see a televised three part debate between party representatives not leaders but reps in line with our voting system on the economy, community development and foreign policy with the African focus. The economy because I need to know what the agenda is in trying to grow it. Community development because I need to know we have a programme to reverse social ails like poverty, Crime and health challenges. Lastly I care about what we are doing in other countries, but I think we are over postponing the African redevelopment by making it about the minerals in the continent. The influx of African migrants into this country to do service based jobs is a sign that something is happening and we're not in the know of it
2. Provincial debates
3. Report on pocket of excellence on the achievement of the current government
4. A fact checking website, I hate being lied to. I don't like it when the media does it and when politicians do. Some academic institutions or media house should setup a site to verify facts for the public.
5. Eliminate ambiguity, please let me know what the idea is but add some meat to it
6. Take me serious, especially if I don't wear your badge. The idea that badge wearers are more important is alienating and festers corruption sentiments
7. A standard format for manifestos so that I can compare them to each other. JSE makes companies produce annual reports to a certain standard, I think political parties should be forced to do the same with their manifestos. Let me cast my vote not on sentiment but help me make an informed decision.
That's my 2 cents worth...
