<http://www.dailynews.co.zw/index.php/opinion/6956-big-governments-are-waste
ful.html> Big governments are wasteful
By Alexander Rusero
Friday, 03 February 2012 11:00
HARARE - It is indeed an indicator of administrative paranoia for a troubled
economy and an ineffective government of ours to have such a sizeable number
of various incumbents occupying meaningless offices of authority much to the
merciless secretion of the ephemeral fiscus of Zimbabwe.
Such offices range from ministerial positions, deputy ministerial posts,
permanent secretaries and directors of various ministries.
Apart from this, our troubled economy is further burdened by a lot of
ineffective and meaningless commissions. If the truth be told, then big
governments are wasteful.
The treacherous political arrangement that came as a result of the so called
Global Political Agreement (GPA) brought with it a couple of wasteful
trailers.
With the inauguration of the inclusive government, it meant that the size of
government had to expand to the extent of nearly doubling for the sake of
accommodating members from all political fronts.
On its own the government size of Zimbabwe is too big even to govern
southern Africa.
The size of our state administrative organ is not sustainable. Each minister
has got a Mercedes Benz, is also chauffeur-driven and has got allowances
ranging from school fees, entertainment and housing among others.
The deputies also have the same treatment despite that the office is in real
terms, ceremonial as the deputy may never preside as a minister in the
absence of the relevant minister.
After them comes permanent secretaries who in essence are the chief
executive officers of ministries.
Because of the nature of their job, they travel more than ministers in
pursuit of ministerial businesses. All these expenses are met by Treasury
which daily mourn that coffers are dry.
These entire ministries are manned by principal directors and directors of
several ministerial departments. These too have their own allowances.
Apart from this, almost every ministry presides over a certain commission of
some sort. These commissioners also get some fair treatment of their
respective offices.
They have cars, numerous allowances and a lot of privileges. Should there be
any workshop home or abroad, the dry Treasury coffer is on standby to fund
such activities. Some ministries run state enterprises or parastatals.
The majority among them Zesa Holdings, National Railways of Zimbabwe and Net
One are under performing.
However these parastatals have directors and managers who demand equal
treatment with their colleagues in government.
In any case, there is nothing wrong in all the mentioned respective
individuals getting allowances, but considering the state of our economic
performance against the size of government then it wont be criminal to
recommend trimming the size of our current government.
If President Robert Mugabe is the head of state and government,
commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and chancellor of all
state universities then the very same government can do the same to a lot of
ministries with some equally duplicating roles.
For example, respective ministries of Media Information and Publicity,
Information Communication Technology can fall under one cluster of
Information whilst ministries of Tourism, Transport, Trade, Industry and
Commerce can also fall under one cluster of Industry.
Ministries of Security, Defence and Home Affairs can also fall under one
cluster of Security.
Ministries of Agriculture and Mechanisation, Land and Rural Settlement can
also fall under one cluster.
Local Government, Urban and Rural Development as well as Housing and Social
Amenities may also fall under one cluster of National Planning and
Development.
Education, Sports, Art and Culture as well Higher and Tertiary Education may
also fall under one cluster of Education.
If Jesus managed his difficult mission with only 12 disciples then why do we
need many ministers, members of Parliament, senators?
Two ministers of Home Affairs?
What is the purpose of governors or the so called resident ministers, how
about one vice president, and one deputy prime minister?
If the government is failing to deliver or at least pay meaningful salaries
to its employees, then why being so wasteful?
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kizza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Groupe de communication Mulindwas
"avec Yoweri Museveni et Docteur Kiiza Besigye, l'Ouganda est dans
l'anarchie"
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