Koste Seselwa: Another Signpost to Failure
Late last year President James Michel was interviewed on national television about the national economic crisis.
In his reply President Michel stated that his reaction was a confirmation of his responsibility in taking action which although painful was necessary. This was to show that the President is a man of action. The ‘Koste Seselwa’ meetings over held throughout the nation are again seen to be another indication of his determination to tackle issues head on.
This has been given further weight in the recent blitz of announcements battering us through the national media at every given opportunity since his appointment as President of the “Parti Lepep”. All these declarations in the final analysis are more proof of the lack of direction or substance in the aims of the leader of the Executive. These are borne out by a number of distinct facts.
First and foremost is in the make of the civil service. A number of cosmetic changes have been made under the pretext of improved service delivery, efficiency and effectiveness. These changes began in 2007 and two years later in 2009 the results have yet to see the light of day. This is can seen by that Jj has had to order all his ministers to attend the “Koste Seselwa” consultations to answer questions by the people on the shortcomings of their respective ministries and departments. Although these at times are part of a charade, they point to a deeper underlying malaise. Why should shortcomings be only forthcoming when the President wants to know about these? Aren’t there others apparent in contrast to actual leadership.
The appointments in most if not all the key positions in the executive arm of government are made by the party. Loyal SPPF (Parti Le Pep) cadres control all state institutions and serve the interests of a party faction rather than all the people. The inevitable result of this downward spiral into centralisation, cronyism and corruption is that state institutions are incapacitated, the state is criminalised, opportunities are cannibalised, and service delivery shuts down. This trend has been the norm for most if not all the years that this party has been in power. In other words James Michel, although having been elected President, does not wield real authority or power. This is a shortcoming he has publicly accepted. His appointment has been to further the party’s agenda, which has been of interest to the party and not to the nation as a whole. Hence his inability to stamp his authority on appointments he has no control over. This makes the task of combating corruption impossible.
President Michel has been extremely vocal in his concern over corruption, warning those involved in corruption (for example the judiciary) that such actions would not be tolerated. Other social evils such as crime and drugs have also received the highest levels of condemnation from the President. Definite actions especially with regards to drug trafficking have been feeble, even non-existent except for the frequent jailing of small-time drug users and pushers. This again points to a lack of leadership or a lack of control over those “calling the shots” as the saying goes. In this scenario of a lack of real authority President Michel turns to the people who have elected him.
In turning to the people, he however hides behind stage-managed manoeuvres. Such an action again points to the lack of authority inherent in the whole process of government under President Michel. He fabricates where the reality indicates otherwise. All this is done to dress the apparent leadership with trappings of determination and action. If he were really in charge there would not be any need to undertake these 2 hour visits in each and every district to try and undo mindsets buried in bureaucracy and mismanagement. Only children believe that wounds are healed with kisses. President Michel’s actions seek to do just this. One does not have to be a prophet to predict the outcome. However, the sages in government all say otherwise. Given that the policy and practice are inherited and not developed, it would be tantamount to suicide to say otherwise.
The fact that nothing has been done by the Presidency to actually tackle corruption speaks volumes in itself. President Michel vowed to fight corruption. Rather than doing that he promotes the corrupt. When an accounting officer loses government assets the procedures are clearly set-out by the Ministry of Finance. The procedure does not entail moving the responsible officer from one ministerial post to another. Such an action shows in what direction the “Koste Seselwa” consultations are going. It is a signpost to failure.
Source: LNSW 6-22-09