It is not just the communications; it is the regulations and the fact that at every stage of the way people seem to be intent on finding some reason for blocking progress rather than facilitating it. They spend time poring over documents to see if they can find something, anything, which would allow them to say no; something that would be an expression of their power. Where did all this come from? How did this futility arise?
It is true, when you go to other countries you find people willing to help, looking for ways to solve problems, opening the channels. That is the way to make things move and in the process create wealth for the individual and for the country. But here we are with a collapsed economy – blocking anyone who tries to show initiative. There is a malaise, a paralysis, where people seem to positively choose to prevent progress.
So where does it come from? Is it jealousy? You look as though you are going to succeed and get ahead of me so I am going to use my power to pull you down. I have often heard of this spirit.
Someone plants more maize or increases their number of cattle or starts a business. We dont like it and try to harm the enterprising person. Or is it a spirit of parasitism by which we hang on to those who are going ahead in the hopes that we too will gain something.
But when a drowning person hangs on to another he or she drags the other down and they both sink. Or is it a spirit of self-destruct? This country is so disappointing that I no longer care and just enjoy making life hard for others. It is like the horrific account of someone who is HIV positive and says: I dont care any more and goes around infecting others.
Whatever it is it is blocking the efforts of those who want to do something with their lives and do something for the country. We have created an environment hostile to enterprise – unless you are a big person with money and connections. Then you can push your way forward. But most people simply want to make a decent living, feed their families and send their children to school.
As things are, it requires colossal sustained efforts to do this, even though it should be a relatively manageable thing to do in a country blessed with a wide variety of resources and with people who are creative and energetic. We are like people in a prison dreaming of freedom. And every time we try to escape we are pushed backed behind locked doors.
Post published in: Opinions