DEVELOPMENT VERSUS POLITICAL WILL

 

Political will remains a particular challenge for every rural community/state or nation especially in Africa.  Political will according according to Stephen Asek +Panaroma  refers to the desire and determination of political actors to introduce as well as embark on reforms that will bring significant and persistent changes in the society.  It is highly difficult to divorce political will from sustainable development.

Again, political will is supposed to be the steering that is needed to turn the wheels of developmental reforms that do not only meet present needs but also secure the capacity of future generation to meet their own needs.  Then, the question is, can we say that this is the true story as it relates to community development and political will in our situation?  Instead, what we see today is the political commitment of most governments still hovering around the same attitude of exploiting the little you have today for the brief time you have it, because that is the only way you can feed your self and your family today. Tomorrow, the next generation must look after  themselves whether something is left for them or not.

This is why the need for an understanding of community development is enourmous because it must be initiated by the people (no matter the name they are called: poor, voiceless, rural dwellers, artisans, organisations etc).  They must take the first action of identifying the state of their condition and what they can do in bringing about a better lifestyle.  Their felt need will give room for diversified self help approaches before the blessings of the government (political will) comes in.  

Moreover, the people  should be able to decide what they consider to be a NEED.  The opposite should not be the case here.  Imagine a situation where a political leader who wields great power may decide to construct a pipe-borne water (not considering if it is the need of the people or not) in a particular community and instead of making the people understand that it is his duty to do so, he makes it seem like a favour, and even when he completes the “favour project”, its durability is only short lived. What he forgets is that the people concerned pay their taxes and other revenue owed to the government for it to be able to carry out meaningful and sustainable projects. 

So, if our politicians (irrespective of their political parties) do not make an effort to change this conception of development in our rural communities, they will be contributing in slowing down the efforts of sustainable development amongst our rural dwellers.  

Finally, the truth stands till this day that; whatever a political
actor sows in the fields of development in our rural communities, he/she shall reap it when it has fully matured.

 

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